The sultan of Brunei has recently declared that homosexual engagements, adultery, theft and many other sins can be subjected to capital punishment and amputation. These recent laws stem from the Sharia Law, which is a legal interpretation of the Quran. In addition, Brunei has been under martial law since the 1960s, allowing the sultan to apply laws easily since he cannot be overthrown.
When the new laws hit the internet, influencers and celebrities quickly jumped into action, asking their followers to boycott Brunei-run businesses such as Hotel Bel-air and the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Although this issue may seem too distant for us to care, Christians should be doing everything they can to reach out to those living in fear. The people of Brunei need help now more than ever, and as much as the Islamic nation does not recognize Christianity as being good, our help is still necessary.
HOW THE NEW LAW AFFECTS US
The new Sharia law implemented in Brunei is detrimental to its population because it provokes widespread fear. It is true that the law is mainly trying to prevent scriptural sins. However, sinfulness lives within our nature. We must understand that no sin is greater than another, and therefore capital punishment should not be taken into our own hands.
Furthermore, all the new Sharia law does is instigate fear among its residents. Although having fear of God is good, fearing other humans only makes us hide our sin further. Not having a secure community to which the citizens of Brunei can connect leaves them alone. This loneliness caused by this fear does not solve any issues, and if anything, it increases the number of people who will find their comfort in sin.
Additionally, many of our brothers and sisters who struggle with these sins may feel discouraged. Though the Brunei law targets different sins, homosexuality seems to always become the focus. Again, no sin is greater than another, but it seems that homosexuality is more oppressed against. We need to understand the suffering of those around us and make ourselves available to help.
HELP AND NEXT STEPS
To help, we must first understand that the world sees homosexuality through a polarized worldview. While conservative Christians believe it is a sinful way of life, liberals tend to be more linear toward the idea of homosexuality being part of human DNA. This causes a great disconnect between those seeking help, and those able to provide that help. Because some Christian countries have held massive persecutions against the LGBTQ+, those struggling tend to assume anyone who is Christian will not be available to assist them.
We must make sure to become more welcoming to those who are suffering near us. Whether they are struggling with homosexuality, adultery or simply because their family is in Brunei, we should make ourselves present to help.
Help can be as simple as joining forces with those boycotting anything with ties to Brunei and its sultan. We can also invite those suffering from oppression in the country to talk to us, a process in which making ourselves available is always the first step. Lastly, prayer, although cliche, is needed more than ever now. Citizens of countries like Venezuela and Brunei are calling us to help, and all that is required of us to ask the Lord to aid them—and ask him to use us.
Finally, we should strive to get rid of laws such as the sultan’s by fighting against them as we can. Right now one of the main options seems to be boycotting the businesses he owns. The brutality this new Sharia law instigates is inhuman and should not be experienced by any nation.
