Reviled

Here in the United States of America, freedom of speech has long been a scion of our society. While the practice always cuts deeply into my comfort level, I am reminded of the Word of God even when constantly assaulted by myriads of vocal unpleasantness condemning, castigating, reviling, and damning our Father God and His Son Jesus Christ. Believers (read: Christians) are ridiculed, bullied, pilloried, and protested, yet society at large takes little notice even as Christians around the world are murdered.

On the other hand, there is an increasing pressure to limit what freedoms are allowed in relationship to false religion. Consider the following quotes:

With Muslim leaders in many countries calling for a global law barring what they call insults to Islam . . . (Yahoo News) Hey, mind your own business.

A global law along these lines with the imprimatur of the United Nations was sought for many years by the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the U.N. Human Rights Council, now meeting in Geneva . . . (Ibid.) We don’t need the United Nations telling us what to do.

Last week it was reported in Britain that a television program by British prize-winning historian Tom Holland based on his recent book on the early centuries of Islam had been withdrawn following threats and protests by Muslims. . .

At the weekend, an Iranian religious foundation announced it was increasing the reward for killing the Indian-born [Salman] Rushdie to $3.3 million. . . (Ibid.) Who’s next?

Perhaps the solution to the dilemma for those who feel “put upon” is to read the Word of God found in Matthew 5: 10ff –

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are  you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. (HSC)

Sounds to me as if we (read: Believers) are “like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3) So be it!