State of Universal Persecution Compilation
Persecution is a topic of high priority because it's universal issue that effects everybody regardless of there beliefs or views.
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.
Synopsis
The first of these
articles started on January 12th, 2019. They have been in the making for
a very long time now. These articles incorporate thoughts that have
occupied my mind for a few years now. Many of the usual aspects of
persecution that are covered in most typical sermons are covered.
However, many of these articles also touch on topics typically ignored
by many preachers when covering this topic. Biased political slants find
there ways in along with a boogieman usually in the form of a political
party. I don't take these sermons seriously.
They also ignore many elements that I feel are essential when covering this topic, like the universal aspect of persecution. Persecution is a universal issue that can afflict anybody, regardless of there faith. That means that when it does happen, we can't just assume the mindset that its out issue alone. We are not alone. We are all victims of extremism. Also, I feel that the interfaith response that's needed to challenge extremism and hatred is a topic that's also ignored and/or rejected by many spiritual leaders as well. You can't deal with persecution without a interfaith response.
The role of extremism is downplayed. I'm glad that Radical Islam gets the exposure that it does. At the same time, things don't stop there. White-Supremacy is a equal to Radical Islam that needs to be called out as well. Also, the root of extremism itself is usually ignored. Extremism, regardless of group, is created when people embrace fear and paranoia instead of logic and reason. People embrace there fears, and start to see things not there. This fear is what causes many to do the horrible things that they do.
The articles cover the topic of the incorporation of social commentary into a sermon. There's a massive responsibility on the speakers part to make sure that the information that's being used is as factual as possible. A responsibility that is constantly underscored when many grab the first thing seen on Breitbart or some random blogger that they read on Facebook. Articles that are incorporated without checking the validity of the information covered in the piece. Articles that play into the fear and anxieties of many Christians, and often, on purpose for the sake of ad revenue and sensationalist exposure. One could compare this is spiritual exploitation.
Damage is being done to this real and universal issue when a term as important as persecution is reduced to a sensationalist, click-bait term. Many have redefined the term, not for bring awareness to those suffering, but to highlight there own grievances that's being recast-ed as persecution. The word has been weaponized to silence critics.
The Persecution complex is another topic that needs to be acknowledge within the church setting. Given how this idea is the rage within modern American Christianity, I'm surprised it's a topic that's quietly ignored. A whole generation of Christians watching God's Not Dead are being taught the stereotype that all professors are godless atheist that are out to destroy there faith and religious views. As a result, they will automatically believe that they must go out and defend there faith, even if there's no given reason to. If life itself won't provide that reason, then many will feel compelled to create there own situations to provide that reason to defend there faith. This isn't glorifying God, but testing him. Persecution wasn't intended to be a contest or game to see who's more Christian than the other.
One can be very sure that Jesus didn't see his crucifixion as a contest either. One can also come to the conclusion that if suffering on the cross wasn't a show that he was putting on to demonstrate that he was "more Christian" than the others that were suffering. However, when many people see persecution as a contest to earn spiritual bragging rights, they completely miss the idea of why Christ suffered on the cross in the first place. They misunderstand who Jesus is and the purpose of his ministry.
We shouldn't be ashamed as Jesus or his word. At the same time, we need to be ashamed of those people who see persecution as a sport to fulfill one's self ambitions instead of a act of suffering that occurs to many people because were in circumstances that were beyond there control. Faith that many went to defend for because they loved and embraced Jesus. They wanted that personal relationship with him.
They didn't do this because they regarded there suffering as a contest for sport or they had to prove themselves spirituality to others. Those that embrace persecution as a contest often time become ignorant of those that have actually suffered because of there faith due to unfortunate circumstances. Those in Nigeria, Uganda, the Middle East, and those killed in the bombings in Sri Lanka. They also fail to realize Jesus's sacrifice as well, as Jesus didn't do this for a self-serving purpose, but to bring us Salvation. When people see persecution as a contest, they make a mockery of God's word.
Rational though and reasons give way to conspiracy theories. Many feel that your not a true Christian if you don't embrace them. Despite the fact that Islam only makes up 1% of declared faiths in this country (and the vast majority are moderates too), many feel that the country is on the verge of a Islamic Revolution ready to implement Islamic Sharia Law at a moments instance. Many Christians have openly embraced the rhetoric that hints that Democrats want to take away people's guns and criminalize Christianity so they can send them to concentration camps.
Combine this with people interpreting Revelation with the modern political slants that plays into these fears, Doomsday cults become very real. The paranoia of persecution based on it's use as click-bait and the fascination of the “End Of Days” can result in groups that exploit people's fears about the future. They are not around to provide God's love, but to provide that "I told you so" moment. Often times, Christian media plays into this mindset as well. This is concerning because these Doomsday cults have inflicted real pain in the past, like in Waco in 1993.
When God's word is misused in this manner, there are very real consequences. Those that see persecution as a game of ambition could lead others down a horrible demise. Those that use the claim of persecution for there own benefit will see themselves as martyr, but a fool in God's eye.
