Tag Archives: Human rights

Pray for Christians in Sub Continent

January 13, 2009 Paul Leave a comment

Last year the Christians in India were targeted by Hindu and Islamic cults.
This year, it seems that Pakistan, Bangladesh and the other sub continent nations are having wide spread abuse against Christians including rape and forcible conversions. We need to keep our prayers going for these nations to abide by international law and human rights and protect Christians from these attacks.

It would help if those Islamic nations that do allow Christians to worship freely would speak up against those who use force, terror and violence in every case.
For more information go to persecution.org and Voice of the Martyrs. And remmember that as long as there are those who use fear, terror and evil to spread their faith, Christians will be persued as enemies. Evil’s father is the Devil, and those who use evil to spread their beliefs are tools of Satan not any God that they claim.

Allah is Arabic for Anonia. Anonia is Hebrew for Yahweh, the God of Abraham and all who believe in Him.

Persucution and trials, Psalm thoughts

Songs of the Persecuted and the Redeemed

January 9, 2009 Paul Leave a comment

Psalm 14 and Psalm 15

Only fools say in their hearts,
“there is no God.”
They are corrupt. and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!Psalm 14:1

Only fools say in their hearts there is no God. When David was pursued by Saul, king of Israel and Judea, and the Philistines, he wrote songs that lamented his conditions. He complained to God that he was surrounded by fools that did fear God nor respected Him. Even in the Land of the Chosen of God, His own people, rejected the word of God and sought after their own ways. Today it is much the same. Christians are challenged each day and in every way as they try to live in the Will of God. Enemies of the True Faith in God seek to force us to renounce our beliefs or to alter them in such ways as to make the Word of God no longer valid. In order to stay in their safe circles or to include those outside of faithfulness to the Word, they make concessions or attack those who stay fast in the principles of Right Living. By their actions they show that evil lives within them. And those who persecute the Faithful, those who hunt them down or make false charges against them, are corrupt and fools. Psalm 10:4 says, “The prideful have no room for God.” And so it is, those who reject the Word even in part, reject God. Their Pride has become God and they have no room for the reality of His Grace.

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The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
not a single one.Ps 14:2-3

Yet even as we cry out, “Were are the Righteous?” we can stand on the promise that God looks down from heaven and watches us. Paul wrote that the Christian Jews and Gentiles in Rome faced their own battles with not only the Roman authorities but also with the Jewish leaders who thought themselves righteous (Rom 3:10-18). Those who show no regard toward God by living in a world that they have all the power and God has none. They regard God as important and have no fear of his mighty will. They regard Judgment as nothing. Even today, Christians beleive that we are safe from God’s Judgment because “they are saved.” Those who are corrupt, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. they have turned them into crooked roads; NO ONE WHO WALKS IN THEM WILL KNOW PEACE.” (Isa 59:7,8)

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 7:25 that we must turn to understanding (from God) to investigate why there is persecution and stupidity from those who enjoy the folly of live without God. Ps. 102 says that for a future generation (that is those who turn to God, Christ and the Commandments), God has looked upon the Earth. He is still looking for those who who chose to withstand the torment of persecution and abide in Him and His Perfect Will. He asked the prophet Jeremiah if, “Perhaps they shall turn away from their wickedness” (Jer. 36:3) As those who are persecuted face the trials laid before them, remember that God provides for the wicked as well as the just. It is in His timing that all things are to be made right. The wicked have their “rewards” here on earth, the faithful will have the blessings of heaven eternally. As stated in Titus 1:6, They claim to know God but their actions deny Him. They claim to even be gods themselves, but by their deeds, we know that they are evil and know nothing of Godliness.

Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.
Terror will grip them,
the wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD restores his people.Ps 14:4-6

“When will they ever learn?” That is the question that David asks of God. Isaiah hopefully says “I will tell of the Kindness of God, His deeds, all what He has done for us.” So even as we are persecuted and tormented by evil, even as we are denied religious rights and freedoms, even as our brothers and sisters are imprisoned, we can still rejoice in what God has done for us. We can rejoice in the presence of His Love Divine.

