My heart feels heavy, not because of the elections but because of their implications. Many Christians' heads are in the sand, but the Church has been under attack since its inception, even though we haven’t felt it as much in the States. I’m not fear-mongering, just reminding us of Biblical teachings that warn us to expect opposition and persecution for our faith.

According to opendoors.org, over 380 million Christians face severe persecution and discrimination, mostly in Islamic countries. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies reports that Africa has experienced more than 150,000 deaths linked to militant Islamist groups over the past decade. Despite these facts, the United Nations, often referred to as the peace organization, remains silent. (africacenter.org) Hey Hollywood and the Music Industry, why are you so silent? Oh, it’s because Christians are being murdered, I forgot.

I write for those who claim Christ as Savior. This isn't fear-mongering, but a reminder of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:12-14: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.”

Key Reminders from Scripture:

Expect Persecution as Normal (2 Timothy 3:12; John 15:18-20)
Deepen Your Relationship with God
Cultivate an Eternal Perspective (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Matthew 5:11-12)
Replace Fear of Man with Fear of God (Matthew 10:28)
Love and PRAY for Persecutors (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14)
Trust in God’s Sufficient Grace (Luke 12:11-12)
Focus on the Mission—Our primary and sadly neglected mission remains the proclamation of the gospel and making disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 3:15)
Build Strong Community—stop forsaking the assembly of believers. (Hebrews 10:25)
Learn from Others: Read stories of the persecuted church, both historical and contemporary; they can genuinely inspire courage and offer practical examples of faithfulness in the face of persecution. (Foxy’s Book of Martyrs; opendoors.org; persecution.org; The Voice of the Martyrs— persecution.com)

Trust me, I am not fear-mongering but reminding you that following Jesus in this world will lead to persecution. Preparing for this means daily commitment—denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and trusting God to provide. Pray for persecuted believers and me to stand firm on God’s Word without compromise and with courage.

Even so, come Lord Jesus, Come,

Gene
Life Begins At Calvary!