Any Doubts That We Are Facing Persecution?

Some recent articles I've come across have convinced me that we are in a period where we are under heavy duty attack. There are the obvious attacks like the books that demythologize the Bible or attack Christianity (God is Not Good). These are only a small part. Here are parts of some recent articles that should show us that even if we aren't personally under attack, our faith is. This is not to scare us, or to get us to get a "bunker mentality". It is to encourage us (as the Bible says to do) to be faithful in the face of persecution.

In fact, I see these things as fulfillment of what Jesus said in Matthew 10:16-23. In fact, it was no coincidence that that Scripture was the Gospel reading yesterday (Friday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time): "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes." (New American Bible)

We are to expect persecution. But we are not to fear. Rather we are to endure. & we are assured that God will give us His Holy Spirit to enable us to do so.

Abortionist hires assailants to harass pro-lifers in Austria

"Human Life International is asking for prayers in response to the “vile attacks” in Vienna, Austria, against pro-life demonstrators by assailants who are being paid to harass them by the owners of abortion clinics. Pro-life demonstrators who are sidewalk counseling outside the clinics have been sexually assaulted, and some of the attacks have been captured on video."

"He (Dr. Christian Fiala) admitted to local reporters that “agents” had been hired to harass pro-lifers. “For defensive reasons I have contracted agents on repeated occasions to stop the activity of anti-abortion activists,” he recently told the Der Standard newspaper."

Gay man sues publishers over Bible verses

" CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A gay man is suing two heavyweight Christian publishers, claiming their versions of the Bible that refer to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and have caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

Bradley LaShawn Fowler of Canton, Mich., is seeking $60 million from Zondervan, based in Cascade Township, and $10 million from Nashville-based Thomas Nelson Publishing."

The judge, U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr, seems to be taking a sane view of this. The judge said: "The Court has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims." Hopefully Judge Cook will throw this out.

Meanwhile, a Minnesota Professor is following up on the actions of the FCU student I blogged about recently.

MINNESOTA PROF PLEDGES TO DESECRATE EUCHARIST

" Paul Zachary Myers, a professor at the University of Minnesota Morris, has pledged to desecrate the Eucharist. He is responding to what happened recently at the University of Central Florida when a student walked out of Mass with the Host, holding it hostage for several days. Myers was angry at the Catholic League for criticizing the student. His post can be accessed from his faculty page on the university’s website.

Here is an excerpt of his July 8 post, “It’s a Frackin’ Cracker!”:

“Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers?” Myers continued by saying, “if any of you would be willing to do what it takes to get me some, or even one, and mail it to me, I’ll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. I won’t be tempted to hold it hostage (no, not even if I have a choice between returning the Eucharist and watching Bill Donohue kick the pope in the balls, which would apparently be a more humane act than desecrating a goddamned cracker), but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the web.”"

According to a followup article on the Catholic League website: "Myers went on Houston radio station KPFT last night saying that Bill Donohue has ‘declared a fatwa’ against him." The University has disconnected the link to his blog. That surprizes me in a way. (While I hate what he is saying, I am concerned that if we try & silence them it will backfire & enable us Christians to be silenced.)

& naturally, even Papa Benedetto is coming under attack for standing up for Jesus Christ & the truths he taught:

Pope may face hostile welcome in Australia

"Yet during the pope's time in Australia, which is one of the most secular lands on Earth, his message will be competing for attention with protests against Catholic teaching on abortion, birth control and homosexuality, as well as fresh controversy over clerical sex abuse."

"A vociferous minority of Australians are not merely indifferent but actively hostile to parts of Benedict's message. Gay-rights activists have announced plans to protest the pope's presence by distributing condoms outside the papal Mass."

Glamour lesbians attack Pope and Catholic Church

"A GROUP of glamour lesbians who believe the world was created by an alien civilisation 25,000 years ago have criticised the Catholic Church for being out of touch.

The representatives of the Gay Raelian society yesterday staged a demonstration outside Parliament House to protest the Pope's arrival for World Youth Day next week. "

As I type this EWTN is showing a program on the Christians in Iraq. It talks about their persecution. Without arguing the right or wrong of the war there, I highly suspect that the reality is simple. Those "radical Islamists" are using the USA & the situation as a cover for what they would be doing anyway. Putting the blame on the USA is just a smokescreen for the truth that they want to get rid of the Christians. (Note, I don't believe that this group represents all of Islam, just 1 small portion. & I call on all other Muslims to publicly & LOUDLY denounce this violence.)

I could go on. There is persecution going on from within & outside the Church. We need to stay faithful, fear not & continually speak out the truth of the Gospel, stand up for the unborn, the least & call the lost to repentance.

Yes, we will be hated. Jesus said so. He reminded us that if "the world" hated Him, it would hate us. & it does. & I am speaking from personal experience. I realize that I MAY (& I say may not will) even face martyrdom, we all might by standing up for the truth, for Jesus. That is not something to seak, or fear. But if it happens, I will welcome it for the honor & glory of God.