When we have no where else to go, “God is the refuge of His People.” Ps. 9:9. “Yet when I am needy; may the LORD think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” Ps. 40:17. And God has rescued us. He rescued us from our depravity. Christ has taken away the sins of the world, our sins. He has made the way for the wicked to turn away from their evil and wasted ways. To those who are the ungodly, He has provided an avenue of peace and love. And as Job said; ” I know that you (GOD) can do all things.”

Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.Ps 14:7

But until that day of the return of Christ we must still fight the good fight. Not with the weapons of man but with the power of God’s Word. We must trust in God’s plan, His motives and his hardening of our resolve. Psalm 85:10-13 ends with the voice of not so quiet confidence in the Grace of God by stating: “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him and make His footsteps a way.” These words bring a sense of accomplishment to the work of those who are living in trust of God in countries that face persecution. Paul stated in Romans 11:25-27 that the end of persecutions will be realized when Israel comes to Christ. At least that is how I interpret it. “And so all of Israel will be saved, as it is writen: …And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” So I say to you all to pray for Israel that they may be saved and accept Christ as their true Messiah. Until then, Christians will be persecuted and the war against God will continue.

Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD?
Who may enter your Presence on your holy hill? Ps.15:1

Who may worship? The Contemporary English Version Bible quotes Paul as saying. ” God doesn’t accept people simply because they obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is point out our sins.” (Rom3:20) No, none are by their own, righteous. All fall short of the Glory of God.

Psalm 24:3-4 reads ” Who may ascent to the holy hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” But how can we have “clean hands” when we are often tempted by the world to seek after things not of God? In Luke 18:26 Jesus is asked, “Then who can be saved?” He replies in the next verse, “What is impossible for man is possible for God.” When the jailer asked Paul. after the earthquake what he had to do to be saved, Paul replies, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31) So the answer to the question of David in Psalms had to wait until Christ came. Now in this new age of persecutions in the world, we can still rely on God and His Word made Flesh. Jesus Christ.

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Ps. 15:2

Only by Christ and the empowering of the Holy Spirit can we become blameless. Because we, like Phillip having met Jesus who goes to his friend Nathanael can say as he did, “We have met the Messiah (that is the Christ)” (John 1:41) Now we can do what is worthy, what is in accordance to God’s Law and His Grace. When we are called to put God’s trust to the test, we can put away the falsehoods of vanity, pride and self righteousness and we can speak truthfully to our neighbors (Eph 4:25). We can not allow unhealthy talk to come from our lips but speak only what is helpful for building up each other (Eph 4:29). But we must also not grieve the Holy Spirit by doubt. We must never lose sight of the goal of Chirst that we are to be sealed by Faith and the Holy Spirit for the day of Redemption. We must contrive only to serve God and to do what is good in His Eyes.

Those who refuse to gossip
or to harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the LORD,
and keep their promises even when it hurts. Ps. 15:3-4

If we are to win the hearts and souls of those who despise us, we must lift them up, not because we their sin but in spite of it. We are to guard our tongues and watch what we say less we cause hurt and confusion. Yet even as we lift them up, we are not to help them in their sins. That is to say we must not condone the sinful nature that they live in, we must not bow to their evil. Even as they persecute us, deny our rights and close down our right to worship, we must still give them their rights under God. Exodus 23:1-2 states, “Do not spread false reports… Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong..” By our example of living in honesty, we always show the Grace of God. Our Lord wants us to walk with Him in Righteousness as did Abraham. Even in his weakness, When God said, do it, Abraham did as he was told. Yet even in his faithfulness, when Abraham relied on his own, he failed God and did what was wrong. Even in our weaknesses, we must first turn to God and His Holy Word to guide us and protect us from ourselves.

