8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down,
but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so
that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
When Paul wrote those words, he was speaking to a church
which had and would continue to encounter prejudice and persecution from the
people of the world – much like the world we live in.
Understand, America's persecution is not like that of
Ugandan Pastor Umar Mulinde who had acid thrown in his face. We have not
experienced the pain of Eva Abdullah, a 17-year-old girl from Tanzania who has
been disowned by her parents and jailed for two years for having insulted the
Koran. We are not in mourning like the family of Egyptian Refaat Eskander who
was murdered hours after propaganda promised a bounty to anyone who kills
Christian Copts.
Even so, in a 140-page report released by the Family Research
Council and Liberty Institute maintains America's Christians are being
persecuted. The report cites examples like that
* of a federal judge, who threatened to jail a
high-school valedictorian, if "Jesus" wasn't removed from her
graduation speech,
* or city officials, who stopped seniors from praying
over meals, listening to religious messages, or singing Gospel songs at their
activities center,
* or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which
wanted to forbid a pastor from praying or referring to Jesus during a Memorial
Day ceremony and
* a federal judge, who said prayers before a State House
of Representatives could be made to Allah but not to Jesus.
Quite frankly, I can't tell you which form of persecution
is worse. I know which one is more violent, but I don't know whether violence
or slowly undermining freedom of speech and religion is more effective.
I may not live long enough to get a complete answer to
that question.
But my children will and so will my grandchildren. Again
and again we hear politicians and economists talk about the financial debts and
burdens we are leaving those who come after us. If the figures they quote are
correct, our descendants will indeed be carrying a heavy burden.
But that burden is minor and of little consequence when
compared to the spiritual threat that will come to those who live in a society
which has proudly declared its delusional independence from God.
That is why I find myself crying out to God that our
country would once again turn its heart, soul and mind back to God.
Dear Lord, We pray that our nations' leaders and citizens
repent of their unbelief and be brought to the knowledge that only through You
there is salvation and hope. Protect our loved ones from persecution. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.
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