Focus On Jerusalem

Title

Why are Christians Still Persecuted?
by: David Kupelian





"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." -- Matthew 5: 10

     In many lands around the world, Islamic militants, fuel-injected from birth with the twin poisons of blind hatred and fanatical religion, revel in cruelty, torture and forced conversion of Christians. An even greater hatred is reserved for Jews.

    In other parts of the world, atheistic communist tyrants, with neither heart nor soul, having given up both long ago for the sake of raw power, murder, intimidate and imprison Christians and anyone else that professes allegiance to a higher power than the state. Christian persecution around the world is the most underreported story. Persecution of Christians, not mere prejudice and abuse, but encompassing severe intimidation, torture, imprisonment and execution, is prevalent and even increasing in many parts of the world. The question is why?

     Why the horrific brutality, against not only Christians, but Jews as well? (Indeed, the level of anti-Semitism in any age, in any hemisphere, has long been a barometer of the state of civilization itself.)

    The funny thing about evil corrupted human beings, whether they're communists, radical Islamists, Nazis, criminals or just plain dishonest, shallow, selfish folks: When they're confronted by a person more innocent than they are, someone who lets God's light shine out even a little bit, they can't stand it. The pain is unbearable. They feel compelled to put the light out. ( Jesus is the Light of the world! )

    The Jews in Israel could co-exist peacefully with the Arabs forever. But the corrupt Arab and Muslim leadership, as distinct from the many decent Arabs and Muslims – have regarded the very existence of Israel as a hot dagger twisted into the heart of the Arab world since it was re-established on May 14, 1948. That's why the very next day, Israel was attacked by the armies of five of her Arab neighbors in an intended war of annihilation. It's pretty simple, really. The persecutors feel compelled to put out the light, since the light causes them agony. If, as Christians believe, Jesus was a perfect man, so full of goodness, why did so many people hate Him? Why was He persecuted and executed? It's because He was so full of goodness.

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." – John 1: 4-5

     Understanding the world's "uncomprehending darkness," Jesus counseled His followers that they also would be "persecuted for righteousness' sake." And who can deny that being willing to suffer for righteousness – for what is right, is the very nitty-gritty of the true Christian life? It is, after all, how God demonstrated His love to the human race, through the redemptive suffering of His Son.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." – Matthew 5: 10-12












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