Give to the enemies of truth as you would your freinds and they will weaken in their resolve to destroy you. Give to them as you would friends and they will become as freinds. The LORD will reward you (Proverbs 25:21) Give to everyone what is owed, revenue (taxes), respect, honor (Rom 3:7) I am amazed at how many “Christians” cheat on their taxes. Do they not know that those in authority over you on earth are servants of God? Even those who you may see as evil, contrite and despots are still under God’s authority. It is God’s responsibility to deal with them in judgement. When you cheat on taxes, you may be denying your neighbor services that are truly needed. Paul writes as love does not harm its neighbor, therefor love fulfills the Law of God (Rom 13:10) Avoiding taxes causes harm, therefor don’t do it. Love your neighbor in all ways, even if your neighbor hates you.

1 Peter 2:17 confirms this with, “Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king (those in authority).” I feel that even as we are persecuted, denied our rights and mocked for our faith, we still must honor those in authority. We must leave them to God. In Isaiah 3:15, God asks, “What do you mean by crushing my people, grinding the faces of the poor?” God is aware of our turmoil. He is the safe guard of our souls.

And keep your promises. Be faithful to your word as God is faithful to His word to you. If you borrow money, pay it back. don’t enter into deals that you can not keep. If you say to a friend or neighbor that you will do something for them, do it and do it promptly. Integrity is the cornerstone of righteousness.

Those who lend money without charging interest
and cannot be bribed or lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.Ps. 15:5

I cannot tell you how many times I have challenged those who advertise that they are “Christians” and then overcharge for their services. Deut. 16:19 says, “Do not pervert Justice.” and it can not be clearer than that. God says in Exodus 27:24-25 not to mistreat the widows and orphans or His wrath will be on you. Hebrews 11:24-25 tells us that Moses chose to be mistreated for the sake of God’s children. We are to stand firm in our faithfulness. We dare not to be tempted by the desires of the world but stand firm in the Grace of God. Live in justice, serve with justice and be guided by the just hand of God.

And as Paul says in Romans 3:21-24, “But now, the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

So who may walk in the sanctuary of the LORD? Those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who may call themselves redeemed? those who walk in the righteousness of God by the Grace of Christ. Who will stand firm in the face of persecution? Those who live by the example of Christ in all things.

And when the day of the Returning Lord, we shall rejoice, but until that day, we shall suffer persecutions, turmoil and strife. In the end we shall see our reward. As for now, the redeemed will be persecuted and those who suffer persecution can be counted among the redeemed. God’s grace will surpass all persecution. Stand firm in your faith always.

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Christian thought, Persucution and trials

Prepare For More Persucutions in the World Today

January 3, 2009 Paul Leave a comment

As we sit at our computers and complain that we are going through “hard times”. suffering from the effects of the recession, the possibility of job loss (if we haven’t lost our job already), and the high cost of food and gas, in reality we are just a bunch of whiners. Still here in America we are the most blessed with the fortunes of low costs in comparison to other nations and we still have more food per capita than any other country in the world. We more importantly have a freedom of religion that is still the bench mark for the rest of the world. Even as we complain about the secular and anti god movement to restrict public displays of our faith, we still enjoy the right to worship were and how we please.

The real struggle is there are places with no food all, no jobs, no future. And because the “rich” nations are held synonymous with “The West” and the West is “Christian”, and add to the fact that most Christian Churches do not run around armed to the teeth, Christians have become targets of their poverty and suffering. Churches, schools , orphanages and health clinics are targets of their frustration. While we sit in our comfortable homes watching wide screen PPV in HD with surround sound, while we drive our SUVs to the mall to buy the latest IPODs, blackberries and Blu Ray discs, poor hungry people are being led to believe that it is the fault of greedy Christians that live decadent lives. They have nothing and because “Christians” want to change the way they have lived for hundreds of years, change is for the worst and to them, disaster. they are being told that “Christians” want to keep them impoverished and enslaved.

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Many places want the return to the old ways before the West came and changed the way of life for them. Some countries argue that all religion is dangerous to the will of the government and a threat to the power they hold over the will of the people. And because in most cases, Christians are non-violent, they become the first target. While in some places, thugs and criminals have claimed to be “christian” just to get power for themselves and have been more cruel than the rest. In all these cases the real followers of Jesus have become victims.

