Editorial

When I told family and friends I had been invited to tour the country of Jordan-strategically located in the Middle East between warn-torn Iraq and security-minded Israel-more than a few frowned on the idea. Concerns about security in the region dominated conversations about the trip, but our sponsors with the Jordan Tourism Board assured the Association of State Baptist Papers' leadership that the nation was safe and peaceful.

Because of this assurance, I accepted the invitation with three objectives in mind: I wanted to see Baptist work in Jordan; I wanted to see sites where important biblical events took place; and I wanted to evaluate the level of religious freedom in this Islamic state.

Our hosts, Christine Moore with the JTB and Jordan's Royal Institute of Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), were unfailingly gracious and kind. They provided wonderful accommodations and the meals were veritable feasts at every turn (resulting in a temporary set-back in my nearly year-long battle of the bulge!).

There was never a moment during the 10 days in which I felt unsafe or had any concern for my well-being. Jordanian nationals were quite friendly and accommodating to our group of 10 inquisitive, picture-taking Baptist newspaper editors.

I was inspired by the opportunity to visit biblically significant sites like Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promise Land before he died, and Bethany beyond the Jordan, the likely location of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. There's just something special about the idea that I have now stood where Moses and Jesus stood-or, at least nearby.

Related Coverage Jordan Baptists offer expansive ministry in Arab world East of the Jordan: The forgotten 'Holy Land' EDITORIAL: Religious freedom v. tolerance in the Muslim world

I was even more stirred by the faithful ministry of Baptists in Jordan. This tiny remnant of Christ's church is doing incredible things for the sake of the Kingdom of God. I will never again think about the Middle East and the challenges of Christian ministry there without recalling our brothers and sisters in Christ in Jordan.

Which brings me to my final interest in taking the Jordan trip: religious freedom. Especially in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks by radical Muslims and the ongoing persecution of Christians throughout the Islamic world, I have long held great concern for the matter of religious freedom.

Baptists have always believed-and were pioneers in advocating it for all people-that true religion is uncoerced and that all men must be free to make their own decisions about matters of faith. Not the state, nor the church, nor the family, but every individual as an image-bearer of God must decide what he or she believes. Baptists demand religious freedom for ourselves, as well as for those with whom we disagree about ultimate, spiritual truth.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as it is formally known, is a constitutional monarchy in which Islam is the official religion.

The 2006 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom released by the United States Department of State in September-only a week prior to my departure for Jordan-notes, "The constitution provides for freedom to practice the rites of one's religion and faith in accordance with the customs that are observed in the Kingdom, unless they violate public order or morality. According to the constitution, Islam is the state religion; religious practices that conflict with the official interpretation of Shari'a are prohibited."

The State Department report further found, "Because Shari'a law governs personal status of Muslims, converting from Islam to Christianity and proselytism of Muslims are not allowed. Muslims who do convert to another religion face societal and governmental discrimination. The government does not recognize the legality of such conversions. Under Shari'a, converts are regarded as apostates and may be denied their civil and property rights."

Although these provisions are generally not enforced, this year one convert from Muslim to Christianity was found guilty of apostasy and "stripped of many of his civil rights," according to the report. Later, the complaint against the Christian convert, filed by his brother-in-law, was dropped after the convert's wife renounced her inheritance rights. As of the filing of the report, however, the man's civil rights had not yet been restored.

The State Department report also noted a 2004 case in which a man lost all his civil rights, had his marriage annulled and was declared to be a ward of the state unless and until he renounced his conversion to Christianity. "The convert reportedly left the country with his family and is not believed to have returned," according to the report.

At best, Jordan has religious tolerance-which is no substitute for religious freedom.

During our visit to Jordan, we had the privilege of meeting with three governmental and quasi-governmental leaders. In each meeting, I pressed the question of religious freedom and how it differs from religious tolerance, noting that Baptists believe religious freedom is an unalienable gift from God that should be recognized and protected by the state.

The responses to my queries ranged from rambling discourses about the difficulties of such matters in the Islamic culture to acknowledgement that Jordan's status of religious tolerance is less than ideal.

The most hopeful comment came from His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal-the former Crown Prince of Jordan. Prince Hassan's commitment to better interfaith relations is demonstrated by his founding of RIIFS-the co-sponsor of our tour. He agreed that religious freedom is the preferred ideal, while telling me, "The politics of brinksmanship and crisis management make it difficult to address the issue you are rightly raising."

Religious freedom, of course, is not merely a Baptist concern. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

It should be noted that Jordan has good relations with the United States and is actively attempting to quell the more extremist elements of Islam. Jordan is America's friend and for that we must be thankful.

Still, the United States government and private citizens like 10 Baptist newspaper editors have the obligation to continue to press upon Jordanians and the rest of the Islamic world the crucial, universal truth of religious freedom as a necessary component to complete human rights.

Let us pray for the emergence of Muslim leaders in Jordan and beyond who will champion religious freedom for Christians and other religious minorities in the Islamic world, recognizing this fundamental human right given by God to all peoples must be protected by their governments.