Given the frequency of how often this topic comes up these days, I welcomed the opportunity to read The Global War on Christians by John L. Allen Jr. Over the last year, Hobby Lobby, Duck Dynasty and I'm sure many more that I have forgotten, have been just some of the names bandied about by U.S. Christians as proof that there are, in fact, more and more incidents of Christians being publicly denounced and persecuted.
While offering countless examples of Christian persecution around the world and providing textbook-like documentation and accuracy, what I most appreciate is that from the onset of the introduction, Allen offers a more accurate understanding of the "global war on Christians": "...meaning violence and overt persecution directed at individual Christians as well as their churches and other institutions on the basis of their religious faith, the works of charity they perform, or the virtues they exhibit."
By contrast, "A 'war on religion' in the West, (is) a phrase that many commentators in Europe and North America use to refer to what they see as a growing climate of secular hostility to religion, and to Christianity in particular." The perceived hostility in the West, quite frankly, pales in comparison to what our brothers and sisters in Christ face everyday in every other corner of the globe.
Allen also gives broad examples of what true Christian persecution may involve:
- Societal discrimination
- Institutional discrimination
- Employment discrimination
- Legal discrimination
- Suppression of Christian missionary activity
- Suppression of conversion to Christianity
- Forced conversion from Christianity
- Suppression of corporate worship
- Violence against individuals
- Community oppression
And if you doubt the existence of such actions against Christians, Allen reminds us that "leading demographers of religion...have performed an exhaustive statistical analysis of Christian martyrdom, reaching the conclusion that there have been seventy million martyrs since the time of Christ. Of that total, fully half, or forty-five million, went to their deaths in the twentieth century..."
And we lament a grandpa in the bayou being removed from a cable television program.
Allen's book is a call to the Western Church to wake up. Recognizing true persecution is the first step. Doing something about it should soon follow. When we think of Christian persecution...India, Indonesia, Iran, China, North Korea, Sudan and Somalia most likely jump to the forefront of our minds. Yet, in our own hemisphere lies what the Vatican calls "the single most dangerous place on earth to be a church worker"...Colombia.
Instead of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or government officials attacking Christians, Colombia has "large areas of the country...controlled by criminal organizations, drug cartels, revolutionaries, and paramilitary groups," that have no qualms over killing relief workers, priests, nuns or missionaries who dare to dream of freedom from oppression for the peasants under the control of the territorial tyrants.
I confess to having read the book in small "doses". The tales of torture, murder and desecration became overwhelming, although Allen treats them all with dignity and heartfelt care. My soul was disturbed though at the plight of my kinsmen that takes place right under my nose.
If this were happening in my country, how would I want my fellow Christians who are free to practice their faith do? Speak up...of course. That is precisely what Allen does and encourages us all to do.
Sign those petitions for freedom of Pastor Saeed Abedini who is currently imprisoned in Iran; forward the e-mails and repost the links that call attention to true Christian persecution; and, don't circulate the popular media attacks against Christians that have just been misquoted or misunderstood. Can we admit that we've all jumped on all of these little "inconveniences" so often that when a real tragedy is taking place, we have become desensitized to it? If I'm right...then maybe we should stop overreacting at each little infraction so that we have the appropriate outrage at the human rights violations that actually occur everyday.
I leave this review with the wise warning given by Allen in the postscript to which all Christians should take heed: "Christians must always be on guard against the stirring of prejudice in their own hearts, and should not use the suffering of their coreligionists to evade that examination of conscience."
Once again, the Truth of Christ begins within and claiming some sort of privilege because of our standing in Him does not excuse our negligence as to the plight of others. Nor, does it give cause for us to retaliate...ever.
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