Luke Judge

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Like all the rest of Europe and the western world, Malta is facing a conflict between Christianity on one side and laicism or secularism on the other, President George Abela told Pope Benedict as he welcomed him to Malta this afternoon.

President Abela also spoke about the traditional values which Malta believed in, and illegal immigration which was stretching the country’s resources.

His whole speech follows:

Mer?ba fil-Gzira ta’ San Pawl – Welcome to the Island of St.Paul on this Your first Apostolic visit to our Island coinciding with your birthday which was yesterday, on behalf of the People of Malta and Gozo, on my own behalf and on behalf of my wife Margaret, I wish you “Ad multos annos”.

I still have vivid memories of my inspiring meeting with you last June, during the customary first official visit outside Malta of every Maltese President, when your departing words were “I hope I will see you next time in Malta”.

We rejoice today that the Successor of St. Peter, St. Peter the Apostle friend of St. Paul, is amongst us to commemorate with his faithful flock, the 1950th anniversary of the shipwreck in Malta of St. Paul in the year 60.

St. Paul, as we find recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, was on his way to trial in Rome when a storm caused all the two hundred seventy six (276) passengers on board the vessel to seek shelter on the Island of Malta, then known as Melite, which was a Roman possession. The inhabitants, described by Luke as barbaroi, and therefore spoke no Greek or Latin, were pagan but treated the Apostle and all the shipwrecked with “unusual hospitality by kindling a fire because of the rain and the cold”.

He healed the father of Publius, the Protos, chief man of the Island and afterwards, others came to Paul and were also cured. What appears from archeological remains to have been a sophisticated Roman city, Melite, thrived at the centre of the Island where Mdina and Rabat are now built. It seems Paul had some freedom of movement since he was highly regarded by Julius, the Roman centurion guarding him and since he usually exercised his mission in an urban environment, it is likely that he went to this city and may have met members of the community living there. St. Paul’s Grotto, which has been traditionally associated with Paul for centuries, is found precisely in this neighbourhood.

Although the Acts are silent as to St. Paul’s preaching and the inhabitants’ conversion, it is unimaginable that the Apostle of the Gentiles, who described himself as “Zealous for God”, could have lived three months on the Island, as recounted in the Acts, without preaching to its inhabitants the message of Redemption. It is also natural to presume that a small community of Christians was born around the figure of the Apostle. The idea of God, as entertained by our ancestors before the shipwreck, had progressively changed during St. Paul’s stay in Malta from that “of the Avenging Judge, as recounted when the viper came out of the fire and stuck to Paul’s hand, into that of God the Healer, the Pardoner and the Saviour”. This is how the conversion of our fore-fathers happened.

St. Paul is therefore generally accepted as having sown the first seeds of evangelisation on this land and of having led its people to their first encounter with Jesus or “with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” as you aptly describe, Holy Father, in your encyclical letter “Deus Caritas Est”. This means that the people of our Islands were fortunate enough to have received the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven even before the first gospel is believed to have been written.

This was a definite moment in our history which has to be viewed not only in its historical and religious perspective but also in its moral and cultural implications because it lay the ethical and intellectual foundations of our State. It gave Malta a new identity: a Christian identity which gradually replaced the pagan, polytheistic culture into a Christian one.

While bearing in mind these historical roots, we must now look at the present time and ask ourselves the pertinent question: Where does Malta stand today? What would the same Apostle Paul say of Malta today had he been around to see all that has taken place since that time?

Malta is not only an independent country today but it has also reached a level of economic and social development which has enabled it to become a Member State of the European Union. Like all the rest of Europe and the western world, we are now facing a conflict between Christianity on one side and laicism or secularism on the other which in the words of philosopher Marcello Pera, as he recently described it in

Il Corriere della Sera, whilst referring to Europe :

“e in corso una guerra. La guerra e’ fra il laicismo e il cristianesimo”.

And, in drawing parallels with Nazism and Communism he reiterates that:

“Oggi come ieri, cio’ che si vuole e’ la distruzione della religione. Allora l’Europa pago` a questa furia distruttrice il prezzo della propria liberta’… la stessa democrazia sarebbe perduta se il cristianesimo venisse ancora cancellato”.

