A Call to Remember the Persecuted Christians |
They’re killing Christians in other countries, often with impunity. And many Christians in America seem either ignorant or apathetic about it. Perhaps many of us fail to act because we are not sure how we can help. But religious freedom is exceedingly important.
America began because of anti-Christian persecution. Many of the original colonies were populated by Christians of one brand or another seeking the freedom to worship Jesus here without harassment from the government.
As they worded it in the New England Confederation of 1643: “we all came into these parts of America with one and the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace.”
Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are reminded of the Pilgrims and their first Thanksgiving celebration in Plymouth in 1621. Of course, the whole Pilgrim story began with persecution.
In fact, William Bradford, the long-time governor of the Pilgrims who voted him in about 30 times (they had annual terms of duty), said as much in the opening of his book, Of Plymouth Plantation. (Note: I have modernized the spelling here.)
“It is well known unto the godly and judicious, how ever since the first breaking out of the light of the gospel in our Honourable Nation of England what wars & oppositions ever since Satan........