Persecution

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them,

and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

(Hebrews 13:3 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/

Christians are persecuted in many countries.  Some live in countries where the government or terrorist groups are persecuting them.  Their property is confiscated or destroyed, and they are arrested, tortured, and sometimes killed.  In other countries, they are persecuted by their families, the community, and terrorist groups.  To learn more, you can logon to https://www.persecution.com or type, voice of the martyrs, in the search box of your web browser.

Please pray for them.

On October 27, 2018, 11 people were shot to death in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Seven other people were injured, including four responding police officers.  The shooter is said to have shouted “Death to all Jews.” while committing mass murder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_synagogue_shooting

The Tree of Life shootings have been described as hate crimes.  Broadcast news programs have reported that, in the United States, the most frequent victims of hate crimes are Jewish people, their cemeteries, and houses of worship.

It is easy for Americans to think of religious persecution as a foreign problem.  After all, the First Amendment to our constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all who live within our borders.  However, it is not just a foreign problem.

Hollywood, the television industry, and other media continually portray people of faith as bigoted, cruel, hateful, people who want to force others to conform to their beliefs.  Or, religious persons are portrayed as ignorant buffoons who must be shown a better way.

Religious speakers on college campuses are ridiculed and/or shouted down when they try to present their views on subjects like intelligent design (creationism), limiting abortion, or the fallacies of atheism.  Professors actively discourage, and even punish, Christian students when they speak to subjects in class from a religious perspective; or do so in their written work.

The matter is as bad, if not worse, in the public schools.  Prayer groups, t-shirts with religious slogans, and moments of silence have been forbidden in some schools.  The pledge of allegiance has been altered or stopped because it contains the words “under God.”  Students have been subjected to ridicule when they have talked about their family’s values, and teachers have referred to their parents as “bigots” and haters.”   Some public schools have attempted to “normalize” alternative lifestyles through class discussion and reading materials.  Contraceptives have been provided to students without parental notification or consent.

People are discouraged and prevented from praying in, or near, courthouses and other public buildings.  The Ten Commandments, crosses, and other religious symbols have been removed from public places.  An atheist named Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein has almost singlehandedly destroyed the Chaplaincy in our military, and he is responsible for prohibitions against proselytizing (read witnessing or discussing your faith) between service persons.

Christmas celebrations have been called “winter holiday celebrations,” and such.  Stores have encouraged their employees to wish customers a “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Christmas carols are no longer sung in some schools.

Christians have been forced out of business for refusing to participate in same sex marriage ceremonies.  People have been fired for making statements in favor of traditional marriage.  A county official was punished for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.  Attempts have been made to force employers to provide health insurance that includes providing for contraceptives and abortions, when it is against their sincerely held religious beliefs to do so.

It is illegal to attempt to dissuade pregnant women from having an abortion, in proximity to an abortion clinic.  In some places, abortions can be obtained by minors without notifying their parents or obtaining parental consent.

What I have said here is by no means inclusive.  I will, however, stop in the interest of time.  In conclusion, I will just say

1.    Religious persecution in America is just as real as it is overseas.

2.    We must pray for those who persecute, as well as the persecuted.

3.    Whether we are believers, atheists, or whatever, we must treat each other with kindness, dignity, and respect.

4.    Those of us who follow Christ are told in the Holy Bible to expect persecution, and we should not be surprised when it comes.  We are living in the prelude to the Great Tribulation (or Time of Jacob’s Trouble), and Jesus predicted trouble in the End Times.

5.    Christians overseas are risking prison, beatings, death, being ostracized from their communities, and the loss of friends, family and possessions to tell others about Jesus Christ.  We here in America can do no less.