PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS ESCALATES AS JESUS RETURN DRAWS NEAR

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Hamas terror attacks on Israel have inflamed Islamic extremist sentiment against Christ followers, said an official with a Swiss-based aid agency.

“Since Oct. 7, 2023, the whole Middle East is on intense fire and might explode any time,” said the official, whose identity is withheld for security purposes. “It seems that all political, social, and human rights achievements in the direction of a possible reconciliation between major foes — Saudi-Iran, or the Israel-Arab world — are now very far away. This of course has direct implications for our persecuted brothers and sisters as they are the most vulnerable and often blamed as being enemies of [the] state.”

The historical suffering of Christians who have converted from Islam in the region has reached a new level, he said. “All accomplished liberal thinking and religious tolerance in the Middle East are now departing, leaving the battleground for fanatism and Islamic radicalization to take over,” the official said.

His agency recently provided aid to a leader of a group of converts from Islam in the Palestinian West Bank. The leader is from a prominent Muslim family, and his sister’s husband, a member of the extremist Salafi branch of Islam, recently discovered he had become a follower of Christ and reported him as an “unbeliever” to his relatives. The leader’s prominent Muslim father threw him and his family out of their house. “He then had to flee and hide with his wife and son in a secret place for his security as the whole situation around Oct. 7th got heated up, and people became more radical,” the official said. “With the funds we received, we helped him to rent a hide-out apartment, and provided some living expenses for his family.”

Tensions have long hit Egypt’s borders. Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has divided opinion among church members in Egypt who are also pining under the devaluation of their currency and rising prices. Atop these difficulties, persecution remains the main challenge for Muslim-background believers like Sara (name changed) — an educated person who loves reading and research. When she; began seeking answers about Islam from her husband and some Islamic experts, they couldn’t give her satisfying answers.

“It is considered blasphemy to ask certain questions, and so her husband and other people around her reacted alertly,” the aid agency official said. “However, Sara felt a strong urge to find the truth and continued asking questions.” She began reading Christian books until she concluded that she wanted to follow Christ, he said. “Her husband discovered a change in her and argued with her until he found out that she became a Christian,” he said. “Sara was pregnant at that time. Her husband beat her so badly that she had to be hospitalized and lost her baby.” When she was able to return home, her husband reported her to police. Sara was imprisoned on false charges.

“After some years she was released but was still punished with having to go to the police station every week, where she had to clean the toilets and sit there for hours,” the worker said. “Our local partner heard of her situation and helped her legally. He also helped Sara to find a safe place to stay and a new place to work.”

Persecuted Christians are receiving both aid and spiritual care to strengthen their faith in the face of suffering. In Africa, the Islamic extremist terrorism in Nigeria that has displaced both Muslims and Christians for more than a decade drove one woman’s family to a camp for the internally displaced, where she came to faith in Christ under the teaching of the Swiss agency’s aid partner. The suffering she endured in four years of living in and out of the camp had left her cynical and prone to lying and cheating, the official said. “There was no visible change in her behavior — it required a lot of patience, love and wisdom from our partner and her team, and it was a lot of work for her, but over time she grew out of her bad habits,” the worker said. “Through the teachings, the Bible study, the coaching and prayer, she experienced the love of God and discovered what it means to follow Jesus.” She opened her heart so the Lord could transform and heal her, Sara said. “God has given me the biggest gift of my life,” she told aid workers. “He removed me from darkness to light, from nobody to becoming somebody.”

In Laos, village authorities opposed to ten families leaving their ancestral religion for Christ recently drove them out of the community into the wilderness. They were left about 8 miles away, without homes, farmland, food, and schooling for their children. “We worked closely with the local church to help them to find land for these 10 families to build a simple house to live in, and our team helped them to build the well for them to have water to drink, and a tile roof for their house,” the aid official said. “We continue to work with the local church to have worship every Sunday in their house church, and we provide continuous support for their livelihood development.”

The increase in the level of antisemitism around the world since Hamas attacked Israel makes no earthly sense and proves Scripture’s revelation that it is spiritual warfare and that we are living in the last days before Jesus returns to restore righteousness and usher in His Millennial Kingdom.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

Much of this post was originally published at Christian Daily International 

MOCKING CHRIST IS NOW ACCEPTABLE ON MAINSTREAM MEDIA

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In modern Australia, you will be feted for mocking Christ but cast out into the social wilderness for saying men are not women. That’s what the stories of Reuben Kaye and Moira Deeming suggest.

