Are Christians Terrorists?

The War on Christians

To you, the obvious answer is an emphatic “NO.” But not to some government officials.  Look at some recent headlines;

Christians Deemed Terrorists in Studies Funded By Department of Homeland Security 

By Heather Clark on July 4, 2012

Army says slides labeling anti-abortion groups as ‘terrorists’ have been used for over seven years.

Story by Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner, July 19, 2024

University Adds Trigger Warning to Materials Containing ‘Expressions of Christian Faith‘ 

By International Christian Concern on October 18, 2024

And then there is this quote from an email by Jay Sekulow, ACLJ, that arrived in my mailbox on November 21, 2024.

“Biden’s war on faith is expanding in his final days – even banning government employees from going to church.

Biden and the radical Left are waging a secret war on our Christian faith – prayer, churches, Bible studies in senior living centers, and even Christian kids in school are all under attack.  Biden is empowering anti-Christian forces to severely deplete your religious liberty.  And it could destroy everything we’ve fought for.”

I have cited Jay Sekulow of the American Center of Law and Justice.  However, many Christian legal organizations in the USA are overloaded with cases involving freedom of speech and religion.  It seems that current-day politicians and educators are eager to eliminate the freedoms of religion and speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

But none of this should surprise Christians who know the Word of God.

Jesus warned, “I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.- -” If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:19-20).  “The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2).  Paul taught Timothy, saying, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy3:12).

Paul described tough times ahead.  “This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

His words are a vivid description of our 21^st century.

Those Christians who were happy with the results of the 2024 US election may be tempted to think that the battle is over.  Actually, it has just begun.

Since President Trump pledged to “drain the swamp” in a massive effort to bring back integrity, financial responsibility, genuine justice, and trim down the bloated government bureaucracy, all of his enemies are “coming out of the woodwork.” Trump’s enemies are viciously contesting his top nominations because he is choosing people outside and inside of the current government who know how to get the job done.

Christians in government who live by Christian principles will be demonized and attacked with any possible slander the enemy can conjure.  Many in the government bureaucracy will be fighting to preserve their jobs, many of which are unnecessary.  Politicians will be fighting to protect their “pork.” The past eight years of attacks against Trump and his program will intensify.  As he attempts to “drain the swamp” and keep his promises, his opponents will savagely accuse him of being a dictator.  Yet he was elected to “drain the swamp, ” which won’t be pleasant.

The answer to the entire problem in America is not available through politics.  No political leader is competent enough and skilled enough to solve many problems.

In America and all other countries, the only viable answer is spiritual.

God gave the answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14.  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

God doesn’t call the wicked to get right.  He addresses this to “my people,” the believers.  However, there is a fundamental problem of application in this verse.  Often, believers will glibly quote this verse and promptly apply it to other Christians but not to themselves.  This verse is to be applied to ME personally.  If I am called by His name, then I must humble myself.  I must pray.  I must seek God’s face.  I must turn from MY wicked ways.  Then God hears, forgives, and heals.

In these modern times, in free countries, we are burdened with too much money (yes, I did say too much money – compare your income and possessions to your counterparts in any third-world country.)  We are loaded with too many things (the god of materialism).  We are obsessed with what we consider necessary pleasure.  We also don’t want to be weighed down by God’s standards of morality concerning sex, honesty, and love for neighbors.  We don’t want to be inconvenienced with giving our time to serve others.   If we look carefully at our own lives, we will see plenty of room and cause to turn from our wicked ways.

In this age when we are likely to be persecuted and classed as a terrorist, what do we do?

1. Recognize that we are in a spiritual warfare. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
2. Recognize how dangerous Satan is. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
3. Expect to be persecuted, but don’t bring it on yourself by foolishness and deliberately antagonizing the enemy.
4. Get spiritual victory internally so that when persecution and testing come, you can handle it with a godly attitude.
5. Pray regularly and intensely for those in authority. (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
6. If you are able (physically, mentally, educationally) to participate in government, do it. We need more Christians in government.
7. Recognize and practice the priority of the Great Commission: Go, Make disciples, Baptize, Teach. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8)
8. Above all, walk in fellowship with the Lord, abiding in Him. (John 15:1-8)

May we all experience God’s enabling power to live for Him in these trying days!