"After years of solitary confinement, we were put together in huge cells, sometimes with 200 to 300 prisoners in each cell. . . . Christian prisoners were beaten, then tied to crosses for four days and four nights without interruption. The Communists then stood around them, jeering and mocking. 'Look at your Christ, how beautiful He is, what fragrances He brings from heaven.' Then they kicked the other prisoners, forcing them to kneel down and to adore and worship this besmeared living crucifix." -Richard Wumbrand, pastor jailed under Communist Rule
Right now, in the former Soviet Union, there is a "crackdown" on gays, resulting in beatings and violence. Uganda just passed laws that will result in jail for life for some homosexual acts.
How ironic that Russia is treating homosexuals now the way they treated Christians a few years ago under Soviet rule. How ironic that homosexuals and Christians are both being persecuted all over the world, receiving the same treatment at the hands of authorities and radicals.
And yet, here in America, they fight each other and persecute each other.
I am going to make a scandalous statement. Persecution should bring Christians and gays together.
It is a well-known observation that shared experiences and shared sufferings bring people together. Kids on the same street who don't particularly like each other will all of a sudden become good friends when they are bullied by the same older kid. Countries that have little to do with each other will ally themselves together against a common aggressor. When I see gay people with gashes in their heads and black eyes from violence in Russia, and I see dead bodies and people mangled in suicide bombings in a church in Pakistan, I see a different perspective on the issue here in America.
Christians and gays are probably the most persecuted groups in the world right now. We would probably all agree that gays are, but some of you would disagree that Christians are persecuted as much as gays are. That's probably because you've never been outside America.
Go talk with Christians in Libya, Eritrea, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and North Korea and then come back and tell me that Christians aren't the most persecuted people in the world.
The shared sufferings of both groups should provide ample common ground for American Christians and American gays to come together and talk about the horrors of persecution facing both groups. As a pastor, I am around Christian people all the time, and not one of them, NOT ONE, Christian I know wants to see gay people jailed, beaten or killed because of who they are. I would like to believe that gay people don't want to see Christians burned out of their homes, beaten, jailed, and killed for their faith either.
Why can't we sit down at the table and let the shared sufferings we endure be the common ground for understanding?
Yes, we have differences. So do a lot of people.
But we are also the two most persecuted groups in the world. I would like to sit at a table with adamantly gay people, hear their stories of persecution, and mourn with them. I would like for them to listen to what Christians are facing around the world and have them mourn with me. I would like to identify with the sufferings of gay people in Uganda who are facing a lifetime in prison for their sexual orientation. I would like for gay activists in America to identify with my friends in Pakistan, India, and Nepal who face daily persecution and danger for their beliefs.
Persecution is the common ground between Christians and gays that we have all been looking for. Please, both groups, realize that there are people in this world, authorities in this world, that want to stamp you both out. You have plenty in common. Yes, you have differences and those have been highlighted and stoked and fanned into flames by people on both sides with the media loving every second of it. Quit being pawns of the radicals on each side and realize that you both have a common suffering and common persecution.
Let that common persecution bring you two together to empathize and hurt along with the other. The Bible tells Christians to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." Well, I'm going to take the first step and mourn with the gay community over the crackdown in Russia where gays are being beaten. I mourn with you. I also mourn with the gays in Uganda who are facing jail time over their sexual orientation. I mourn with you. I don't want this for anyone.
Now, gay community, mourn with us. Mourn and bring to light stories of Christian persecution around the world. If you are people of prayer, pray for Iraqi and Pakistani Christians who hide themselves on Christmas day instead of celebrating it, fearful of radical Muslims who would like nothing more than to bomb a Christmas gathering. Thank you in advance.
Right now, in the former Soviet Union, there is a "crackdown" on gays, resulting in beatings and violence. Uganda just passed laws that will result in jail for life for some homosexual acts.
How ironic that Russia is treating homosexuals now the way they treated Christians a few years ago under Soviet rule. How ironic that homosexuals and Christians are both being persecuted all over the world, receiving the same treatment at the hands of authorities and radicals.
And yet, here in America, they fight each other and persecute each other.
I am going to make a scandalous statement. Persecution should bring Christians and gays together.
It is a well-known observation that shared experiences and shared sufferings bring people together. Kids on the same street who don't particularly like each other will all of a sudden become good friends when they are bullied by the same older kid. Countries that have little to do with each other will ally themselves together against a common aggressor. When I see gay people with gashes in their heads and black eyes from violence in Russia, and I see dead bodies and people mangled in suicide bombings in a church in Pakistan, I see a different perspective on the issue here in America.
Christians and gays are probably the most persecuted groups in the world right now. We would probably all agree that gays are, but some of you would disagree that Christians are persecuted as much as gays are. That's probably because you've never been outside America.
Go talk with Christians in Libya, Eritrea, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and North Korea and then come back and tell me that Christians aren't the most persecuted people in the world.
The shared sufferings of both groups should provide ample common ground for American Christians and American gays to come together and talk about the horrors of persecution facing both groups. As a pastor, I am around Christian people all the time, and not one of them, NOT ONE, Christian I know wants to see gay people jailed, beaten or killed because of who they are. I would like to believe that gay people don't want to see Christians burned out of their homes, beaten, jailed, and killed for their faith either.
Why can't we sit down at the table and let the shared sufferings we endure be the common ground for understanding?
Yes, we have differences. So do a lot of people.
But we are also the two most persecuted groups in the world. I would like to sit at a table with adamantly gay people, hear their stories of persecution, and mourn with them. I would like for them to listen to what Christians are facing around the world and have them mourn with me. I would like to identify with the sufferings of gay people in Uganda who are facing a lifetime in prison for their sexual orientation. I would like for gay activists in America to identify with my friends in Pakistan, India, and Nepal who face daily persecution and danger for their beliefs.
Persecution is the common ground between Christians and gays that we have all been looking for. Please, both groups, realize that there are people in this world, authorities in this world, that want to stamp you both out. You have plenty in common. Yes, you have differences and those have been highlighted and stoked and fanned into flames by people on both sides with the media loving every second of it. Quit being pawns of the radicals on each side and realize that you both have a common suffering and common persecution.
Let that common persecution bring you two together to empathize and hurt along with the other. The Bible tells Christians to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." Well, I'm going to take the first step and mourn with the gay community over the crackdown in Russia where gays are being beaten. I mourn with you. I also mourn with the gays in Uganda who are facing jail time over their sexual orientation. I mourn with you. I don't want this for anyone.
Now, gay community, mourn with us. Mourn and bring to light stories of Christian persecution around the world. If you are people of prayer, pray for Iraqi and Pakistani Christians who hide themselves on Christmas day instead of celebrating it, fearful of radical Muslims who would like nothing more than to bomb a Christmas gathering. Thank you in advance.
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