Kaye is a self-styled queer comic who was fawned over on ABC’s (Government funded TV channel) Q+A this week for his swipe at the son of God. It was on the Ten Network’s The Project back in February that he told a cheeky crucifixion gag. He said he didn’t understand why Christians had such a problem with him. “I love Jesus,” he said. “I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more.”

The Project hosts giggled awkwardly. Christians were not so amused. Some threatened to protest at his gigs.

The audience on this week’s Q+A was a different affair entirely. They came not to douse this “blasphemer” in holy water but to gush over his supposedly daring Jesus-bashing.

An audience member asked if he thought a straight comic would have caught so much flak for a joke about the crucifixion. Q+A host Patricia Karvelas then read the joke out, for context, eliciting chuckles from the audience. Kaye said, yes, it was because he was a “queer person” that the religious reacted with such spluttering fury to his Jesus joke. They want us to “become invisible”, he said.

The applause was rapturous. He was treated as a valiant warrior for free speech. Chill out, you sad, tragic Christians, and let us say what we want to say – that was the undertone of Kaye’s own puffed-up self-defense and the cheering he received on the ABC.

This is how far we have fallen from a country that still opens parliament with prayer. That practice is not likely to survive much longer. Several of the Labour members and the Greens Party do not enter Parliament until the prayers are finished.

Jesus told us that in the last days, unbelievers will hate us and even worse kill us because we uphold Jesus as Lord of not only this world but the Cosmos.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12

HOW TO BE A LAST DAYS OVERCOMER

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Let’s look at how Christians are reacting in real-time to Great Tribulation-like persecution. The primary responses we see in Arab Spring countries, some of which Jesus endorsed, include:

1. Running from the persecutors.

2. Remaining on-site and taking up arms.

3. Remaining on-site and insisting on legal protection. ​

4. Yielding to persecutors while actively ministering to them

Option 1: This has occurred in several Middle Eastern countries over the past decade and threatens the extinction of Christianity in that region of the world. Even prominent government leaders are beginning to acknowledge this fact.
Option 2: Sadly, this option has gained a little headway, due to calls like Greek Orthodox Bishop Lukas al-Khoury in Syria to have Christians take up arms “to protect Syria, churches, and convents.” Some believers undoubtedly have, but the loudest voices have decried this exhortation, saying that it violates the spirit of Christianity. Syrian Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo responded to the call to arms in this way: “As men of the Church, we cannot incite Christians to take up arms and to take part in the conflict. We cannot say these things; it is insane. It goes against the gospel and Christian doctrine.” I have not come across any reports that indicate Syrian Christians are standing and being resistant militarily to Islamist attacks.

Jesus certainly didn’t condone option 2 as He spoke in Matthew 24. He recommended option 1, in this specific circumstance: “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24:16-20

But in other passages involving persecution, He argued for option 4. Christ never encourages a running towards martyrdom. Paul, too, never seemed to advocate seeking to be killed for Christ’s sake. Rather, he fled several times when he knew that his life was threatened, twice within the space of a few verses in Acts 9 (Acts 9:25, 30; 14:6, 17:10)! We know of Paul purposefully leaving at least four towns because of threats to his life. If you count other places where he left soon after starting an uproar, that number could climb to nearly ten. Don’t let anyone tell you that Paul never ran. He did! Self-preservation, the most basic human instinct, seems to be compatible with sold-out Christian living. I think we can make a very strong biblical case for running in the midst of persecution. In a similar way, I do not see convincing biblical evidence for having a death wish and actively seeking martyrdom, something Muslims do to “guarantee” a place in paradise. God does not call us to be cowardly, but Christ Himself advocated flight, and Paul lived out that commandment many times in his ministry. Remember these truths when the heat turns up and someone near you is insisting that God wants everyone to stand and fight, be outgunned, and go down in a blaze of glory. Once you are gone from this earth, you are gone, and you won’t be able to win anyone else to Christ. You also might leave your family heartbroken and in great need. We need to be careful that we don’t adopt a martyr complex, as Muslims have heartily done around the world.

