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Christianity in America: We Still Have it Pretty Good
By Julie | May 30, 2008
Christianity in America sometimes comes across as one big fight. This group criticizes Christians; Christians fight back. It’s a never-ending cycle that may leave some Christians thinking we’re doomed, while others claim they’re not going down without a fight. So fighting continues, in the courts, in protests, in debates. It gets pretty ugly sometimes, and the battle lines create bigger rifts among differing groups.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight for what we believe in, or our basic rights. But sometimes it’s good to recognize: it is still good to be a Christian in America. You doubt me? I have proof from a couple recent headlines:
Iran Arrests Suspected Converts to Christianity
On May 11, police arrested eight people in the southern city of Shiraz, according to Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, a Christian organization that fights religious persecution.
Most of those detained have been released, but at least one of them, 21-year-old Mojtaba Hussein, is still behind bars and is not cooperating with his captors, according to Moeller.
“He may not be willing to give up the names of other Muslim converts. He may not be willing to recant his faith himself,” Moeller said.
Though they are protected under the Iranian constitution, Christians are not given the same freedoms as other citizens in Iran. Christians can’t worship freely or hold public office, and they can be arrested for even speaking to Muslims about Christianity.
Algerian archbishop calls on Muslim government to free convert to Christianity
Rome, May 29, 2008 / 11:43 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Emeritus Henri Teissier of Algeria has called on that country’s government to free Christian convert Habiba Kouider, who was arrested on April 1 for “practicing a non-Muslim religion” and is facing a three-year prison sentence requested by prosecutors.
In the same city of Tiaret, six Algerian Protestants have been accused of proselytism and were arrested as they left a home where they had met for prayer. Prosecutors are asking for the men to be sentenced to two years in prison for “practicing a religion in an unauthorized place.”
I know there are difficult political arguments facing Christians today. But, we still live in a country where it is legal to worship in church; we are not persecuted for it. It is still legal to talk about our faith, without facing death. We need to be thankful for these privileges. I wish all countries had it so easy, but they don’t.
But God is still in charge, and sometimes he has a funny way of showing it:
Pilots Run Out of Fuel, Pray, Land Safely Near Jesus Sign
WELLINGTON, New Zealand- It seemed like an almost literal answer to their prayers. When two New Zealand pilots ran out of fuel in a microlight airplane they offered prayers and were able to make an emergency landing in a field- coming to rest right next to a sign reading, “Jesus is Lord.”
Topics: In the News |
