Persecution: Coming your way

Persecution, one of our "end times signs" is an ongoing story that doesn't receive nearly enough coverage. One can go to several news sites on a daily basis and follow the story of Christian and Jewish persecution, and simply review the recent headlines:

Voice of the Martyrs

- Nigeria: Christians Killed
- Iraq: Believers Warned to Leave
- India: Christians Attacked
- Nigeria: Pastor and Wife Killed
- Iran: Christians Arrested
- Vietnam: Family Flees

Or, one can go to Persecution Hot Spots, and see a listing of the most violent anti-Christian areas of the world:

The reclusive communist nation of North Korea tops the list for the fifth year in a row, followed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia and Maldives. The five worst countries are unchanged from last year’s World Watch List. Yemen (No. 8 last year), Bhutan (No. 6 last year), Vietnam (No. 7 last year), Laos (same) and Afghanistan (No. 11 last year) hold spots 6-10.

Islam is the majority religion in six of the top 10 countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen and Afghanistan. Three countries have communist governments: North Korea, Vietnam and Laos. Bhutan is the only Buddhist country in the top 10.

“During the last 10 years we’ve seen the situation change from isolated persecution news reporting in the Christian media to now where it’s common to see even secular press coverage of attacks on Christians,” says Jeff Taylor, Vice President of Development and Communications for Open Doors International. “My concern is whether the positive growth in reporting is resulting in a corresponding loss of interest – a kind of ‘Christian persecution news fatigue.’”

With this as a backdrop, we turn to Todd Strandberg's latest "Nearing Midnight" commentary "The Business of Causing People Distress":

I doubt that most Americans grasp how hostile Europe has become to the preaching of the Holy Word of God

Dale McAlpine made news last week when he was arrested for telling passersby that homosexuality is a sin. The 42-year-old Baptist who has preached Christianity in Workington, Cumbria, for years said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the Word of God.

Last year, Miguel Hayworth, 29, was threatened with arrest for simply reading extracts from the Bible in public. While preaching in the city of Manchester, he was approached on more than one occasion by several police officers who accused him of inciting hatred with homophobic and racial comments.

One plain-clothes officer, who was with the other two uniformed officers, said: "It is against the law to preach and hand out tracts; preaching causes offense and handing out tracts is harassment and could result in an arrest."

What is being used against Christians in Britain is the Public Order Act. It started in 1936 to control rioters and has evolved over the years. The big change came in 2006 with the Racial and Religious Hatred Act. It bars inciting hatred against a person on the grounds of his or her religion.

A key problem with the law is the ability of the police officer to charge anyone who is causing “alarm or distress.” To be labeled as an offender, all one needs to do is run afoul of someone else’s sinful lifestyle. I don't see how the Bible can still be regarded as "the Good Book" if reading it in public qualifies as hate speech.

There seems to be a global conspiracy at work because this type of anti-Christian policy is found in many other Western nations. I have friends who tell me there is almost the same level of restriction in Canada. Joseph Chambers is one of our featured writers, and he recently was going up north to preach at a church there. The Canadian border police would not let him bring one of his books into the country. They said it was flagged for its hateful commentary.

We are now seeing signs that religious liberty in American may be next to fall. Franklin Graham caused the Pentagon some distress over his stated views on Islam. Graham was “dis-invited” by the Army to speak at a National Day of Prayer ceremony at the Pentagon because he said Islam was an evil religion.

I don't see how the Army can find the grounds to take Graham to task. Wasn't it Muslims who flew a plane into the Pentagon? Did not Nidal Malik Hasan kill twelve people and wound thirty at Fort Hood, Texas, in the name of Islam?

One of the biggest problems with the church today is that pastors have gotten out of the business of causing people distress. If you tell people they are lost and bound for a lake of fire, it is very likely that they will feel distress over this type of revelation.

Jesus warned that we would be persecuted because the world hated Him first. I believe we need to hold firm because the time of our departure is drawing near. When we all stand before the great white throne for judgment, the Lord will mostly likely be saying our fault will be that we didn’t distress them enough.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me” (John 15:18-21).

Once again, I believe this is all part of the "paving of the road" to the Tribulation. There is a day coming in which anyone who doesn't worship the antichrist and take his "mark" - will be put to death. Such scenarios don't pop up over night. It takes time, and we are simply observing this progression of persecution. And its getting worse.

In America, ranging from from subtle persecution in the schools and workplaces, to systematic government intervention- we see signs everyday that attacks on those with faith, or on those who have the audacity to proclaim their faith publicly - have increased significantly over the course of this last generation.

In other countries Christians are imprisoned and tortured simply for owning a Bible, or getting caught engaging in a Bible study.

As mentioned yesterday - the world is shaping up in a perfect manner for the arrival of the antichrist. Much of his work is already being done and the pieces are being put in place.

But it had to be this way. We're just seeing glimpses of what is to come.