Dear Nazir S Bhatti, Greetings from Lahore. Thank you for your email about being awarded the title of Knight and Grand Prior of the Knights Templar Order of Scotland in Pakistan. As a British person, of which Scotland is a part, I cannot understand why a Pakistani Christian would see this as an honour worth having. The Crusades were a very dark and shameful period in the history of Christianity and the Church. In the name of Jesus, over serveral centuries, thousands of Muslims, Jews and Eastern Christians were slaughtered. The popes and political leaders of Europe misinterpreted the Bible and fought major wars against the Muslims. In the end the Muslims won and the main prize, Jerusalem, was lost. I would strongly recommend that you declined this dubious honour. There is no izzat in it, only a shameful memory of a black period in church history. This still affects Christian-Muslims relations today. How do you propose to defend Christian faith in Pakistan? Where will you fly your banner? Are you declaring war on Muslims? Knights are fighters and warriors, not men of peace who follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. From what you have written about the Knights Templars I can see nothing spiritual or of the Holy Spirit. At the least this order is completely irrelevant to the currrent situation of Christians in Pakistan. If you use any of the Templers' warlike terminology you will be misunderstood and may put yourself in physical danger. I suggest that pride may be a part in your decision to accept this title. Yours sincerely, Andrew Harwood PS I am a member of OM Team, Pakistan, but this email is written as an entirely personal response to what I have read in your email.