State of Universal Persecution (Part 1)
Persecution is a topic of high priority because it's universal issue that effects everybody regardless of there beliefs or views.
Persecution is a
topic of high priority because it's universal issue that effects
everybody regardless of there beliefs or views. It's important that we
pray for those Christian's that are being persecuted for their faith. However,
we are also compelled to pray for others as well, because their going
through the same pain as well. The act of persecution is the same,
regardless of who is at the receiving end of it. As a result, we need to
display solidarity upon others that are going through this suffering as
well. Again, this is a universal issue that no one is immune.
The love of God compels us to pray to those Christians suffering physical or verbal assaults for there beliefs. People fail God's word when they highlight the suffering one goes through, but ignore the pain of. The topic of persecution is trivialized when this happens. A vital topic is deemed unimportant when painted in the light that it only happens to one particular group, and no one else, even when others are suffering as well.
This is going to be a harsher topic to cover, but for different reasons that don't conform to those of typical Evangelist. Because religious persecution is a universal issue, I would feel required to make note of the suffering of others. Discounting and ignoring there suffering would be a misuse of God's word. This is the case because we are called to display God's love both to use and others in time of need. Their pain can't be dismissed just because there suffering isn't perceived to be a church issue.
In those times, solidarity needs to be displayed, because we are on the same level. Jesus displayed God's love to various groups. Even groups that were despised by the local populations at the time. Jesus performed spiritual outreach to those marginalized by society, like the poor, those with diseases, and minorities.
Jesus recognized the pain that Christians go through, and as a result, we are called out to pray for persecuted Christians. The prayers don't stop there though. God's love calls on us to pray for those going through the same trauma and experiences that we Christians gone through. Because Jesus was man himself, he recognizes the plight that one would suffer from on a regular basis. Especially those that didn't conform to what the political establishment deemed desired. In most ways, this way of thinking has been preserved to the modern day.
Some will say that the pain that others isn't a relevant church topic because they aren't Christian. However, I would argue this global issue of faith is very relevant to the church setting. The reason for this is that the ignorance of the pain that others gone through can have a direct impact on the church in the future in a undesired way. Not only the church, but society as a whole in a negative response.
The love of God compels us to pray to those Christians suffering physical or verbal assaults for there beliefs. People fail God's word when they highlight the suffering one goes through, but ignore the pain of. The topic of persecution is trivialized when this happens. A vital topic is deemed unimportant when painted in the light that it only happens to one particular group, and no one else, even when others are suffering as well.
This is going to be a harsher topic to cover, but for different reasons that don't conform to those of typical Evangelist. Because religious persecution is a universal issue, I would feel required to make note of the suffering of others. Discounting and ignoring there suffering would be a misuse of God's word. This is the case because we are called to display God's love both to use and others in time of need. Their pain can't be dismissed just because there suffering isn't perceived to be a church issue.
In those times, solidarity needs to be displayed, because we are on the same level. Jesus displayed God's love to various groups. Even groups that were despised by the local populations at the time. Jesus performed spiritual outreach to those marginalized by society, like the poor, those with diseases, and minorities.
Jesus recognized the pain that Christians go through, and as a result, we are called out to pray for persecuted Christians. The prayers don't stop there though. God's love calls on us to pray for those going through the same trauma and experiences that we Christians gone through. Because Jesus was man himself, he recognizes the plight that one would suffer from on a regular basis. Especially those that didn't conform to what the political establishment deemed desired. In most ways, this way of thinking has been preserved to the modern day.
Some will say that the pain that others isn't a relevant church topic because they aren't Christian. However, I would argue this global issue of faith is very relevant to the church setting. The reason for this is that the ignorance of the pain that others gone through can have a direct impact on the church in the future in a undesired way. Not only the church, but society as a whole in a negative response.
Indifference Can Lead To Horror
This can be seen
transpiring in Myanmar (ie Burma). The Buddhist populations have
launched a campaign of genocide against the Rohingya Muslims, which in
turn, are committing acts of violence and destruction against the
Buddhist. Muslims who have no connection to extremism groups are bound
to become future terrorist at the hands of the Myanmar government and
their genocide against them. Because there persecution was rejected by
the world at large, many will seek revenge on those that ignored and
dismissed there pain as trivial nonsense. This will spur the cycle of
violence, disfranchisement, and marginalization that breeds a bloody,
vicious cycle that only knows death.
Within our own country, there are isolated hate crimes against people, regardless of their backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if one is a Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindi, Atheist, African-American, women, or of the LGBTQ community. These sporadic attacks on people for their beliefs, view , and there racial backgrounds, are, unfortunately, becoming more common. For the past couple of years, there have been rising rates of hate crimes. The latest FBI statistics have shown that hate crimes have risen again for 2 years in a row. A trend that's likely to continue.
Why is this topic being addressed. It affects those within the church setting. It also affects those outside of the church setting as well. The ministry of Jesus was focused on displaying God's love to everybody. Jesus reached out to those who have been marginalized and rejected by society. He reached to those that the establishment of the day rejected and looked down upon. Many for the same reason that various people now go through. Many don't conform to the perceived religious traditions of the land, and suffer for it. The pain that others go through need to be recognized, as well as those inflicting the pain, and recognize those that have no respect for the beliefs of others, and demanding conformity in the process.
China is a perfect example of this. Many Christian Church's have been shutdown and many devout Christians have been arrested because of there beliefs. There suffering needs to be recognized, as the suffering of Buddhist Monks who have been harassed in Tibet, with many of there temples closed as well. It's estimated that there are 1 million Muslims in “re-education” camps in Western China. These “re-education” camps are essentially prison camps for political and religious dissidents.
