Persecution

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Persecution against Christianity is ongoing and growing in the United States.  Secular culture has no problem with apathetic, nominal, or liberal Christianity.  However, Christians that believe and practice Biblical teachings are a problem to them and have come under attack in the United States.  Stereotypical labels and personal attacks have been used to demonize these Christians by political leaders and liberals in general for several years.  The terms religious right, fundamentalist Christian, fanatical fringe, born again Christian, are some of the names given to such Christians.  When a prominent senator said in July, 2004, “The religious right has never looked so ridiculous,” he was continuing the slander and manipulation that has been directed at a particular segment of Christianity for at least a decade.  His slander was due to the fact that Evangelical Christians were supporting a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.  Also, a current United States senator publicly stated that speaking in opposition to the homosexual agenda is hate speech and such speech could incite hate crimes against homosexuals and should also be a crime.  Christians should be alarmed at the danger that religious liberty would be under if speech upholding Biblical principals becomes a crime. Speech in favor of Biblical cultural values is often labeled as ‘hate speech’ by the secular left, while crude slanderous personal attacks against political conservatives and Christian leaders are called ’free speech’ by these same people.  One city recently brought legal action against a group of people who were having a Bible study in their home under the pretense that they were violating a zoning ordinance.  People are being asked not to wear crosses or place Bibles on their desks and the list goes on as the political correct thing has become to view Christians as intolerant, hateful, and divisive.  Nativity scenes are being banned and the term Christmas is being replaced with ‘winter holidays’ in many places.  However, the vile and the pornographic is being zealously protected under the guise of free speech.  It has been gradual, but the loss of Christian religious freedom in the last thirty years, has been dramatic.  The Bible has much to say about the Christian response to worldly secular principles such as the verse above.