Today, we face the wave of secularism which has as its starting point the strict separation of Church and State: a laicist model advocating that the State should be strictly separate from religion which is conceived as belonging exclusively to the private domain. This profane character which has developed in some European States is driving people to be laicist or even anti-Christian.

However, as we all know or as we all should know, the moral foundations of a society as a whole, comprising believers, agnostics or atheists, are better served not with the falling away from religion but with the reinvigoration of the moral consciousness of the State. As Your Holiness has splendidly described it in your book “Values in a time of Upheaval”:

“One point that is fundamental in all cultures, is namely, reverence for that which is holy to other persons, and reverence to the Holy One, God. One can certainly demand this even of those who are not themselves willing to believe in God. Where this reverence is shattered, something in a society perishes”.

Holy Father, those of us who believe, are fortified by these fundamental values enunciated by the Church and, though we acknowledge that church members, even its ministers, may, at times, unfortunately go astray, we are left in no doubt that these values have universal application and their validity transcends both time and space. It would be wrong in my view to try to use the reprehensible indiscretions of the few to cast a shadow on the Church as a whole. The Catholic Church remains committed to safeguarding children and all vulnerable people and to seeing that there is no hiding place for those who seek to do harm. It is therefore the Church and even the State’s duty to work hand in hand to issue directives and enact legislation so that effective, transparent mechanisms are set-up together with harmonized and expeditious procedures in order to curb cases of abuse so that justice will not only be done but seen to be done.

Holy Father, we are proud as a nation to have inherited a Christian heritage which is at the core of our historical identity, even though we are not a confessional state. We too are experiencing, like all the rest of Europe, the phenomenon of multiculturalism, but this does not mean that we have to renounce to the beliefs which are our own. We still cherish a code of values, nourished by our Faith, such as the cardinal value of marriage and the family. We acknowledge that our Maltese family is undergoing rapid social changes and challenges, greatly influenced by current Western-world lifestyles and the ever-increasing secularization of the Maltese society. But the majority of our people still believe in monogamous marriage, based on the relationship between a man and a woman, open to the procreation of children, and consequently to the formation of a family as the bedrock of our nation.

We treasure the inviolability of the human person and affirm our full respect for human rights and uphold the principles of social justice by providing equal opportunities for all and ensuring that everybody has access to one’s basic needs. We are against human trafficking and cherish the sanctity of human life from its conception to its natural end. We believe in the values of freedom, equality and solidarity, the fundamental principles of democracy and of the rule of law.

Being situated at the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta is exposed to and faces the burden of illegal immigration which is stretching our financial and human resources.

In spite of these difficulties, we should however, never shrink back from our traditional values of solidarity and hospitality towards these migrants during their stay in Malta in full respect of their rights and human dignity.

We have made it our mission to work for peace and prosperity in our Mediterranean region and we refuse to countenance conflict between cultures and actively foster dialogue, including inter-faith dialogue, and understanding between peoples. I am sure

I would be speaking for the majority of my countrymen when I say that in the Crucifix we see a symbol of our history, of our culture, and above all of our Faith. The face of the suffering Jesus on the Cross is the face of God who forgave his enemies while He was dying.

The great majority of our young people, although not immune to certain negative tendencies of the modern world, harbour positive values and are seriously dedicated to preparing themselves to be the good citizens of tomorrow. Our hopes for the future of our Nation depend on them. Tomorrow, Malta’s youth will have the wonderful opportunity of meeting the Vicar of Christ in person to share their experiences with him and I know how a large number of them have been involved in preparations for this memorable and fruitful event which will enrich their lives for many years to come.

Holy Father, I am proud to say that all this forms part of our national identity and heritage. Your predecessor, the Venerable Pope John Paul II, during His visit in Malta on the 27th of May 1990 had exhorted us by proclaiming that:

“Malta is called to contribute to the spiritual unity of the old Continent by offeringher treasures of Christian faith and values. Europe needs Malta’s faithful witness too”.

This is what we promise You today, that we continue upholding these values and our Faith which seemingly started off by mere chance but which we now cherish by our own choice as our firm belief.

In the meantime, Holy Father, rest assured that we are welcoming You, as the successor of St. Peter, with extraordinary hospitality, “bi tjubija liema b?ala” as our ancestors did with St.Paul.

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INSTANBUL, Turkey – Three years ago, a brutal slaying of three Christians in Malatya, Turkey, shook believers there.

