The War on Christians

 

 

 

"Are these the birth pangs of the end times?"

This is like a bad dream. Intolerance has blossomed into hatred and then taken the dark road into genocide. The Christian faith is under attack. Not just in the Middle East and Africa, but also Pakistan and maybe even here at home. What is it about the Christian faith that is so threatening to certain other faiths around the world? Christians are not Crusaders - bible believing Christians are full of love and compassion and just want to serve others. For that crime, they have their church buildings burned and members attacked and sometimes killed.

This is not just an isolated event. Yesterday, a church in Pakistan was blown up with worshipers still inside. It was a suicide attack, suspected of being carried out by Islamic terrorists with ties to the Taliban. The blast happened just after the sermon when many of the impoverished worshipers were to receive some free food just outside the church. The blast killed 78 and injured many more.

It was not the first time Christians were targeted in Pakistan. Last March, in the City of Lahore, a Muslim mob burned two churches and more than 100 houses belonging to Christians. To make matters worse, Christians can find themselves accused of blasphemy under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Where is the United Nations in its condemnation of this human rights issue? Where is the United States State Department? Where is the Vatican? For Pakistan to allow this carnage to continue is an affront to all civilized people, regardless of their faith.

The crimes against Christians in Africa also continue. The Kenya mall attack is another example of the growing genocide against Christians and Westerners in Northeast Africa. The terrorist asked who was Muslim before the serious killing started. They were released and then the carnage began in earnest. With the death toll at currently standing at 68 and the wounded at 175, this tragedy was hard to comprehend.

In many parts of Africa, to openly profess your Christian faith is to literally take your life in your hands. It is reminiscent of many centuries ago when Christians were put to death by the Roman guard just for following Christ. Africa, which so dearly needs the aid and assistance from the world to ameliorate poverty and famine, has (in some areas) become a very dangerous place for people of the Christian faith to serve in.

Yesterday my wife and I attend services at a new and growing church in our area. We got up, had breakfast, got ready, and drove to church. After the service was over, we did some shopping and came home before the football game. I imagine that was the same routine that many others at the church service had. At no time did I fear for our lives or safety. In our country, we take that for granted.

However, I do know this. As our world, our country and even our state becomes more "globalized", we will have more and more people living here who do not share our faith or our values. The vast majority will be good and decent people. However, the concern is that some will not. My fear is the War on Christianity will be something we will experience up close and personal. And that is a growing concern of mine.