We are facing hard times in the Christian World but this is nothing new. In some countries that have in the past been friendly toward Christians, there are new conflicts. Countries that have broken the yoke of oppression from the former Soviet Union, in trying to protect themselves from Militant extremism are putting limits on religious expression that in turn, works against Christians as well. While it may seem right to restrict Fundamental Islamics or cults that worship evil, it could and will backfire and limit Christian expression as well.

That is why we who live in the “Free World” must guard against religious restrictions in our government as well as civic intrusions into our freedom to worship. It is a strange paradox that in order to protect the right to spread the Word of God, we must also protect the right of others to spread their beliefs and strive to protect even those who wish to shut out Christ, such as many Islamic sect wish. To spread the Good News of the Christ Salvation, we must allow the spread of Islam, Hindu, Mormonism and other faiths that also seek freedom. As we are directed to share the Word of God, we evangelize and do good (Godly) works for the betterment of others. We build more than churches, we create schools, clinics, orphanages and dig wells, purify water sources, eradicate disease or at least treat them. We help farmers grow crops and teach people how to work where they never worked before. And all the while we improve the quality of life of others even if they do not embrace Christ. Yet this is considered to be a threat to those in power, even if it is just locally. The control of the despot and the warlords are challenged by education, and free will. Bringing Christ into a community does both. Those who oppose change and growth, will do what ever they can to destroy the Gospel.

As we are enjoying our lives in our “safe” countries, we must never forget that the rest of the world is under persecution. Just as Hitler started with the Jews and progressed to every other faith that might interfere with his cruelty, it can happen anywhere and is in many places. It may not be on the grand scale that he used but it is still happening around the world.

Daniel spoke of them saying, “And the king shall do as he wills. He will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished.” (Daniel 11:36) Yet we are still corrupted by our vain and selfish desires. We ignore the powers that rob and destroy the people of their will. Our news agencies fail to report the attacks on people of faith and the imprisonment of church leaders throughout the world. “And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. … and some of the wise shall stumble , so that they may be refined, purified and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.” Daniel 11:33-35) “…But the people who know God shall stand firm and take action.” (Daniel 11:32)

To think that the persecution of Christians is isolated and infrequent is to be living in a dream. Jesus warned of this. To His followers He told them to prepare to suffer. “Truly I say to you , there is no one who has left the house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or lands, for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30) “And then he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my sake. THIS WILL BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BEAR WITNESS.'” (Luke 21:10-13)

While some will say that these are the signs of the end days, I beleive that they are only a warning that throughout history, we will face periods of persecutions. The warning in Mark says that we will have persecutions in the end days but it was to prepare the people for the persecutions by first the Jewish leaders and then the Romans. As age to age has come and gone, persecutions have been a constant threat to the True Faith of the followers of Christ. Trials and persecutions come with the frequency of tides. Every generation has faced some form of persecution. Christians will face persecution because of the desire of those who have power fear the loss of it or because those seeking power over others use it as a tool to destroy the will of others to gain power.

I will be honest in saying that throughout history, “Christians” were guilty of being the persecutors. Many wars through the ages were fought under the pretence of forcing others to become “Christian” or to deny people the right to worship Chirst in the manner they sought. Most of the wars in Europe during the Middle Ages were fought under this pretence. In reality, those in power used the Church as an excuse to gain power over others. It had nothing to do with protecting Christians or the Faith. From the stoning of Stephen in the first century to the burning of orphanages in India last year, Christians who want nothing more than to share the Good News of Christ and to bring Peace and the Harmony of God’s Love to others will continue to face opposition.

Even in the Middle East, as it is now called – in my youth it was the Near East, the problem is not so much that they are against Jesus as it is an attack against the Western influence intruding in their lands. They look at the Jews not as the people who have an ancient right to live in the “Promised Land” but as European Invaders who have stolen the land that they consider historically theirs. The land, culture, history and the way of life in “Palestine” has remained basicly unchanged for hundreds of years. They precieve the Jews as Western Europeans, not as Children of Abraham. For all the rhetoric about keeping Islam pure, that is not a reality. They don’t like each other very much at all. If they did not have the common hate of the Western influence and the Zionist Movement of the European Jews to unite them, they would just as soon kill each other as not. Of course this is not true in many areas of the Islamic world but in Palestine it is evident. And because the Jews are “Western” and the West is Christian, if falls right in place that Christians are also invaders. Even though Christians have lived in the Arab Nations ever since the first century, it does not matter, they are still “outsiders” and have no place in Arab Nations. Because America is the strongest power in the West, they are also a target of this mentality. Because America wants to force the world to live as we do, we have become a target of their hate, and because America is a “Christian Nation” that fuels the hate of Christians.

