Persecution in the USA? Part III: Purpose of Persecution

Over the last couple of weeks we have been examining persecution of the church.  Last post I demonstrated from the Word of God that persecution is assured for believers as a normal course of the Christian life.  This week we carefully consider God’s purpose in persecution.  I explore this topic with trepidation:  I make no claim to be the final authority on this issue nor do I make any claim to know the mind of God.  As I explore this topic I am relying much on the resources provided in the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) online classroom.          

Persecution in USA: Part II - Persecution Promised

In the last post, I told you of a news story where Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is seeking to outlaw evangelism in the US Military calling it “spiritual rape” by “fundamentalist Christian religious predators” (FoxNews).  In another similar story, Weinstein's group petitioned the military to prohibit Bibles that had been printed with the emblems of our service branches on the cover calling them "a national security risk" (FoxNews).  From organized boycotts against businesses that uphold family values; the government deporting a Christian homeschooling family who fled their homeland to avoid persecution; universities prohibiting pro-life or Christian clubs; or, attempts at controlling speech or Christian displays in public, a mild form of persecution in the US is underway.      

Persecution in USA: Part I - Christian Foundations

The principles of genuine liberty, and of wise laws and administrations, are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority.  The man, therefore, who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that Book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer...

- Noah Webster, 1833

In the last post, I briefly mentioned Christian persecution.  We often think of persecution abroad because, quite frankly, we do not find ourselves suffering much for our faith here in the US.  However, the tide is changing.  Fox News reported that Pentagon officials met with Mikey Weinstein, of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.  He is urging the military to make proselytizing of one’s faith a criminal offense subject to court martial.  He characterized the sharing of one’s faith as unconstitutional calling it “spiritual rape” by “fundamentalist Christian religious predators.”  The story is also covered here.  

There is a lot that could be discussed and argued regarding this horrific statement.  Since space is limited I am going to discuss this news report in two parts.  This will be a mult-part series as we first, examine our American Christian Heritage.  Future posts will examine the Biblical principles of persecution and evangelism in the face of persecution, for I fear it is coming soon.