I was minding my own business, just making the regular afternoon pilgrimage to the men’s room. Out of nowhere, a colleague popped in and asked me a most unexpected question: “Are you upset with how the world is responding to our new president? I bet you’re unnerved by the way the world thinks he’s a... Continue Reading →
#What Is Aleppo? Why Christians must care
What is Aleppo? The question seems innocent enough to most Americans. But back in September, the question lit up Twitter ( #WhatIsAleppo ) and made Independent presidential candidate Gary Johnson appear even more out of touch with reality. When asked about his response to the crisis in Aleppo, Johnson replied, “And what is Aleppo?” It’s... Continue Reading →
Why the Mark Driscoll Deal Is Not a Big Deal
As we crowded into the square area designated as the living room, our group of Christian believers talked mostly of our families and of news and events in the Christian world. This was a reunion of sorts, as the people gathered here had not been together in one place for more than a year. It... Continue Reading →
Does Persecution Create Strange Bedfellows?
In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a drunken jester named Trinculo declares, “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” This familiar expression has oft been adapted to the political arena: “Politics makes for strange bedfellows.” Indeed, the twisted manipulations of political warfare can lead former enemies into convenient beds of agreement. Yet Trinculo’s statement is not... Continue Reading →
Christ’s Heart for the Persecuted: A Simple Explanation with Current Illustrations
I know a woman whose life was very hard through no fault of her own. She and her husband had 8 children together when he was murdered, leaving her a widow with very little means to survive. Family members offered to take the younger children so she could try to survive with the older ones.... Continue Reading →
Around the World
A Devastating Question Rod Dreier asks a devastating question to Christians: Why don’t you care about fellow Christians suffering in Syria? “If you are a Christian, why don’t you care? And if you do care, have you spoken to your pastor, your friends, and most importantly, your Congressman and Senators, about it?” Historic Persecution? In... Continue Reading →
Helpful Primer on Persecution
Recently, Nina Shea, was interviewed by Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review. Nina is the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute. She is also co-author of a helpful book detailing the present state of persecution around the world: Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians. In the interview, Nina... Continue Reading →
Persecution Update from the Fall 2012
2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Given the fact that God promises persecution to all Christians, it should be no surprise to us that Christians are routinely attacked around the world. The Assyrian International News Agency has chronicled by country some of the more... Continue Reading →
Are Christians Extinct in the Middle East?
Violently (yet relatively quietly) Christians are dying out in Bible lands. In the place where Paul was converted and in the location of the church that first sent an offering to help needy Christians—in these ancient Bible lands, Christians are dying at an alarming rate. Actually, the more accurate way of saying it is... Continue Reading →
Will Germany Help Syrian Christians
As the founder of a ministry to the persecuted church, I am well aware of the serious degree to which Christians are suffering from North Korea around the globe and back to Malaysia. In Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Christians are routinely beaten, imprisoned, or killed because their faith in Jesus Christ cannot stay... Continue Reading →
What Should We Think About Stories of Slaughtered Christians in Syria?
Politically, it would be easy to find fault with some of the decisions being made in our foreign policy. Many politicians have in fact been critical of President Obama, calling for more serious action to be taken in Assyria (Joe Lieberman and John McCain are but two examples). Indeed, many websites are quickly seizing on... Continue Reading →