Tony Blair helps Kazakhstan boosts its image in West.

The heading is taken directly from today's Telegraph newspaper, above an article by Andy Bloxham that explains the way in which the former British Prime Minister "... works for several governments and companies including the rulers of Kuwait; JPMorgan Chase, the bank; and UI Energy Corporation, a South Korean oil company", and claims that "Mr Blair's deal with the country, said to be worth about £8 million, is the latest addition to his network of international clients, which are believed to have earned him £20 million since he left office."

One has to ask if there is any limit to this man's personal greed - and he is supposed to be a good Socialist!!!

He appears not to be too concerned as to where he makes his money.  The same article goes on to explain that "Diplomatic cables sent from the Kazakh capital, Astana, and published by WikiLeaks, have stated: 'Corruption is endemic among Kazakhstani officialdom.'  The US cables also described 'severe limits on ability to change their government; detainee and prisoner torture and other abuse; unhealthy prisoner conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of an independent judiciary; restrictions on freedom of speech; pervasive corruption … discrimination and violence against women; trafficking in persons'". 

This is not all.  According to Release International, "Churches in Kazakhstan say officials are enforcing tough new policies on religious activity even before they have passed into law.

Kazakh Christians fear the new Religion Law will severely limit religious freedom by, for example, requiring all churches to re-register – and imposing strict registration criteria.

Officially the law does not come into force until Wednesday (October 26). But evidence gathered by Forum 18 news service suggests that Kazakh officials are already citing the law to crack down on religious activity.

In the south-west city of Atyrau, for example, police and security officials raided a worship meeting held in a local hall by a state-registered Protestant church called New Life last month. Officials cited the new Religion Law as the ground for the raid. A 17-year-old girl who tried to film the incident on her mobile phone was knocked unconscious by a police officer.

Officials claimed that the church could not legally meet outside its legally registered address – which is a local hotel. The church maintains that they had been forced to meet in the hall because officials had forced the hotel to end its rental agreement with them.

Shortly before the raid, officials published an article in a local paper claiming that New Life pastor Galymzhan Nagmadinov was 'brainwashing' his congregation for his own financial gain. He roundly denies the accusation.

Kazakh Christians had expressed concern that the proposed legislation had been rushed through Parliament and should not have been approved without significant amendment – but President Nursultan Nazarbaev put his signature to the new laws on October 11.

Religious rights campaigners claim the new Religion Law violates Kazakhstan's international human rights commitments. As well as imposing a complex new registration system, it requires faith groups to have both central and local government approval to build or open new places of worship. Other legislation soon to be approved has serious implications for the religious freedom of particular groups, such as children, and for the freedom to print religious literature."

If Mr Blair put his much-vaunted 'faith' before his apparent love for "unrighteous mammon", he would surely be using his relationship  with Nursultan Nazarbayev, the president of the oil-rich central Asian state, to support this part of the persecuted Church.  That's why those who call themselves disciples of Jesus must always take heed of the words of Jesus: "For no good tree bears bad fruit , nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit . For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:43-45; RSV)

Is every 'Christian' a disciple of Jesus?

In spite of the regular claims that we in the U.K. live in an increasingly secular society, we just can't seem to get away from the 'God thing'!   Mind you, some recent figures suggest that the real 'problem' is the vociferousness of a minority that gives them a prominence and a level of publicity that is well above what they, numerically, deserve!  For example, the number of people returning to the Anglican Church, alone, on "Back to church" Sunday (Sept.27th) last year, could have filled the O2 Arena in London twice over - and still left a queue of some 7,000 people (the highest-quoted membership of the National Secular Society!) outside, without a seat!

It was on this morning's 'Sunday' programme on BBC Radio 4, and in the context of a Christian Socialist Movement church service that, reportedly, always precedes the annual Labour Party Conference, that the statement was made that: "Labour's new leader, Ed Milliband, is not a religious believer himself; but the last three leaders of the Party - John Smith, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown, were all committed Christians."

It begs the question - "What did the reporter understand by the term 'Christian'?"  Sadly, John Smith died before he had the opportunity to become the 'figure in the limelight' that his two successors were, so it is perhaps difficult for anyone outwith his circle of personal friends to make any comment on his personal faith in the Lord Jesus - the depth, or the lack, of it.  However, when it comes to Messrs Blair and Brown, there is adequate evidence to suggest that neither of them was, or is, a true disciple of Jesus.  Yet that is what a Christian ought to be!  And that discipleship ought to be visible to others.

The true believer - as opposed to the person who makes a vocal claim - is supposed to be recognisable by his/her actions!    I often used to explain to my pupils that, provided my vocal cords were operating satisfactorily, I could say anything I wanted, and make the most outrageous claims!  But my mere calling myself a multi-millionaire doesn't add one single penny to my bank balance!  And anyone who spent some time with me would quickly come to the conclusion that I am not such a multi-millionaire.  The clothes I wear; the house in which I live; tha car I drive; the food I eat; the holidays I take; all point to the fact that my personal income is considerably less than the return from investments that a multi-millionaire would enjoy.

Jesus put it quite simply! "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?  So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'" (Matt 7:15-23; RSV)


The test, then, is not what I claim, but the way(s) in which I act.  I would suggest that those who deliberately deceive a whole nation; those who extravagently spend other people's money to the extent that those people are left almost bankrupt; those who speak socialism, while owning multiple properties, and having millions in their bank account; those who are unable to control their own emotions, and throw items around the office to the accompaniment of words that are certainly not found within the pages of the Bible; are not living as disciples of Jesus, regardless of any soundbite they might provide.


Perhaps there is enough of 'the divine spark' in the mindset of the British electorate, that it was the blatant hypocrisy of such national leadership that led to the defeat of the Labour Party at the General Election earlier this year.  If that is the case, then it is a salutary lesson to all politicians, regardless of party allegiance, to put honesty and integrity at the top of their personal agendas!


But, of course, that doesn't apply only to politicians, and others in the public eye.  It applies to everyone who takes the name of Christian.  Let our actions speak much more loudly than our words; let others see Jesus in us before they hear us speak about Him; let us be, not just those who call themselves Christian, but true disciples of Jesus, serving others in His Name - and bringing glory to Him.