| Don't Take Your Freedom For Granted |
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| VCCC News |
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This week, Americans celebrated “Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” a holiday honoring a well-known leader of the civil rights movement. Although we’ve come a long way since King’s famous “I have a dream” speech, it’s sobering to think that only about 50 years ago, we lived in a country where your position in society was defined by your skin color. The injustice is heartbreaking: Just because you weren’t “white,” you were treated as a second-class citizen and denied access to the same resources others had. Children were segregated and sent to separate schools, and some of those fighting for civil rights even gave their lives for the cause. Freedom and the right to be treated equally is one of those things we take for granted, and we may not realize how precious is it unless we’re denied it. It’s sad to think how many people have suffered because of racism, and it’s also sad to think about how many people have suffered because of religious persecution, as well. Even though we can attend church every Sunday without fear of retaliation, for many Christians across the globe, this is not the case. Some Christians in other countries may face the threat of losing their job or social status because of their faith, while others may even lose their lives. The freedom we have to worship God without fear is sadly not universal. It took many long years of hard work to make progress in the area of civil rights, and we need to be just as diligent in standing up for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember to keep those suffering for their faith in your prayers, and consider donating to an organization that helps persecuted Christians. An excellent organization is Voice of the Martyrs, which serves as an advocate for persecuted Christians in various countries throughout the world. You can learn more about them online at www.persecution.com or by calling (918) 337-8015. |