But as bad as it may seem, that is not were the real persecutions are taking place. The battle to remain faithful, to withstand untold threat is in the Far East and in Africa because in those lands Christians fight against the corruption and evil that plagues the people who live there. The areas that the greatest persecutions are taking place are in the sub continent of India and throughout the troubles lands throughout Africa. From the trouble last year in Orissa, Manipoor and Kandhanal, to worship restrictions in Kazakhstan against Islam that has spilled over to the Baptist and other protestant faiths. In Africa, 400 Christians were killed during a church service in Kampala Uganda. Not to forget that “registered” pastors in China are held under arrest without charges in China and Vietnam. Also this past year, a Christian orphanage was bombed by the SLAF in Sri Lanka, Malay language Bible and News letters are considered as perverse in Malaysia and still unpublished. There are still church burnings in Bangladesh and death threats to Pastors in Pakistan. Tajikistan has drafted a new law that will prevent militant Islamic groups from building centers in that country but it is worded in a manner that would enable the country from allowing new Churches to build leaving only Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches to spread the Gospel. To read about these incidents and others go to “Persecution.org”.(listed under my freinds)

This year pray for the persecuted churches throughout the world. Direct your efforts of concern for the mission field because if we can not sustain the missions, our own freedoms will be weakened. Let the leaders of the free world know that the efforts of Christians around the world are just as much victims of terror as are the civilians and tourists that make headlines. And I want to close with this note; not all Islamic Nations are shutting out Christians. Some such as Bahrain on the Arabic Coast are open to Christians, so pray that their understanding spreads to other Arab Nations. To the churches under attack I add the words of Paul to his young Churches; “We proudly tell God’s other Churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecution and hardships you are suffering and God will use this persecution to show His justice and to make you worthy of His Kingdom, for which you are suffering.” (2 Thes. 1:4-5)

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Christian thought, Wholeness/Christ

God’s Law on Widows and Orphans: (The Prophets)

September 13, 2008 Paul Leave a comment

Psalm 146 is one of the most powerful songs of the Old Law. It is referred to as The LORD an Abundant Helper. “How blessed is he whose help is the God Jacob (vs. 5),Who executes justice for the oppressed(vs.7) The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow;But he thwarts the way of the wicked. (vs.9)”

It has always been clear to me that the responsibility of caring for the neglected has rested on the churches. Because the Nations have been under the Law of God, they should share in the burden for those who can not be helped by a church. Because the churches and the synagogues are unable to take on the burden of those who are not afflicted with a faith. But it also takes a commitment by the people to be honest with their tithe and their offerings. There are many organizations that are not Church Affiliated that are doing wonderful work but it still falls upon the Children to set aside a portion to care for the needs of the community. Because of the many that do not know the Lord and who unreachable to the Word, the government should reach out to them.

The message that is being placed here is that the churches need to step up and take charge of the caring for the widow, orphans and the homeless sojourners that fill our towns and cities. When God told the people Judea and Israel through Isaiah to Repent, He said (Isaiah 1:17) “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” He continues with (vs.18) ” Come now, and let us reason together.” He then proceeds to tell them of the transgressions against God and he ends with: (Isaiah 1:23) “…They do not bring justice to the fatherless ant the widow’s cause does not come to them.”

Wholy4Christ

Tag Archives: Human rights

Pray for Christians in Sub Continent

Songs of the Persecuted and the Redeemed

Prepare For More Persucutions in the World Today

God’s Law on Widows and Orphans: (The Prophets)

R.E.S.T. in the Lord