'Jesus Saves' Banner ordered off farmhouse roof
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Sep 1, 2010, 2:37:23 AM9/1/10
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Faith Under Fire.......
'Jesus Saves' Banner ordered off farmhouse roof
'You're allowed to believe in anything, as long as it's nothing to do with Christians'
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
"If it'd said 'Allah Akbar', the council wouldn't have dared to try and remove it," says Marianne Bons, a member of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church. She's talking about a farm roof on which 'Jesus saves' is painted in enormous letters. The council says the text has to go. The farm's owner, evangelical Christian Joop van Ooijen, is refusing to obey. The affair has united Christians of all persuasions behind the message.
"You're allowed to believe in anything in this country, as long as it's nothing to do with Christians or the Church," says Ms Bos, describing the prevailing Dutch attitude to religion.
Mr Van Ooijen has held out for two years, refusing to remove the message from his roof. Giessenlanden local council is fining him 500 euros a week, but he refuses to pay. He has been fighting the council decision for two years and says he's willing to go to the European Court if necessary.
Mr Van Ooijen and Ms Bons both live in Alblasserwaard, an area near Rotterdam, in the heart of the Dutch bible belt. The position adopted by Giessenlanden Council has met with disbelief in this predominantly Christian region.
The council argues that it's pollution of the landscape. Giessenlanden Councillor Berend Buddingh explains that white letters on a red roof is too big a colour contrast. Mr Van Ooijen counters that it is "too big a contrast with the councillor's own beliefs".
The farmer is receiving support from all over the Netherlands, from secular as well as religious people and from ordinary Christians, not just members of his evangelical church. And from less strict members of his own church, such as the Bons family. "He's literally shouting it from the rooftops," says the father of the family, Menno Bons, admiringly.
'Jesus Saves' Banner ordered off farmhouse roof
'You're allowed to believe in anything, as long as it's nothing to do with Christians'
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
"If it'd said 'Allah Akbar', the council wouldn't have dared to try and remove it," says Marianne Bons, a member of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church. She's talking about a farm roof on which 'Jesus saves' is painted in enormous letters. The council says the text has to go. The farm's owner, evangelical Christian Joop van Ooijen, is refusing to obey. The affair has united Christians of all persuasions behind the message.
"You're allowed to believe in anything in this country, as long as it's nothing to do with Christians or the Church," says Ms Bos, describing the prevailing Dutch attitude to religion.
Mr Van Ooijen has held out for two years, refusing to remove the message from his roof. Giessenlanden local council is fining him 500 euros a week, but he refuses to pay. He has been fighting the council decision for two years and says he's willing to go to the European Court if necessary.
Mr Van Ooijen and Ms Bons both live in Alblasserwaard, an area near Rotterdam, in the heart of the Dutch bible belt. The position adopted by Giessenlanden Council has met with disbelief in this predominantly Christian region.
The council argues that it's pollution of the landscape. Giessenlanden Councillor Berend Buddingh explains that white letters on a red roof is too big a colour contrast. Mr Van Ooijen counters that it is "too big a contrast with the councillor's own beliefs".
The farmer is receiving support from all over the Netherlands, from secular as well as religious people and from ordinary Christians, not just members of his evangelical church. And from less strict members of his own church, such as the Bons family. "He's literally shouting it from the rooftops," says the father of the family, Menno Bons, admiringly.
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