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Persecution of Christians is at an all-time high pushing it to near genocide levels. What is genocide? The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of a national, racial, religious, or ethnic group; which means wiping a people off the face of the earth! This is happening in the whole world with Christians being targeted with one of the most recent attacks happening in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday with over 250 people being murdered by a terrorist. It is major what is happening, and as Christians, we must be aware and prayerful about this.
The Middle East has been hit hard with Christian persecution and according to a report ordered by British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, states that in Iraq, Christians have fallen from 1.5 million before 2003 to now less than 120,000. This took place after ISIS, a terrorist group, was killing Christians and marking their homes with the letter “N” for Nazarene. While also crucifying Christians and Muslims who weren’t Muslim enough. When President Donald Trump was put in office, he immediately dealt with ISIS by sending in soldiers to take them out of power which has taken place. This was an answer to prayer as many of us were praying for the ending of that terrorist group that brought so much harm to innocent people.
Molly Line with Fox News reports on the fact that Christian persecution is near-genocidal levels which is based on the report from the British Foreign Secretary, “Christian persecution in some parts of the world is, quote, ‘Close to meeting the international definition of genocide.’ With Christians being targeted by extremist groups in the Middle East, Sub-Sahara Africa, and East Asia.” She also asks this question, should this be a worldwide wakeup call? The enemy is working hard trying to remove God’s people from the earth, but he will not win!
Also, according to the report from the British Foreign Secretary, one in three people suffer from religious persecution with Christians being the most persecuted religious group. This is why it is important who the leader is of our country. We must vote for someone who will protect our religious freedom. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, comments on the Christian persecution taking place. “The indescribable tragedy that Christianity is now under such threat in the Middle East, an area where Christians have lived for 2,000 years, and across which Islam spread in 700 A.D. with people of different faiths living together peaceably for centuries. It seems to me that our future is a free society both here in Britain and throughout the world depends on recognizing the crucial role played by people of faith. And of course, religious faith is even more convincing to those outside the faith when it is expressed with humility and compassion; giving space to others whatever their beliefs.”
Many see America as a place where persecution does not happen, but even though right now there is not much physical persecution, Christianity is persecuted every day in other ways. Christianity is especially persecuted through our government where many elected officials are working to remove God from our laws and passing laws that are completely against God’s Word and the U.S. Constitution. At the same time, secular media is attacking Christians and Christianity daily. How much longer until this turns into physical persecution on Christians? There has already been Churches burned, and people entering Churches to murder God’s people. As more of God is removed from our country the closer we will get to the same persecution that happens all over the world. President Trump is working hard with those that are working with him in our government as they change laws to align them with our Constitution while recognizing God is God. God will bless a nation whose God is the Lord!
America is one of the largest most prosperous nations in the world! We must speak up for those being wrongly persecuted because if we don’t then who will? Martin Niemoller, German theologian and pastor said, “First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak out for me.” We can’t sit back anymore allowing people to be killed for what they believe in!
We must have compassion on those being persecuted all over the world; Christians are called to be global Christians! As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.” We can reach out to defend those facing this persecution through prayers and by financially supporting ministries that are on the front lines with Christians facing this persecution. Open Doors is one such ministry which serves persecuted Christians worldwide as the world’s largest outreach to persecuted Christians in the most high-risk places and brings awareness to us of the persecution taking place.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:35-40
It matters in the eyes of God how we respond to those being persecuted, and it matters to those facing persecution! We take time to pray for the persecuted Church every week, and you can join us in that too! We want to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected]. Greg and John shared in this segment.
Image courtesy of Storyblocks.com
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