Many believed the murders would stop the gospel in the Muslim nation. But a small, vibrant Christian community has worked to ensure that doesn’t happen.

The Malatya incident was perhaps the most tragic and brutal murder of Christians in modern-day Turkey.

On April 18, 2007, German Christian Tilman Geske and Turkish Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel were bound to their chairs, tortured, and stabbed at a Bible print shop in Malatya. The throats of the three house church leaders were slit. Five suspects were put on trial.

Murders Leave Their Mark

The horrifying attack has left its mark on the evangelical community.

Pastor Carlos Madrigal says many Turkish believers have received threats over the years, but they never expected to see such an act of violence against fellow believers.

Now, they’re much more aware of the risks of being Christian in a Muslim-dominated society.

“For years, we have seen people coming to the church sometimes asking for financial help thinking that if they become Christians, they will get a passport, or best job, or things like that,” Madrigal said.

“But now, after the Malatya murders, we saw that people coming are taking seriously, or considering seriously, what it means to become a Christian and it helps at some level to purify the church in Turkey.”

Risking Lives for Faith

Originally from Spain, Madrigal fought with the Turkish government for years to win recognition for his evangelical church.

In June 2001, the Evangelical Protestant Foundation of Istanbul was finally granted registration. It was the first time the Turkish government allowed a foundation to provide legal covering for churches.

Most people who come to Madrigal’s church, Vakfi Protestant of Istanbul, are former Muslims. He asks Christians around the world to pray for Turkey’s small body of believers. They number only about 5,000 in a nation of 70 million people.

“Many people I’m sure are seeking for something else, but they don’t know what they are looking for is Jesus Himself,” Madrigal said. “By your prayers you are opening doors that will help us to reach all these people.”

And some Christian evangelists risk their lives just to share their faith in Turkey.

“When I first felt that little blood trickling down my throat, I thought ‘Oh boy, I’m dying now. This is it. This is the end,’” former Muslim Murat Aydin recalled.

Aydin almost died while meeting with a young Muslim soldier named Yasin Karasu. Karasu said he wanted to know more about Jesus. When they met at a church to study the Bible last August, Karasu put a knife to Aydin’s throat. He dragged him into the street, placed a Turkish flag on his head and threatened to kill him.

“He was saying ‘This man is a traitor. He’s a missionary dog and we’re not going to allow him to do this stuff and we’re going to stop him,’” Aydin recalled.

Turkish ‘Identity’ Conflict

Even though Turkey was home to the early Christian church, many Turks like Karasu believe Christianity is a Western religion. They believe Turks must be Muslim.

“It’s obvious he’s been taught and believed to think that it’s impossible for a Turk to be a Christian. And the fact that someone like me will claim to be a Turk and yet can be a Christian just drives them mad, I guess,” Aydin said.

Karasu dropped the knife and was arrested and sent to prison. Aydin said if he ever sees Karasu again, he will tell him that he forgives him and that he only wants him and other Turks to come to know Jesus.

That’s the desire of another evangelist in Turkey, named Ali. His story is told in the DVD “More than Dreams.”

Ali was an alcoholic who would often sneak drinks at work. He was an abusive husband and father.

But all that changed when he joined some friends on the Haj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. That’s where Ali had an encounter with Jesus in a dream.

After that, he set aside the alcohol and started treating his family and others with respect. He eventually started a church in Ankara right next to a mosque. He’s anxious to share Jesus with anyone who will listen.

He too met a young Muslim who was seeking to learn more about Christianity After about a month of prayer and instruction, the young Muslim put a gun to Ali’s head started to wonder if he would go to Hell.

“I feel at that time, during this process, the Holy Spirit began to settle upon him,” Ali said. “I believe that the fact he did not kill me comes from the seed of God’s Word entering into his heart.”

The young assailant threw down the gun and ran. He’s since accepted Christ into his life.

Seeds of the Martyrs

Ali and his family have received many other threats over the years, but he insists he won’t stop. He said he’s unafraid each time he leaves his home or church office because he knows where he’s going.

“I am sure I am going to Jesus and to the presence of God,” he said.

So three years after the Malatya murders, Christians like Ali, Aydin and Madrigal are boldly helping to move the Turkish church forward.

“People are coming again to the church as maybe two, three years before again with a thirst for Christ,” Madrigal said. “I believe that the seeds planted through the martyrs will bring great fruit in this country.”

