Of the White House, Persecution and Genocide

 

Of the White House, Persecution and Genocide by Bill Wilson

Christmas is only four days away.  It is a time, at least in America, when we still can celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  It is estimated that over 92 percent of Americans will celebrate Christmas in some form or another, even those who do not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Most will be with family or friends. 

Most will attend some form of church service.  Most will exchange gifts in the comfort of our homes or someone else's house.  Most will break bread with loved ones and, even if it is brief, experience the love and the spirit of the birth of Christ. Christ was not likely born this time of the year, and many take exception to the commercialization of Christmas, but is a time to celebrate the Light of the world.

 

Certainly there has been a lot written this year about Islam being brought into Christmas.  The American Civil Liberties Union and its partners continue to press for their brand of separation of church and state. 

They file suit against towns for wanting to display nativity scenes.  They file suit against schools for wanting to discuss Christmas or have Christmas decorations, sing Christmas songs or even exchange gifts but I haven't seen any lawsuits when Islam is being portrayed during Christmas in public schools. This double standard has created a soft tyranny atmosphere in the United States where people are cautious to promote Christmas for fear of some sort of legal retaliation.  

 

Isn't this how persecution starts?  Someone is offended here or there and suddenly an entire segment of the Christmas tradition is removed. In other places of the world, however, Christians want to celebrate Christmas. They may be exchanging smiles instead of gifts because any outward celebration of their Savior could result in their own death or incarceration.

According to author and columnist Raymond Ibrahim, the White House is essentially ignoring the ongoing genocide of Christians around the world. Ibrahim wrote in a recent article, the president's officials argue that Christians "do not appear to meet the high bar set out in the genocide treaty" when describing victims.

This attitude has likely opened the door in the US for hostility against Christians and emboldened Islamists who are instructed by their holy book to kill Christians and Jews.

Ibrahim reports that in August, for example, Portland, Maine Christian healthcare worker Freddy Akoa was beaten to death, his blood-spattered Bible found next to his body. Police refused to release details, but three Muslim Somali refugees were arrested and later found to be part of a terrorist group with ties to the Islamic State.

This Christmas, let us not forget those who are persecuted here and abroad, for as Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."