As mentioned before, persecution is a important issue within the church setting because it knows no political or religious affiliation. And those in these situations can be targets of that suffering and torture as well. What happened if there was a group that didn't show any respect for the sanctity of human life to anyone, regardless of there beliefs. Everyone is a potential victim as a result. During the ISIS takeover of Northern Iraq, many suffered at their hands. The Christian Community in Mosul were driven out. The Kurds, a ethnic group in the same area, were terrorized by ISIS as well. Followers of Yazidism, a religion found in the Kurdish-populated areas, were persecuted and killed for their beliefs. Women were the slaves of draconian policies forced on them by ISIS. Many women and human rights activist had to flee from the violence inflicted upon them. Shia Muslims were terrorized as well. Yes, other Muslims suffered from persecution as well. Homosexuals didn't have a chance in ISIS-controlled areas. The militants embrace Wahhabism, a very strict interpretation of Islam. Following this interpretation, followers were demanded to throw gay people off of mountains. They were using tall buildings as a substitute. Many died. Some would describe that they had to hide from their own fathers because they would turn them over to them if given the opportunity. Many suffered at their hands. Those in the path of ISIS suffered for who they were, regardless of backgrounds.
Within our own country, there are isolated hate crimes against people, regardless of their backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if one is a Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindi, Atheist, African-American, women, or of the LGBTQ community. These sporadic attacks on people for their beliefs, view , and there racial backgrounds, are, unfortunately, becoming more common. For the past couple of years, there have been rising rates of hate crimes. The latest FBI statistics have shown that hate crimes have risen again for 2 years in a row. A trend that's likely to continue.
Why is this topic being addressed. It affects those within the church setting. It also affects those outside of the church setting as well. The ministry of Jesus was focused on displaying God's love to everybody. Jesus reached out to those who have been marginalized and rejected by society. He reached to those that the establishment of the day rejected and looked down upon. Many for the same reason that various people now go through. Many don't conform to the perceived religious traditions of the land, and suffer for it. The pain that others go through need to be recognized, as well as those inflicting the pain, and recognize those that have no respect for the beliefs of others, and demanding conformity in the process.
China is a perfect example of this. Many Christian Church's have been shutdown and many devout Christians have been arrested because of there beliefs. There suffering needs to be recognized, as the suffering of Buddhist Monks who have been harassed in Tibet, with many of there temples closed as well. It's estimated that there are 1 million Muslims in “re-education” camps in Western China. These “re-education” camps are essentially prison camps for political and religious dissidents.
As mentioned before, persecution is a important issue within the church setting because it knows no political or religious affiliation. And those in these situations can be targets of that suffering and torture as well. What happened if there was a group that didn't show any respect for the sanctity of human life to anyone, regardless of there beliefs. Everyone is a potential victim as a result. During the ISIS takeover of Northern Iraq, many suffered at their hands. The Christian Community in Mosul were driven out. The Kurds, a ethnic group in the same area, were terrorized by ISIS as well. Followers of Yazidism, a religion found in the Kurdish-populated areas, were persecuted and killed for their beliefs. Women were the slaves of draconian policies forced on them by ISIS. Many women and human rights activist had to flee from the violence inflicted upon them. Shia Muslims were terrorized as well. Yes, other Muslims suffered from persecution as well. Homosexuals didn't have a chance in ISIS-controlled areas. The militants embrace Wahhabism, a very strict interpretation of Islam. Following this interpretation, followers were demanded to throw gay people off of mountains. They were using tall buildings as a substitute. Many died. Some would describe that they had to hide from their own fathers because they would turn them over to them if given the opportunity. Many suffered at their hands. Those in the path of ISIS suffered for who they were, regardless of backgrounds.
Editor's Note: I
originally wanted to keep the whole piece as one article. However, with
the inclusion of the links, the articles exploded in size. As a result,
this will be a multi-part series.
Articles of Interest
State of Universal Persecution (Part 2)
Kixmiller Pigeon
RKIXMILLER.DUDAONE.COM
Kixmiller Pigeon
RKIXMILLER.DUDAONE.COM
Victims
FBI:UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting)
UCR.FBI.GOV
FBI data shows sharp rise in US hate crimes
The Guardian
WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM
Growing Religious Persecution In China A Symptom Of Xi's Consolidation Of Power
EN.FORBES.COM
Religion in China
Council on Foreign Relations
WWW.CFR.ORG
China Must End Its Campaign of Religious Persecution
POLITICO
WWW.POLITICO.COM
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(Human rights abuse and war crime findings)
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Human rights in ISIL-controlled territory
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Human rights in ISIL-controlled territory
(Religious and minority group massacres, forced conversion, and expulsion)
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Persecution of Christians by ISIL
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Genocide of Yazidis by ISIL
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Persecution of Shias by ISIL
Wikipedia
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Wahhabism
WIKIPEDIA
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Why my own father would have let IS kill me
BBC
WWW.BBC.COM
WWW.BBC.COM
2017 Rohingya persecution in Myanmar
WIKIPEDIA
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Uganda Christians face Muslim persecution at record levels
APR
WWW.APNEWS.COM
WWW.APNEWS.COM
FBI: US hate crimes rise for second straight year
BBC
WWW.BBC.COM
WWW.BBC.COM
2016 Hate Crime Statistics
The FBI’s latest hate crime statistics report includes information detailing
the offenses, victims, offenders, and locations of 6,121 criminal incidents
reported in 2016.
FBI.GOV
U.S. hate crimes rise for second straight year - FBI
The number of hate crimes committed in the United States rose in 2016
for the second consecutive year, with African-Americans, Jews and Muslims
targeted in many of the incidents, the FBI said on Monday in an annual report.
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