Highlighting Particular Concerns

As believers in Christ, sometimes our faith will be put to the test.  We will encounter those who do not share our faith perspective, and it's important that we continue to hold fast to the love of God and allow His life to be expressed through us, even when we encounter opposition. Paul was someone who endured great suffering, and he wrote this in 2nd Timothy 3:
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Pretty sobering, right?  Jesus taught the same principle in the Sermon on the Mount.  If we are living our faith, there is that possibility that we could draw fire, figuratively speaking, from those who disagree.  And, in some parts of the world, that could be literal.  So, we can be challenged to be grounded in our faith, firm and secure in the arms of our Savior, and know that when we encounter opposition, we can be assured of His presence in us and with us.

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We are reminded that we living in a dangerous world, and there will be those who would want to decrease or eliminate the expression of religious faith in our culture.  And, there are those that,
instead of showing respect for other religions, prosecute others because of their faith. Here are the words of 1st Peter 4:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

In 1998, Congress created the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF,  to provide independent recommendations to the president, secretary of state, and Congress, according to an article by J.C. Derrick of WORLD.  He was on my radio show recently and highlighted its most recent report, which according to his article, has "urged the Obama administration to increase public pressure on foreign governments 'perpetrating or tolerating' severe persecution of religious minorities around the world."

He quotes from the report: “Humanitarian crises fueled by waves of terror, intimidation, and violence have engulfed an alarming number of countries in the year since the release of [USCIRF’s] prior annual report last May...The horrors of the past year speak volumes about how and why religious freedom and the protection of the rights of vulnerable religious communities matter.”

USCIRF called on the State Department to dramatically increase its list of what are called “Countries of Particular Concern,” or CPCs, from the current nine to 17.  Those nine, according to the State Department website, are: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  The report drew specific attention to five countries: Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Central African Republic, and Burma, where widespread atrocities have taken place. Of those countries, the State Department listed only Burma, also known as Myanmar, as a CPC in its report last year, which drew criticism for several omissions. The commission also recommended adding Pakistan (for the 14th straight year), Egypt, Tajikistan, and Vietnam as CPCs.

The WORLD piece also says that the commission expressed its support for the International Criminal Court to investigate ISIS violations in Iraq and Syria against religious and ethnic minorities. In those two countries, ISIS-related violence has internally displaced some 8.5 million persons—many of them Yazidis and Christians—plus another 3.3 million who have fled to neighboring states.

The article quotes USCIRF chair Katrina Lantos Swett: “All nations should care about abuses beyond their borders not only for humanitarian reasons but because what goes on in other nations rarely remains there,” adding “In the long run, there is only one permanent guarantor of the safety, security, and survival of the persecuted and vulnerable. It is the full recognition of religious freedom.” According to J.C., the report warns Western nations in light of January terrorist attacks in Paris.

Also, the commission's report called for immediate “emergency action” to address the growing humanitarian crises in Nigeria and Central African Republic. And, the commission urged the administration to increase U.S. government attention to 10 additional countries it listed as "tier two" offenders.

A report on the ReligionNews.com website pinpoints some silver linings in the report.  For instance:

Religious freedom and harmony have improved in Cyprus, resulting in greater access to houses of worship across the Green Line separating north from south. Nigeria witnessed its first peaceful democratic transfer of power earlier this year when Muslim northerner Muhammadu Buhari ousted Christian southerner Jonathan Goodluck at the polls. And Sri Lanka’s new government has taken positive steps to promote religious freedom and unity in the face of violent Buddhist nationalism.

So, you have a set of recommendations from an advisory council set up by Congress to provide information to the Administration and the State Department, so there's apparently nothing binding here.  You have 17 countries that are recommended to be named Countries of Particular Concern, plus another 10 "tier two" offenders, plus the concerns over these non-government entities such as ISIS.  The Religion News report says that USCIRF, "...wants Congress to amend the International Religious Freedom Act — under which USCIRF itself was established — to allow CPC designation of countries where non-state actors violate religious freedom in political vacuums, such as parts of Iraq, Syria, CAR and Nigeria."  So, what do you take away?

First of all, this is another reminder that we live in a dangerous world, and there are people that, even in the name of religion, want to inhibit religious freedom and curtail the ability of people to express their faith openly.  We can be mindful of those who are suffering in various parts of the world.

And, here at home, the Garland, Texas event, even though it was the result of what can be viewed as a provocative event that made light of a religious group's leader, reminds us that there are people who mean to do harm in the name of religion.  Religious persecution can come at the hands of religious people, as well as those who do not claim any religious practice.  The bottom line is that violence against another person is never justified, including in the name of religion.  And this reminder: As Christians, even though we may disagree with the faith perspective and practice of another, we should always show respect for another's religious beliefs.

Finally, I think it's telling that after the removal of the GoFundMe page that was set up to aid the bakers who would not cater a same-sex wedding ceremony and were fined $130,000, Samaritan's Purse stepped in a set up a page to raise funds.  It's telling that the online support device is entitled, "Persecuted Christians - USA."  Allow that to sink in.  Even though we are not facing death for our faith - yet - we are seeing an unprecedented wave of legal challenges to Christians who stand on their Christian convictions.  And, if a comment by the U.S. Solicitor General in the recent Supreme Court hearings on gay marriage is any indication, there could be negative consequences for acting according to your deeply held Christian beliefs.  We can be challenged to be ready and to be strong in the Lord in the face of threats to our freedom of religion and religious expression.