During my recent travels overseas, I was alarmed at the growing incidences of anti-Christian bigotry in nations once considered Christian. It appears every other religion or people group is considered sacrosanct – except Christianity! Anti-Christian bigotry is also increasing in South Africa.
Woolworths have taken the unprecedented decision to ban all magazines of a Christian nature from their stores, with immediate effect. When I and the magazines in question, enquired about this alarming trend from Woolworths CEO, Simon Susman, we got contradictory responses.
Mr. Susman’s response to my enquiry was that “Woolworths has had a policy in place for many years of not stocking political & religious magazines in their stores." According to Mr. Susman, Woolworths suddenly realised their error and booted the Christian magazines out of their stores. However, political magazines like Time & Newsweek were not.
In response to a question from a Christian shopper on Woolworths Facebook page, their legal department provides a completely contradictory response – citing poor sales.
I have been addressing anti-Christian bigotry for more than a decade. Christianity always seem to get singled out for abuse because Christians typically shrug their shoulders and move on with life. However, if we continue in this attitude, we will soon have nothing to defend. Christian media is the most effective means of promoting Christian truth in a society dominated by the liberal media.
Woolworth’s unilateral decision to kick Christian magazines out of their stores for no good reason is another troubling example of anti-Christian bigotry in South Africa – and it must be stopped!
If Woolworths are allowed to throw Christian literature out of their stores on a whim without a response from Christian citizens – it sends out a message that Christian citizens are unconcerned.
As a Christian, my family and I have made the principled decision not to shop at Woolworths stores until this unfair and discriminatory policy against the Christian media is revoked.
