Our Persecution Complex

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I read an article recently about a young woman who, while working at a college event, was asked to remove a very conspicuous cross necklace. She was representing the school, it was explained, and the supervisor was concerned that such a blatant religious symbol would "turn people off" from the school.

Lawyers were immediately called. The fact that this story has happened in the same week as the Supreme Court's ruling on DOMA and California's Prop. 8 has only heightened the cries of "Persecution!" from certain segments of the Church.

My views on this are mixed, and I'm determined to not become overly-political with this blog. Jesus is the point, and I don't want to obscure Him by causing unnecessary argument. With that said, this is a conversation that needs to be had within our faith - and Jesus Himself promised that He brought division.

Are we being persecuted in America?

Not nearly as much as we should be.

I don't have any television channels in my home, but every time I log onto the Internet, I see a new story of how the Church is trying to become the majority voice in our country. But, it's only a certain section of the church, and the voice always says the same thing: DON'T.

Don't allow homosexuals to marry.
Don't allow women to have abortions.
Don't allow atheists to hold public office.
Don't allow high school students to be taught safe sexual practices.
Don't allow underprivileged women access to low-cost birth control.
Don't allow any other voices in the conversation.

I'm not denying the importance of some of these issues. I certainly see the value of protecting the unborn... but where are the majority of Christians demanding better access to birth control? Where are the Christians speaking in support of adoption programs, government - or church - assistance for low-income women who find themselves pregnant with no way to support their child?

The "Christian majority" has a great deal of concern with the goings-on of homosexuals in our country... but where are the voices speaking out against real sexual deviance in our nation? Where are the voices raised in outrage against sex trafficking, pederasty in the Church, unchecked promiscuity in our youth due to a culture of despair and low self-esteem?

Why are we even talking about cross necklaces, public Nativity scenes, Ten Commandment displays - when there are children all around the world who are naked, and are not clothed; who are hungry, and are not fed?

Why are we not speaking and praying about the hundreds of thousands of dead innocents as a result of our nation's wars?

Why are we not concerned with the thousands dead by gun violence every year?

Why do we not speak in support of nuclear disarmament?

Why are we not visiting the thousands of prisoners who are held captive each year?

Why are we appealing to Caesar to legitimize our faith, when we should be calling on God to heal the broken world - and being His hands and feet, doing His work?

Our litmus test for persecution is broken. When we begin to speak with authority against the Powers of the Earth, against the unjust social systems that have made hunger, poverty and despair a way of life in our world, then we will start to see the persecution. And it will be the kind of persecution that we can rejoice in.

I can't rejoice in someone taking away my nativity scene or my cross necklace. But I can and will rejoice when I speak the Truth to Power, when I demand the release of the captives of oppressive governments and social systems, and I am put in prison, or beaten, or arrested, or killed. Because I'm speaking about something that matters. I'm speaking about something that has the power to change hearts and lives, not laws or public opinion. And, whether there is an eternal reward or not, I can rejoice in my persecution - because I have spent my life advancing the Kingdom into darkness.

"I say it truly, whatever you did to the least of these, you did to Me."

My love to you, wherever you are,

Michael Brian Woywood

Saved by Grace
Walking in Faith