"...Palestine’s Christians, totalling 50,000 across the occupied territories, are sometimes referred to as ‘living stones’, a metaphor first invoked by Peter the Apostle, the ex-fisherman called upon to be a disciple of Jesus, to describe the role of believers in building the spiritual house of God. Today, the term harks to their special status as custodians of a faith born on their land..."
More good news, but this has caused me to think there are similarities here in America. False accusation. Lengthy imprisonment. Hmmmm. Sounds all too familiar. Let's pray justice is possible here in the USA as well.
"On Feb. 10, Younas Masih, an elderly believer in Faisalabad, was accused by his Muslim neighbors of desecrating the Quran – a charge that has landed many other believers in prison for sentences of several years. This charge was baseless, as many of them are, though this rarely matters in the government’s eyes, as many believers have still been convicted despite lack of evidence. The misuse of these laws to settle personal grievances in cases like this one has drawn international attention...
"...Not only was Younas set free from jail after just three days, but the couple who originally made the accusation was then imprisoned for giving false testimony. This type of justice in Pakistan is rarer still but gives hope to the Pakistani church that justice is possible..." I remember crosses toppling throughout China. Yet communism (atheism) still drives the Chinese people to Jesus. The propaganda in China must be so difficult to witness and bear. The Gospel Herald Christianity Inflicting 'Enormous Harm' on China, Warns Communist Party Leah Marieann Klett, May 9th, 2019 "A local government communications agency in China recently held a seminar to discuss with Communist Party members the "enormous harm" Christianity is to the atheist nation and identify ways to stunt its growth. "According to Chinese Christian persecution watchdog China Aid, the event, titled "Christianity's Enormous Harm on China's Security," was held on April 22 in the city of Hebi in China's Henan province. "According to the NGO, the seminar encouraged party members to avoid being persuaded by Christian ideology and to sustain "correct views" when it comes to religion. ""The Chinese government often views religions, including Christianity, as foreign attempts to undermine its rule, even though there is no evidential basis for such a claim," China Aid reports. "As a result, they often try to suppress religious adherents, and they openly forbid Communist Party members from practicing a religion..." "...Fenggang Yang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University's Center on Religion and Chinese Society, estimated in 2017 that there are anywhere from 93 million to 115 million Christians in a nation of over 1.3 billion people, reports the South China Morning Post. It's estimated China is on track to have the largest Christian population in the world by 2030. "In efforts to control the growth and spread of Christianity, Communist authorities have shut down a number of prominent house churches and arrested Christians and church leaders for worshiping without the approval of the government. It has also cracked down on the online sale of Bibles; the Bible is printed in China but legally available only at church bookstores. "Ying Fuk-tsang, director of the divinity school at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told ucanews.com that the Hebi seminar reflects the Chinese government's increasing controls of ideology in China through telecommunications and internet networks." Yet a Christian boom continues. From an Ecosia search, Christianity + China: And this, from a pastor who ministers in China: What Christianity in China Is Really Like
Colin Clark March 9th, 2017 "...Understand the continuance of the house church movement. "First and foremost, house church leaders aren’t underground because of the extent of governmental meddling, but because of the mere fact of it. By analogy, consider the Boston Tea Party of the American Revolution. Contrary to popular belief, this protest had little to do with rising taxation in the American colonies. The Tea Act of 1773 actually reduced the tax burden on Americans. The colonists took issue with Britain’s ability to get involved at all, whether or not the effects were favorable. "This is the house-church stance. Extend all the apparent olive branches you want, but Jesus Christ is still the head of the church, not the TSPM and not the CCC. Finally, there are still undesirable restrictions—restrictions registered churches have learned to tolerate, but policies with which many house church leaders can’t get along. Even at registered churches, for example, all events must occur during designated times at the designated facility. Small groups, home groups, training events, and so on must all take place at the church building where things can be monitored. Some pastors are required to submit sermons to a government official ahead of time for review and approval..." We are blessed in many ways. This came to the forefront today, there has been much persecution in India through the years. Of course, there may be more to this than meets the eye. When I search images for President Joko Widodo, there is a look of great sorrow there, intermingled with a few smiles. Indonesian President Changes Language of Religious National Holidays to Accommodate Christians
“This is a suggestion from Christians and Catholics that the nomenclature name should be changed to what they believe, namely the birth of Jesus Christ and the death of Jesus Christ and the ascension of Jesus Christ,” said Deptuty Minister of Religion Saiful Rahmat Dasuki. The names of four holidays on the national calendar will change because of the decree. The 50 Countries Where It's Hardest To Follow Jesus in 2024"Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith last year. Almost 4,000 were abducted. Nearly 15,000 churches were attacked or closed. And more than 295,000 Christians were forcibly displaced from their homes because of their faith. "Sub-Saharan Africa—the epicenter of global Christianity—remains the epicenter of violence against followers of Jesus, according to the 2024 World Watch List (WWL). The latest annual accounting from Open Doors ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous and difficult to be a Christian. "The concerning tallies of martyrdoms and abductions are actually lower than in last year’s report. But Open Doors emphasizes they are “absolute minimum” figures. It attributed both declines to a period of calm in advance of Nigeria’s last presidential election. Yet Nigeria joined China, India, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia as the countries driving the significant increase in attacks on churches. "Overall, 365 million Christians live in nations with high levels of persecution or discrimination. That’s 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, including 1 in 5 believers in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 16 in Latin America." christianitytoday.comUpside down and inside out. We are being groomed to accept events such as these. One side claims affront, while the other displays values of their own. Word salad ensues (as does lawfare). Let the attacks begin. Stand firm, for the Good Lord loves us, we are protected.
International Christian Concern writes of the troubles The Drip Café is having with the Denver Communists: Protestors Target Christian Coffee Shop in Colorado
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