Reverend Khalil Fawzi, the pastor of the largest evangelical congregation in the Middle East, Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church, said recently that Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Egypt want to begin a civil war and would be helped in their quest by Christians turning violent. “They hoped the Christians will retaliate by killing and a civil war would start. I praise Christians for their patriotic attitude.”

Turkey’s defense of its mass killing of Armenians in the early twentieth century is a prime example. So if we do stand and fight, Muslims will have an easy out for killing men, women, and children who would otherwise be innocent bystanders.

Options 3 & 4: We can learn much from our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who have selected options 3 and 4. Here are the primary lessons I see from where Christians are being persecuted by Muslims: ​1.  ​They understand once and for all that the church is not a building. Two days after the famed Archangel Michael Church was destroyed in Cairo, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II reminded his flock of what Jesus preached: “If the hands of evil kill, destroy and torch, then God’s hands are greater and they build. Christ’s commandments to us are to love your enemy, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who abuse you.”
The reaction to this charge, and other similar exhortations, has been Christians calmly meeting for worship in the areas of their churches that have not been completely burned to the ground, as seen in the 60 Minutes segment on Coptic Christians. The moving sight of Christians sitting in a room with one wall missing and the smell of burned wood still lingering, worshipping Jesus in a simple service, speaks volumes about understanding that the church is not a building. I think many Americans have come to realize this truth, as small groups have gained popularity over the past twenty years or so. That is a good realization to hold onto because we could very well come to a time when we are not allowed to meet in buildings.

Ralph Stice, author of Arab Spring, Christian Winter recounts this story: “I was struck by this possibility as I toured a literal underground church in Turkey’s Cappadocia region, mentioned in Acts 2:9 and 1 Peter 1:1. Our Muslim tour guide took us down a hole through which the four members of my family could barely squeeze. We walked among intricate hallways carved from stone and were told where meals were prepared and where people slept. It was an incredible experience to imagine living under the earth with brothers“.

In these last days as persecution intensifies we need to heed the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25. Be watchful. Be ready. Be found faithful. Be on His mission, to spread the Good News.

Remember, Biblical prophecy tells us that Jesus is coming back and we are already seeing many of the prophecies playing out in our time. You can use these prophecies in your evangelism efforts to show unbelievers that God’s Word is true. We know the end of the story and for believers it is wonderful but for unbelievers, they will undergo the terrible wrath of God; the Trumpet Judgements outlined in Revelation 8 and the Bowl Judgements outlined in Revelation 16.

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS ESCALATES IN NIGERIA

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Report from a Christian pastor who lives in Kaduna State Nigeria on the persecution of Christians by the Muslim Fulani people.

Eyewitnesses and verified reports made me conclude that these happenings are nothing short of a “deliberate systematic and orchestrated” killing of Southern Kaduna people who are predominantly Christians by the Fulani people who have the president of Nigeria as one of their very own.

In my previous updates, I have referred to all these horrible events as persecutions of believers, but I believe that it is not just religious persecution of my people but an intentional act to wipe out my people while the government of the day has refused to defend or even to give any support whatsoever. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is headed by President Mohammed Buhari, a Fulani Muslim, and the Governor of Kaduna State is also a Fulani Muslim

What are these crimes against my people? The murder of lives and property, burning of homes and churches, rape against women, and forcing young Christian girls into slavery and marriages to jihadists. A family of six had their house completely burnt down. A schoolmate of mine also had his house completely burnt down, and he barely escaped with his life. Several weeks ago, one of our pastors was killed. The Fulani who abducted him from his house gave him two options—to be shot by a gun or slaughtered like a chicken. After three days, he was shot, and his corpse was later retrieved and buried. These crimes against innocent people continue unabated, and there is no hope in sight.  You see why I have arrived at the conclusion that it is genocide.

My people cannot really repel these attacks which often happen between 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. They have only bows and arrows and at best hunting guns, while the enemy has sophisticated weapons such as machine guns and AK-47s.

You may be wondering what my personal feelings are about these matters. I have lots of fear about the security of my family and even my own [life]. I think about death every day. I think about taking my family and running away and hiding far away from Nigeria. …[but] where can I run to in this situation?  I have my people here.  I have believers here who look up to me, and running away is not an option at this point in time.

