The nation of Laos is currently in the process of attempting to
eradicate Christianity from within its borders. Throughout the Muslim
world, Christians are suffering and dying for their faith.
Anti-Christian sentiment is even growing within the United States. My
e-mail box is often filled with vitriolic anti-Christian messages.
Hollywood's attacks against Christianity are common, as are those from
within public-school classrooms.
These recent anti-Christian attacks reminded me of a presentation
made by an attorney for Senator Brownback. Speaking at a Human Rights
Conference on Religious Persecution a couple of years ago, she noted
that:
- Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the
world. - More Christians have been martyred in this century than in all
preceding centuries combined. - 200,000,000 Christians currently experience severe persecution.
- 400,000,000 Christians experience serious discrimination.
- One-fourth of the world is still under atheistic communism.
- A half of the people in the world cannot openly share their
faith. - Millions of Christians meet in secret cell meetings.
- 80 percent of all Christians live in non-Western countries.
- 77 countries are reported by the U.S. State Department as
engaging in severe religious persecution.
Many governments have security forces specifically designed to
monitor people of faith.
Likewise, organizations such as the ACLU (otherwise known as the
"Anti-Christian Liberties Union"), Liberals United for the Separation of
God & Country, and the People for the Un-American Way are doing their
best to eradicate all Christian influences from America's life and
culture. For all practical purposes, this has already taken place within
the public spectrum. (We can thank our liberal federal courts for that.)
The attacks against Christian influence are now even seen in the
private sector, including churches. If you doubt that, talk to members
of the Boy Scouts or members of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple in
Indianapolis Indiana.
Founding Father Noah Webster is regarded as the father of America's
education system. In 1832, he published his "History of the United
States." In this classic work he says, "The brief exposition of the
Constitution of the United States, will unfold to young persons the
principles of republican government; and it is the sincere desire of the
writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source
of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New
Testament or the Christian religion." He goes on to say, "... to this
(Christianity) we owe our free Constitutions of government."
For 2,000 years the world has repudiated the Christian message and
reviled the Christian messenger. But for some 200 years now America has
stood alone as a beacon of hope for those who desire to worship God in
the sweet sanctuary of liberty. Should the anti-Christian radicals ever
get their way, this repository of faith and freedom will also be lost.
When confronted by such an egregious enemy, Christians (and other lovers
of liberty) ought to seriously resist, therefore, any temptation of
reclusion or passivity.