They also ignore many elements that I feel are essential when covering this topic, like the universal aspect of persecution. Persecution is a universal issue that can afflict anybody, regardless of there faith. That means that when it does happen, we can't just assume the mindset that its out issue alone. We are not alone. We are all victims of extremism. Also, I feel that the interfaith response that's needed to challenge extremism and hatred is a topic that's also ignored and/or rejected by many spiritual leaders as well. You can't deal with persecution without a interfaith response.
The role of extremism is downplayed. I'm glad that Radical Islam gets the exposure that it does. At the same time, things don't stop there. White-Supremacy is a equal to Radical Islam that needs to be called out as well. Also, the root of extremism itself is usually ignored. Extremism, regardless of group, is created when people embrace fear and paranoia instead of logic and reason. People embrace there fears, and start to see things not there. This fear is what causes many to do the horrible things that they do.
The articles cover the topic of the incorporation of social commentary into a sermon. There's a massive responsibility on the speakers part to make sure that the information that's being used is as factual as possible. A responsibility that is constantly underscored when many grab the first thing seen on Breitbart or some random blogger that they read on Facebook. Articles that are incorporated without checking the validity of the information covered in the piece. Articles that play into the fear and anxieties of many Christians, and often, on purpose for the sake of ad revenue and sensationalist exposure. One could compare this is spiritual exploitation.
Damage is being done to this real and universal issue when a term as important as persecution is reduced to a sensationalist, click-bait term. Many have redefined the term, not for bring awareness to those suffering, but to highlight there own grievances that's being recast-ed as persecution. The word has been weaponized to silence critics.
The Persecution complex is another topic that needs to be acknowledge within the church setting. Given how this idea is the rage within modern American Christianity, I'm surprised it's a topic that's quietly ignored. A whole generation of Christians watching God's Not Dead are being taught the stereotype that all professors are godless atheist that are out to destroy there faith and religious views. As a result, they will automatically believe that they must go out and defend there faith, even if there's no given reason to. If life itself won't provide that reason, then many will feel compelled to create there own situations to provide that reason to defend there faith. This isn't glorifying God, but testing him. Persecution wasn't intended to be a contest or game to see who's more Christian than the other.
One can be very sure that Jesus didn't see his crucifixion as a contest either. One can also come to the conclusion that if suffering on the cross wasn't a show that he was putting on to demonstrate that he was "more Christian" than the others that were suffering. However, when many people see persecution as a contest to earn spiritual bragging rights, they completely miss the idea of why Christ suffered on the cross in the first place. They misunderstand who Jesus is and the purpose of his ministry.
We shouldn't be ashamed as Jesus or his word. At the same time, we need to be ashamed of those people who see persecution as a sport to fulfill one's self ambitions instead of a act of suffering that occurs to many people because were in circumstances that were beyond there control. Faith that many went to defend for because they loved and embraced Jesus. They wanted that personal relationship with him.
They didn't do this because they regarded there suffering as a contest for sport or they had to prove themselves spirituality to others. Those that embrace persecution as a contest often time become ignorant of those that have actually suffered because of there faith due to unfortunate circumstances. Those in Nigeria, Uganda, the Middle East, and those killed in the bombings in Sri Lanka. They also fail to realize Jesus's sacrifice as well, as Jesus didn't do this for a self-serving purpose, but to bring us Salvation. When people see persecution as a contest, they make a mockery of God's word.
Rational though and reasons give way to conspiracy theories. Many feel that your not a true Christian if you don't embrace them. Despite the fact that Islam only makes up 1% of declared faiths in this country (and the vast majority are moderates too), many feel that the country is on the verge of a Islamic Revolution ready to implement Islamic Sharia Law at a moments instance. Many Christians have openly embraced the rhetoric that hints that Democrats want to take away people's guns and criminalize Christianity so they can send them to concentration camps.
Combine this with people interpreting Revelation with the modern political slants that plays into these fears, Doomsday cults become very real. The paranoia of persecution based on it's use as click-bait and the fascination of the “End Of Days” can result in groups that exploit people's fears about the future. They are not around to provide God's love, but to provide that "I told you so" moment. Often times, Christian media plays into this mindset as well. This is concerning because these Doomsday cults have inflicted real pain in the past, like in Waco in 1993.
When God's word is misused in this manner, there are very real consequences. Those that see persecution as a game of ambition could lead others down a horrible demise. Those that use the claim of persecution for there own benefit will see themselves as martyr, but a fool in God's eye.
Articles of Interest
State of Universal Persecution (Part 1)
Kixmiller Pigeon
KIXPIGEON.BLOGSPOT.COM
State of Universal Persecution (Part 2)
Kixmiller Pigeon
KIXPIGEON.BLOGSPOT.COM
A Troubled Response
Kixmiller Pigeon
KIXPIGEON.BLOGSPOT.COM
State of Universal Persecution (Part 3, And Yes, There's Going To Be A Part 4)
Kixmiller Pigeon
KIXPIGEON.BLOGSPOT.COM
State of Universal Persecution (Part 4)
Kixmiller Pigeon
KIXPIGEON.BLOGSPOT.COM
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