My prayer is that the world must as a matter of urgency come to the rescue of the people of Southern Kaduna State, who have been selected for destruction and to be wiped out of existence. In my mind, we need the international community and world leaders to investigate and bring to justice the Government of Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government, to account for these crimes against their people. I know I am a small person without the status to be heard by the international community, but I am sharing with you to help us pray to God. And if you are able to communicate this to any international media, please do so as God gives you the grace. If you are also able to reach out to your government representatives who can take our concerns to the international community, it would also be great.

Our strongest weapon continues to be your prayers. Pray for those who have lost their loved ones—widows, widowers, orphans, etc. Pray for those who have lost everything. I mean everything. I thank you for being friends and prayer partners, and I do appreciate your love, support, and friendship.

Let me tell you in the years ahead Jesus tells us that the persecution of Christians will only intensify. It seems to me that this pastor like so many others is not aware of the time we are in as we approach the last seven years of this planet being controlled by Satan and his minions. It is a time to be a bold and courageous witness for Jesus and be in step with what He is doing in these last days.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12

YOU MUST BOW AT THE LGBT ALTAR OR ELSE

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Article by Michael Brown, Christian Press Op-Ed Contributor

Do you remember when the main goal of LGBT activism was creating an atmosphere of “tolerance and acceptance”? Those days are long gone, and the goalposts have been moved dramatically. Today, if you do not partake in the public, mandatory celebration of LGBT pride, you will be marked and you will be ostracized. If you don’t believe me, just ask NHL hockey player Ivan Provorov.

Provorov, who is from Russia and plays for the Philadelphia Flyers, declined to participate in pregame warmups for the Flyer’s LGBT pride night since he would have been required to wear a pride-themed jersey.

He explained to reporters, “I respect everybody and I respect everybody’s choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion [which is Russian Orthodox]. That’s all I’m going to say.”

In other words, if someone identifies as LGBT, that’s their business, and he respects that. He has his own religious beliefs which dictate how he lives, and he would ask others to respect that. Live and let live.

Flyers coach John Tortorella was supportive of Provorov’s choice, explaining that the team made clear where it stood on LGBT pride. As for Provorov himself, Tortorella said that “he is being true to himself and to his religion. This has to do with his beliefs and his religion. That is one thing I respect about Provy, he is always true to himself, so that’s where we’re at with that.”

But not everyone was as tolerant (remember that word?). According to hockey journalist Pierre LeBrun, if Provorov really respected the LGBT community, he would have participated in the event and worn the jersey. To paraphrase, “Who gives a hoot about his religious convictions? To respect someone means to celebrate who they are and what they do, even if it is in fundamental contradiction to one’s own beliefs and convictions.”

Hockey commentator Gord Miller seconded LeBrun’s sentiments, adding that Provorov should have been banned from playing in the game. After all, he tweeted, “Freedom of expression doesn’t give you freedom from the consequences of your words or actions.” To paraphrase again, “Failure to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride has serious professional consequences!”

Sports and comedy writer Rachael Millanta was even more blunt, calling Provorov “ignorant, obnoxious, and homophobic,” also referring to people like him as “bigots” who “hide behind their cherry-picked religion.”

Oh, the beauty of open-minded, liberal tolerance!

So, by Provorov following the consistent Christian teachings of the last 2,000 years (or, more broadly, the consistent biblical teachings of the last 3,000+ years), he is an ignorant, obnoxious and homophobic bigot who is cherry-picking his beliefs.

The same can be said for the tens of millions of Russian Orthodox Christians who share these beliefs, along with many hundreds of millions of other Christians of like heart and like mind.

In short, you cannot graciously disagree. You cannot respectfully opt-out. Instead, you must deny your convictions, rewrite the Bible, run roughshod over your faith, and publicly celebrate something you believe to be wrong. Otherwise, you are a crass human being and a small-minded bigot. Those are your only choices!

Already in 2011 in my book A Queer Thing Happened to America, I could point to the Riddle Homophobia Scale, used in schools to evaluate whether the students were “homophobic.” According to the scale, both tolerance and acceptance were considered homophobic, since homosexuality was not something to “tolerate” or “accept.”

