Persecuted and Forgotten, Our Christian Brethren

The policies of the US “president” have created an open season on Christians in the Middle East and Africa as evidenced by a recent report entitled “Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their faith 2013-2015.” The report, published by Aid to the Church in Need, states, “At a time when the numbers of displaced and refugees have hit an all-time high, Islamist groups have carried out religiously motivated ethnic cleansing of Christians notably in parts of Africa and the Middle East. If this continues, the Church’s survival in these regions is threatened.” The report says that the “Church is being silenced and driven out of its ancient biblical heartland.”

The report speaks of conditions in Middle Eastern nations and Africa where Christians must flee or die, and predicts the extinction of Christianity within the next 5-10 years. Under this current US Administration, violence against Christians in the past two years has escalated by an emboldened Islam, much of which occurred in countries where the “president’s” support of Arab Spring destabilized governments and gave Muslim Brotherhood-supported terrorists a stronghold–Libya, Syria, Iraq, among them. The report urges, “top Christian leadership in the US to marshal their grassroots constituencies and force genuine political action-in the form of more military action on behalf of Christians in Iraq and Syria, as well as a recognition that Christians are victims of persecution at home and therefore eligible for asylum in the US.”

I can’t tell you how many emails I receive saying that they can’t wait for the rapture or they are praying for the rapture because things are getting so bad. While I know that what I’m about to say may offend a lot of people, but we need to focus on what is before us and take care of our Father’s business while we are here on earth. While so many are hiding behind doctrines of escape, brothers and sisters in the Middle East and Africa have no escape. Their tribulation is real and upon them. We are sitting here hoping for future events when our brethren are being slaughtered. This is not either/or. We can, as in Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come,” AND pray for the blessed hope. But to not do the former, lessens the latter.

The violent encroachment of Islam through Boko Haram and Fulani tribesman in Ghana, West Africa is a glimpse of the future. The Daily Jot ministry has actively supported, and continues to do so, efforts of outreach in the rural areas of Ghana that have come under the influence of Islam. We support churches in these hostile areas where the Muslims move in and force Christians to convert or die (yes, there has been slaughters even there), or to flee for their lives. This is true. It is happening. We in America are so blessed with protections that our brethren in other areas do not have. This Administration has abandoned Christians in the Middle East and Africa, and they are facing religious cleansing. We need to find ways to come to their aid. Imagine facing Jesus and him asking, “What did you do while awaiting my return?”