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.

The Big Picture on the Caravans

Throughout history, most people have wanted to be left in peace in order that they could do their work, raise their children, worship, and enjoy a little rest from their labor.  Some have prospered, and others have not.

People have learned that it helps to organize socially and politically because their needs can be met more efficiently as a group.  Sometimes, this has worked for the benefit of the people, but often it has been a privileged few who have lived well off the labor of others.

History teaches us that it is necessary to be willing to defend what you have to keep others from taking it.  Poor people, driven by need, have tried to take what belonged to their more prosperous neighbors (the Russian Revolution).  Occasionally, conquest has taken place to advance religious or political belief systems.  However, the lust for wealth and power were part of that mix, as well (the Crusades, Byzantium’s fall to the Sultan Mehmed beginning the Ottoman Empire).  Stronger cultures, or the rich and powerful, have taken the land, freedom and possessions of those who were too weak, or unwilling, to defend what they had (the Axis powers in WWII).  Consequently, History has often been a story of conflict, bloodshed, slavery, rape, and tears.

Since World War II (WWII), the United States has been invaded by migrants who have entered and stayed here illegally.  We can argue about who is to blame, but the fact remains that there are somewhere between 11 million and 20 million persons residing illegally in the United States right now.  They come from all over: Asia, Mexico, Central America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and South America.  Another inescapable fact, often ignored, is that if they are here illegally they are by definition outlaws who are taking what does not belong to them.

So far, our government has been unable and unwilling to do what is necessary to stop illegal migration.  Over the last 70 years, Americans have become inured to it.  Wrong begins to look like right.

The American love of fundamental fairness makes us reluctant to act in our own best interest. Our diverse, heterogeneous population is composed of people who do not always share the same culture, language, or economic condition.  Our freedoms of speech and press lend themselves to the development of opposing points of view.  We have trouble reaching a consensus about how best to solve our problems.  Our enemies try to exploit our divisions … to their peril.  In the long run, our openness and quarrelsomeness are our strength.

Today’s news reports that as many as five Caravans of foreign persons are organizing or moving toward the United States from Central America and Mexico.  The closest of these may be over 14,000 strong.  The news also reports that these caravans are supported by foreign governments, radical pro-immigration groups, and (of course) George Soros.  In addition to legitimate asylum seekers, there are gang members, drug smugglers, and terrorists.  The latest reports say that many are armed.

Lamp in a Corner has always supported legal immigration.  We support granting asylum to people who are truly in danger from political or religious persecution in their native country.  During WWII, the USA refused to admit European Jews who were fleeing Nazi persecution.  We must not make that mistake again.  We should admit those refugees who we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt are not terrorists.  All who are admitted must be willing to swear allegiance to the United States and avow that they want to become loyal citizens.

I used to think that a border wall was an unnecessary expense.  Now I see why the wall is necessary. The caravans are an attempt by our enemies to manipulate the unfortunate people who have become the victims of poverty and social unrest in their own countries.  Our enemies want to defeat our attempts to regain control of our borders by overwhelming them.  The caravans demonstrate how badly things have gotten out of control.

Make no mistake, the leading caravan is only the first.  The United States is being invaded, and we must turn back the caravans as humanely as possible.  However, they must be turned back.  The whole world will be watching.  Our critics will be finding fault with anything we do in our own defense.  Our enemies will see it as a test of our resolve to defend ourselves.

I urge congress to meet in an emergency session to close the loopholes in the law so that those entering the country on the pretext of asylum may be turned back without due process.  Due process should be reserved for those who apply for asylum legally.

I urge President Trump to:

1.    Be careful that he does not give his opponents grounds to file charges of impeachment.

2.    With or without the consent of the Mexican government, the President must send combat branch troops to Mexico under the War Powers Act to contain and drive back the caravans before they cross the border.  If force is needed, nonlethal force should be used.  However, our commanders on the ground should have the authority to order our troops return fire if fired upon.

In a week, Americans will be voting in a national election.  I urge you to vote only for those candidates who will defend the country from this kind of invasion.  This is important.  We must show our enemies that they can’t take what is ours.