Instead, the only way not to be homophobic was to embrace a “positive” attitude which called for “support, admiration, appreciation, and nurturance.”

Yes, if you don’t want to be a homophobe, you must admire your lesbian friend. You must nurture your transgender colleague’s new identity. Otherwise, you will be marked.

Are you surprised? Well, consider this: “The Riddle homophobia scale was developed by Dorothy Riddle in 1973–74 while she was overseeing research for the American Psychological Association Task Force on Gays and Lesbians.”

That’s how far back it goes, although it wasn’t widely released until 1994. That’s why I started my article with this question: “Do you remember when the main goal of LGBT activism was creating an atmosphere of ‘tolerance and acceptance?’”

Most young people, including young adults, do not remember this time because they never experienced it. Instead, they have grown up with the choice to celebrate LGBT pride or be branded, to comply publicly or be ousted.

That’s why one of the chapters in my forthcoming book Why Have So Many Christians Left the Faith is titled, “If Gay Is Good, Christianity Is Bad.” That’s how much the tables have turned, even though the testimony of Scripture remains as clear today as it has ever been.

One of my colleagues, who is now a pastor, worked for years as a computer programmer with Bank of America. He told me that little by little, he was getting pushed out of his job through LGBT activism. By the time he quit, every employee, let alone higher-level managers or executives, could see on your bio whether you identified as an LGBT ally. If not, you could virtually kiss your career advancements goodbye.

Provorov is just the latest example of this reverse bigoted, small-minded, judgmentalism which leaves us with only one ethical choice: We will continue to love our LGBT neighbor as ourselves and we will refuse to back down on our convictions regardless of cost or consequence. That’s what Jesus would have us do.

There is a week-long celebration of Gay Pride in Sydney at the moment with 12.000 marchers including our Prime Minister and other politicians.

Article from “The Age” newspaper February 25th, 2023

“Anthony Albanese made history on Saturday night when he became the first Australian prime minister to march in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

“It’s unfortunate that I am the first, but this is a celebration of modern Australia … a diverse and inclusive Australia,” he said.

“We need to be a country that respects everyone for who they are.”

Marching in his 35th Mardi Gras, Albanese paid tribute to the 78ers – the protesters from the original march 45 years ago ″⁣who were thrown in jail”.

END TIMES PROPHECY BEING FULFILLED

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Dr Michael Brown interviews Torben Sondergaard and his immigration lawyer Michelle C Sánchez, P.A. Torben is in prison. If you need further evidence that we are in the prophesied “last days” before Jesus returns then this video may help. It demonstrates that when Christians are making an impact for God with the Gospel then they can expect intense persecution. As bad as this story is, Jesus tells us that persecution will intensify and you will be hated and killed “for my name’s sake“.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:9

NEW YEARS GREETING FROM TORBEN SØNDERGAARD – NOW SIX MONTHS IN JAIL

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New Year’s greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year is soon over, and I’m sending this greeting to all of you, from Baker’s County Detention Center where I have now been locked up for six months – yes, a half-year! I could not imagine something like this was possible! But this shows that the times are changing and that we are in a spiritual war. Our enemy is busy spreading his lies and doing everything he can to stop the Gospel from going forth. But he will NOT succeed. GOD has the last word, and I truly believe we are standing in front of a breakthrough like we have never seen before!

Fortunately, Torben understands that GOD is in it! He has SPOKEN! He is FAITHFUL! Torben also knows that it is not just about him. He knows this is about Satan trying to destroy the Last Reformation Movement that is having a tremendous impact in spreading the Gospel around the world. Make sure you show you show your support by going to FriendsofTorben.com.

We need to remember that all of the O.T. prophets had to deliver messages of coming judgement to the people of Israel and most were rejected, persecuted, and killed. Likewise, all of Jesus’ disciples and Paul met similar ends.

“Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalms 33:18-22

Our hope needs to be in our Lord Jesus Christ and the assurance of His second coming to put things right.

