That is something which has gained a new relevance in today’s secular society in which Christianity is becoming increasingly marginalised.  The Christian’s duty is clear.  We must at all times and in all places stand up boldly for Our Lord by opposing what we know from him to be wrong, and by defending what we have learnt from him to be right, whatever opposition we may meet in so doing.

At a time when abortion is an accepted part of medical practice and there are increasingly strident calls for euthanasia to be legalised, particular courage is required to defend the sanctity of human life from conception onwards.  And there are many others areas of life where the Christian voice needs to be heard.

Jesus himself has summed up the matter for us very simply, “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven” (NRSV, Matthew 10:32-33).

For whether we like it or not, we are faced with the choice of bearing witness to Our Lord and incurring opposition, or of surrendering to the opposition and so failing him.  We shall not in this country be martyred for upholding the Christian faith and Christian standards, but we must display the same resolution as the martyrs have done.