Persecution

It seems that almost every day we yet another story involving persecution - usually it involved shootings, imprisonment, torture, kidnappings, and other horrible violent acts against Christians (link: "Voice of the Martyrs").

The more extreme forms of persecution are obviously found in parts of the world where radical Islam rules, and of course, places like China and North Korea, where Christians are forced into work camps, and separated from their families for their remaining lives.

But even in countries which theoretically embrace freedom of religion, countries such as the U.S. and the U.K. - we are seeing persecution creep into daily life. What began as a very insidious form of persecution in such countries is now becoming more and more pronounced.

"Tell the terminally ill to 'trust God', get yourself fired"

The dismissal of a town employee who had an unblemished record of counseling housing clients for 18 years has been affirmed by a job tribunal because he mentioned God to a terminally ill woman.

Officials said an appeal will be filed in the case, in which Amachree was fired for "gross misconduct for suggesting to a client with an incurable illness not to give up hope and to try putting her faith in God."

Wandsworth fired Amachree, and an employment tribunal now has determined that action was reasonable.

"The tribunal also found that the council had not discriminated against Mr. Amachree on the basis of his religion. In addition, the tribunal took the view that Duke had breached confidentiality by publicizing his case," the report said.

The startling decision is being reported by the Christian Legal Centre, which argued the case on behalf of Duke Amachree against the decision by the Wandsworth town council

"We are stunned that the tribunal failed to recognize the draconian way in which Mr. Amachree was treated," said Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of the organization that advocates on behalf of religious rights across the United Kingdom.

This decision will send yet more shock waves through the Christian community when they realize that a couple of comments encouraging faith in God can lead to a person being dismissed for gross misconduct," Williams said.

Duke, a committed Christian and father of two, lost the job he'd held for 18 years for the incident. His comments came in one brief visit to a client, and resulted in six months of investigations and three interviews by town officials.

His defense counsel even was told by the city that saying "God bless" would require an investigation if word was brought to officials.

"I am devastated by the outcome," Amachree said in a statement released by the center. "This is a sad day for Christians who simply want to live out their faith in the workplace without fear."

We see these stories appearing with increasing frequency. Just mentioning the name of the Christian God is now grounds for firing. And it barely gets a ripple in the news. Business as usual in these last days.

A day is coming in which these same people - those who hate Christians and hate the God of the Holy Bible will get their wish. Christians will be removed from the planet - and the utopia envisioned by these who persecute will seemingly come.

Unfortunately for them, this utopia will not last very long. The initial euphoria will soon end:

"...the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying 'peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

We have a different fate - as described in the same passage:

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness...We do not belong to the night or to the darkness...For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ...Therefore encourage one another and build each other up..."

(1 Thessalonians 5:4-11).

Maranatha!