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS ESCALATES

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30 Christians Jailed in India as Persecution Escalates

06/02/2022 India (International Christian Concern) – At least 30 people were imprisoned in India during May because of their faith. According to persecution watchdog, International Christian Concern (ICC), the arrests were justified by filling charges of forced conversion. In one incident a mob of radicals broke into the home of a local pastor, who was praying with his family and beat him before handing him over to police. The police then imprisoned him under the charge of “deliberate and malicious acts against another religion”. Anti-conversion laws, adopted in 11 Indian states, are often used against Christians as it allows authorities to jail them with little regard for due process. “We have arrived at a critical juncture, where practicing faith of our choice is equated as crime and punished accordingly,” a local Christian leader told ICC.

36 Christians Kidnapped in Nigeria’s Kaduna State

07/28/2022 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – On Monday, July 25, an estimated 36 Christians were kidnapped from a village in Nigeria’s Kaduna state. The kidnappers are estimated to be Islamic extremists who performed door-to-door kidnappings in the village.  

An area resident described the kidnappings to Morning Star News. They said, “The Muslim terrorists attacked the community at about 9 p.m., shooting at the people, and broke into their houses and forcefully took away the victims to an unknown place.” 

Hmong Christians Suffering Daily Persecution in Vietnam

07/31/2022 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – Hmong Christians in the Nghe An province of Vietnam are suffering from severe persecution.  

According to Morning Star News, officials in the province are trying to create “Christian-free zones” where they are able to operate “with no conscience or humanity,” as if the religious freedom violations were occurring a country other than Vietnam, where such acts are not legal.  

Other forms of persecution come from within their own communities. Most Vietnamese follow traditional animist teachings, and many who convert to Christianity from the traditional faith face rejection and even persecution from their family members and communities.  

Additionally, Vietnamese authorities pressure animist relatives of Christian converts to drive Christians from their homes and exile them. The only hope these Christians have of rejoining their communities is if they renounce their new faith.

Christians Prevented from Worshipping in Burkina Faso

7/30/2022 Burkina Faso (International Christian Concern) – According to Aid to the Church in Need International, Catholic churches in Burkina Faso are suffering interference by Islamic groups in the country. In many cases, militants are entering the churches during the service and forcing men and women to sit separately. In other instances, the sermons are being replaced with Islamic sermons. With this being the case, many people in the villages are not receiving proper pastoral care, and the pastoral care that is occurring is only because it is permitted by Islamists.

This recent interference comes on the heels of an attack that killed 20 people on July 3.

Lebanese Christians Concerned Over Political Future

07/30/2022 Lebanon (International Christian Concern) – As Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s six-year term approaches its October 31 close, Christians in Lebanon are concerned for their nation’s future. Lebanon’s historically Christian presidency, an important vestige of the religious community’s declining influence in the country, could worryingly fall to one of four individuals, none of whom are particularly popular with the nation’s Christian community. 

Overall, Christians in Lebanon face an unfortunate political reality. The Christian presidential candidates Aoun, Bassil, and Frangieh are all sympathetic to Hezbollah, and the other likely option to fill the role besides them is the Muslim Prime Minister Mikati. Unfortunately, this conundrum well reflects declining Christian political influence in the state of Lebanon

Cemeteries of Religious Minorities Targeted in Turkey

07/31/2022 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Radicals have targeted another minority cemetery this month in Turkey. On July 15, a Jewish community discovered that their local cemetery in the Haskoy neighborhood of Istanbul had sustained serious damage. Vandals had desecrated 81 gravestones, excavated graves, and left the site in disarray.

 This month’s attack comes specifically on the heels of a similar incident against a Christian community in Turkey. On June 29, local Christians found the perpetrators had desecrated their cemetery, which was dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, just prior to an annual celebration dedicated to the two saints. 

Source: Premier Christian News

AUSTRALIA: FAST BECOMING AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN NATION

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A great article in the WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN by Greg Sheridan 23rd July 2022

Lost in the Secular Desert: Christianity Under Siege

Seven Manly NRL Sea Eagles Players have stood down from Roosters Game over Club’s Pride Jersey

We are on the way to becoming, for the first time, an avowedly anti-Christian nation. Not just non-Christian, but anti-Christian. The census tells us. The culture tells us. The law tells us.

The 2021 census represents an explosive dam burst, with a flood of biblical proportions to follow. For the first time in the modern nation’s history, only a minority of Australians identify as Christians.

This is not a gentle decline. It is a bus hurtling over a cliff. As recently as 25 years ago, nearly three-quarters of Australians called themselves Christians. In 2011, 61 percent was still a solid majority; five years later it was 52 percent, and last year just 44 percent and still falling.

