"Man first and Christians second saa," Grundtvig said.. The words have been the subject of some theological debate. Personally, I've always associated them with a kind of solidarity: As church and Christians, we're not just concerned with ourselves and Christendom - but by humanity. Both locally and globally.
When we hear about people who are starving, suffering, persecuted or exposed to other injustices, we don't ask if theye are Christians before we make up our minds. When Christianss freedoms will be curtailed out in the big world, we do not retaliate by restricting non-Christianss freedoms at home in Denmark. Hopefullyt Not in any case. True solidarity and the fight for rights includes namely Also thosewho are different from us yourself.
None of them can of course help everyone all at once. Some has a special heart for workers' rights i Central America, others for conditions of Christian minorities in Middle East and Central Asia. But the starting point must always be that aAll people are worth the same. Fortunately, the church is an important testimony to this in many places.
For example, nWhen a church in a famine area distributes food and water to all people - not just Christians. The same is true when a Christian organization throws itself into the fight for the freedom of belief of all people - not just Christians.
Mange places in the world there is a huge need to see and experiencethat you can have a strong point of view and at the same time respect and show solidarity over for those who have a different point of view. In my opinion, the church and church organizations are in a really good position to contribute to this.
Daniel Toft Jakobsen is a member of the Danish Parliament for the Social Democratic Party and works with freedom of religion for all, including persecuted Christians.
