[twigs]

It's easy to think that this kind of action is something from the past, but unfortunately, it is very much with us. I feel so blessed to live in a country like the US! But I am so very grateful that people are putting their lives on the line every day for Christ throughout the world. The enemy may think he's winning, but in the early church, the persecution was a major contributing factor to the spread of Christianity. Today, I suspect it will be the same.

[monday]

"The enemy may think he's winning, but in the early church, the persecution was a major contributing factor to the spread of Christianity."

Ah.... Persecution Complex. Most religions have it to one degree or another. The sense of self righteousness it bestows upon the persecuted is indeed a powerful emotion, very useful for proselytizing. Early Christians were persecuted horribly, then later became persecutors themselves during the middle ages. Jews of course have been persecuted throughout most of their history. They seem to enjoy it, in a perverse way. They certainly haven't done anything to stop it, even going so far as to set up shop in a neighborhood guaranteed to give them endless years of bloody persecution.

No matter what the religion, persecution is due solely to intolerance of other religious beliefs. The more intolerant the persecutor, the more death and destruction that follows.

Muslims, especially Shiia Muslims have an acute persecution complex. They believe they are being persecuted even when, in fact, it is they who are persecuting others.

They have such a strong Persecution Complex that they actually brag that they welcome death, saying "They love death more than Westerners love life."

So eager are they to become martyrs, they martyr themselves by becoming suicide bombers. It is insane behavior by any standard other than that of the ultra religious.

One has to wonder what God thinks of all the persecution being done in His name?