That’s a staggering 17 percent fewer of the population who are Christian in 10 years. Nothing as dramatic and consequential has happened in Australian belief and outlook since 1788.

To be sure, there are nuances in the census. “No religion” does not equate directly to formal atheism. The National Church Life Survey suggests a small majority of Australians believe in God. That’s consistent with the census. Non-Christian religions – Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, and others – take total religious affiliation above 50 percent.

The census also has some surprises. Sydney, Sin City, is the most God-loving part of Australia, just as London is the most religious part of Britain.

Read More: The decline of Christianity is a loss for everyone. Christianity is on the decline as faith falls out of favour. Christianity is the most persecuted religion on the planet

But difficult as it may be for some Christians to accept, and much as some secular commentators may want to play it down, claiming that Christian affiliation was formerly overstated or to avert the public gaze from the radical wave engulfing us, Christians must understand they are a minority. That should free them to become a creative, dynamic minority, offering something magnificent to society. They also should get the same rights as other minorities, but that’s another story.

In his brilliant 2021 book, Being the Bad Guys, Perth evangelical pastor Stephen McAlpine presents the dramatic transformation in Christianity’s standing: “Wasn’t it only yesterday Christianity was regarded as a societal good? Now? It’s not only unpalatable; it’s positively toxic.”

In a justly famous blog post a few years ago, McAlpine suggested most Christians accept that Christendom – with all its virtues and all its villainies – is over and they are now in exile. They envisaged this exile in a metaphorical Athens, debating their beliefs in polite and interested company. That was Stage One Exile. Now, Stage Two Exile is in a much more hostile Babylon, where they confront a state and culture uninterested in their ideas, determined instead to bludgeon them into submission.

This should not take us by surprise as Biblical prophecy tells us what will happen prior to Jesus’ return to this planet to put things right.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS INTENSIFIES

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March 6th, 2022 China (International Christian Concern) – A Christian woman in China, named Zhou Jinxia was detained for her repeated attempt to share the good news of Jesus Christ with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.

Using placards filled with Gospel messages, Zhou regularly stands outside a gated area in Beijing where top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials reside. Last month, she did so to greet President Xi when he returned from the Winter Olympics, leading to her arrest for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Authorities ordered Zhou to return to her hometown of Dalian, where her beef with the government began.

In 2009, local authorities seized and demolished Zhou’s house in Dalian without her consent, later turning it into a city square. According to the group China Aid, Zhou and her family members have spent years seeking justice, only to be detained and lose their jobs.

Religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter explains that Zhou “took seriously [President] Xi’s statements he would fight corruption.” So after his 2013 inauguration, she repeatedly wrote to him about her unjust eviction. Because Xi never replied, Zhou “concluded that no solution to China’s problem would be possible unless [the president and his wife] would receive Jesus in their hearts.”

The Dalian native was sent back to Liaoning province by the police after her action in Beijing. She was subsequently detained. On Feb. 20, Zhou went to Zhongnanhai in Beijing, the central headquarters for the Communist Party of China and the State Council of China, holding up a sign asking Xi Jinping to believe in Jesus.

The police in charge arrested her before Dalian police brought her back to Dalian. She was criminally detained and charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” on February 21. Her family received the notice of her criminal detention from Dalian’s Public Security Bureau’s Xigang Branch on March 1.

According to China Aid, in recent years, Zhou has attempted to share the good news with her Chinese leader more than 50 times. As early as March 2015, Zhou was detained for ten days for her evangelism activities. In March 2016 and March 2018, she was detained again for the same charge.

Beginning October 2020, Zhou has resided in Fengtai district’s Xiaobailou village in Beijing. She actively shares the gospel and is involved in her church. On June 27, 2021, she was driven away by local leaders and police, while her amenities of daily life were confiscated. As someone whose house was forcibly demolished by the government, Zhou is not unfamiliar with the injustice in China.

We need to pray for Zhou Jinxia and the many like her in China and other countries where Christians are persecuted. Moreover, we should ask God to give us the courage to be like her in the face of intense persecution that we will see intensify across the globe in these prophesied “last days” before Jesus returns.