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by Babu G. Ranganathan

I would like to talk personally to you dear reader about the God Who designed, created, and continually sustains this universe and His plan of redemption through the ages. God created man to have fellowship with Him; but man rebelled and decided to go his own way. The Bible says that we are all sinners: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates man from a holy and righteous God. Because God is holy and just He must express wrath toward sin and punish iniquity. However, God’s wrath and anger, unlike man’s, is always perfect, unselfish, and righteous.

The Bible says that we cannot earn or deserve salvation because no one is able to meet perfectly God’s holy standards as revealed in the Ten Commandments. We have all sinned in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Although the Ten Commandments are good, they cannot save us, but can only show us our need for salvation by making us realize how far we fall short of God’s perfect standards. That is why God’s Word says in Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified [or declared righteous] in his [God's] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Again, the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace [God's undeserved favor] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast [or take credit].” A gift is something not earned. If we could deserve or earn our way to heaven salvation would not be a gift.

The marvelous and glorious gift of salvation was purchased on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ who was Almighty God in the flesh. On the cross, the Bible says, the Lord Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body (1 Peter 2:24) and received the punishment and judgment from God the Father that we justly deserve for our sins. “He was wounded for our iniquities [sins]; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes [or wounds] we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The Lord Jesus Christ shed His precious blood, which had infinite value in God’s sight to pay for our sins. On the Cross He took the punishment from God the Father that we deserve for our sins so that God can be just in forgiving us of our sins when we genuinely repent and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Just as a co-signer to a loan takes upon himself another’s liability and debt so too Christ took upon Himself the infinite liability and debt of our sins. It is because Christ Himself was sinless and Almighty God in the flesh that He alone was able to make atonement for the sins of the world.

However, you must receive the salvation Christ bought on the cross personally in order to be saved and to be forgiven of your sins. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [children] of God” (John 1:12). Confessing your sin before God, you need to cry to the Lord for mercy, taking hold of the promise in His Word: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus says in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Being “born again” is not just mere reformation, as many people think, but regeneration. To become God’s child one must be born of His Spirit. Until a person is born again he has only a creature-Creator relationship with God. Without experiencing this regeneration of spiritual birth, which can come only from God and not from anything within us, a person is spiritually lost. If he remains and dies in such a state the Bible says his soul will eternally perish. O dear reader, may that not be true of you, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

You say it is too simple to be saved the way of the Bible. True, dear friend, salvation is free, but it is not cheap because it cost the life of the eternal Son of God in the flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ conquered death through His bodily resurrection to prove that He has completely paid the penalty of death for our sins. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

There is no religion, organization, philosophy or good works that can save you. Only Jesus and Jesus alone can save. Only Christianity is unique in that it teaches we cannot earn our salvation. All other religions teach that through our good deeds we can earn or purchase salvation and redemption. All the religions of the world are fundamentally the same except for Christianity which teaches that salvation can be found only outside of ourselves, in the Person of the God-Man Jesus Christ Who alone was worthy to pay the full penalty for our sins. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” He is not a way, He is the way. “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Yes, it is important to do good works, but good works cannot save. A genuine faith in Christ will produce good works, but good works can never produce faith in Christ. Right now call on Him and ask the blessed Savior to come into your heart.

The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not wait for tomorrow. You are not promised a tomorrow. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). And Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). My friend, the Lord Jesus Christ bids you to receive Him as your Savior. He says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Are there any more beautiful words? God Almighty will enter your heart and life if you will only ask Him.

Do not be deceived into thinking that there might be another way to be saved or that there is no hell and that the Bible may contain error. Do not rely on your personal feelings or experiences to determine what is true or false. Trust in God’s written Word, the Holy Bible. If your experiences contradict what the Bible says, they are not of God. Scripture says that Satan has tremendous supernatural power and that he can even appear as an angel of light and deceive people with all sorts of experiences in their lives to make them believe that the Bible is not all true. The Psalmist David said, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Either you place your faith in the unchanging Word of God or you place your faith in the ever-changing word of men.

There are many questions and problems which cannot be discussed or answered in an essay this size, but do not let anything prevent you from receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Join a Bible-believing church in your community where you may receive Christ-centered teaching as well as enjoy fellowship and worship with believers who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. God bless you, my friend!

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