Articles
Testing the Waters of Religious Persecution
By now we are aware of the trouble brewing in Houston, Texas. In a nutshell, the openly lesbian mayor spearheaded gender-neutral legislation that sought to mainstream an extremist homosexual agenda. Local preachers addressed the subject in their congregations and from their pulpits. Other civic leaders raised petitions against the measures that were signed by tens of thousands of Houstonians.
In retaliation, the mayor issued a court order demanding the surrender of sermon, emails, memos and all other correspondence concerning these issues. Note that it wasn’t illegal political speech she attacked; the mayor demanded everything wherein preachers addressed gender identity issues.
While this Soviet-style attack against religious freedom may be suppressed, does anyone think this will be the end of the matter? I believe this is merely an “ice breaker,” a trial balloon by which homosexual advocates will plan their next course of action. Christians are beginning to feel the heat of persecution in our own country. Perhaps Paul’s words to the Thessalonians will soon be applicable to the United States: “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Jews …” (1 Th 2:14).
Several years ago I wrote the following for a Florida College lecture: “Christianity faces increasing hostility in the twenty-first century. If that judgment is wrong, I shall not regret my error but relish it. However, if God closes the door on our religious freedom, other doors of opportunity will open. Christians must respond to the questions of the new millennium with the ancient answers of competent elders, conscientious preachers, and courageous, committed disciples. We must rise to the occasion and let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16)” (Jesus for a New Millennium 51).
That was written fourteen years ago. Maybe God is fed up with the shenanigans masquerading as Christianity and is about to “purge the threshing floor.” I am not a prophet, but the signs of the times are warning us to examine our convictions lest the testing of persecution finds us unprepared.
