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Bringing Biblical Principles of Governance
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Greetings Friends,
Allow me to explain this most unusual “I repent” headline.
I apologize for the length, but the nature of the content is delicate and I feel I need to explain in depth and detail
.
We recently returned from Europe where we attended the "2nd International Conference of Christian Persecution” in Budapest organized by the Hungarian government.
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Why do you need to know about this?
While you and I are enjoying the Christmas season,
200 million of our brothers and sisters are being imprisoned, tortured, driven from their homes, raped, set on fire, buried alive.
I understand this is unpleasant to read. In fact, eleven (by a most conservative count) of our brothers and sisters are being killed every day!
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1.)
The Nation of Hungary may be the only country in the world that has the equivalent of a cabinet position in the government for the purpose of addressing the horrific persecution issue, known as the “
State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and for the Hungary Helps Program
.” “Helps” means saving the lives and relocating persecuted Christians, which works directly with Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban’s office. Filling that role is
Tristan Azbej
. Tristan is young, direct, bold and focused. We have been with him on two occasions. We are impressed with him.
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State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, with Jim and Rosemary
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2.)
The man who created this governmental position is – not surprisingly –
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is giving exceptional leadership to his nation, having openly declared that the key to saving Western Civilization is Christianity
. Hungary was set free from the scourge of Communism only 30 years ago.
Some of the nations in Eastern Europe (previously Communist controlled) “get it,” and refuse to bow to the pressure to accommodate would-be Islamic Jihadists into their nation. The leaders of Western Europe (which was not overrun by Communism, but is now being overwhelmed by Islam) don’t “get it” and consequently criticize Prime Minister Orban, just like many people criticize President Trump for wanting to make America great.
It is not our first exposure to Hungarian focus on this topic. In 2017, we attended the Budapest Demographic Forum, and the International Conference on the Family which followed, where I had the privilege of speaking. In 2019, I also was one of many speakers at the World Congress on Families XIII in Verona, Italy, which addressed the same issues.
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Jim speaking at the World Congress on Families, Verona Italy, March 2019
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Here are the disturbing facts: Europeans are not having enough babies (only about 1.6 per couple) to sustain their population (which needs to be 2.1 babies per couple). In contrast, the massive influx of Muslim immigrants (which are, for the most part, not assimilating into Western Civilization’s values) are having approximately 3.1 babies per family.
Europe will be Islamized in a few years, probably by 2035, which is only 15 years away
. Much of Europe is already paying a price for this.
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The government of Hungary, under Viktor Orban’s leadership, desiring to preserve Hungary’s unique Christian cultural values, pays – literally pays! – young Hungarian adults to get married, to buy a house, to buy a car, to have babies. Yes, they pay them! Why? Because it is a great investment. As we boarded the plane to leave Budapest, I noticed that even the jet bridges have slogans – in several languages – announcing that Hungary is “family friendly” with a logo depicting a father, mother and three children.
For example,
if a married Hungarian couple has two children, one-half their student debt is cancelled. If they have a third child then all the debt is cancelled.
They receive money to buy a car or a house! Strange? No. It’s smart.
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Viktor Orban is one of the great leaders in Europe
. And he is roundly criticized by the politically correct crowd, including many of the other leaders of nations in the European Union. And remember, George Soros, who was born in Budapest Hungary, is doing everything he can to destroy Viktor Orban and Hungary, just like he is with the rest of the world.
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Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaking on Christian Persecution, November 26, 2019
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3.)
At the three day event which featured nearly 100 speakers from many countries, the Hungarians were by far the most bold. Speakers from other countries (including the USA) wanted to “neuter” the topic and speak in broader generalities such as “religious freedom” or “human rights.”
The Hungarians were laser-beam focused on Christian persecution
,
pointing out that while 80% of the earth’s population lives in nations where there is religious oppression, 80% of those are Christian.
Allow me to repeat what I stated above: There are 200 million Christians being persecuted right now. Ponder that thought. Admittedly there are places where other faiths are being persecuted. Jews, for example, have been the longest, continuously oppressed people group on the earth, killed by the millions. Yazidis were killed by the Islamic state. Muslims are most often killed by other Muslims (noted by a speaker at the conference). A million of the Muslims (Uighers) are being detained in China. Sikhs have been killed in India. These are only a few of the religious groups who have suffered persecution. The conference, however, was focused on “the 80%,” that is, Christians.
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4.)
At the conference, I had some observations:
- Government leaders were far more bold that the religious leaders. One speaker actually noted that “when you religious leaders get up to speak, all you talk about is the history of persecution” (rather than focus on the present and what needs to be done in the future). Some clerics gave historical treatises beginning with the stoning of Stephen.
- The most motivating and engaging speaker was Baroness Caroline Anne Cox. She has been a member of the British House of Lords. This energetic 82 year old powerful communicator was “on fire,” having traveled to the actual sites of the deaths of so many Christian martyrs.
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Baroness Cox from Britain
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- The most sobering statement occurred during the video presentation by the Bishop of Truro (Anglican, Province of Canterbury, England) who stated that when they completed a massive study of Christian persecution, it’s “severity and scope” was much greater than imagined.
- The Catholic and Orthodox faiths are far more active on the issue of persecution than Evangelicals. (At one major international conference I attended on the topic in 2014 in Washington, DC, there were only two evangelical pastors present: one from Lebanon and me.) Thank God the Catholics and Orthodox are active on this. I participate with them. I was involved with the Catholic and Orthodox clerics in a final prayer time and Scripture reading.
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Jim with other clergy in closing session
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While in Hungary, God convicted me. I realized that this was the sixth major Christian persecution conference or event I had attended:
- In Defense of Christians in 2014
- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization Conference on the topic – both in Washington, DC;
- The 2018 “Ministerial” (referring to “ministers” in government, such as prime “ministers)
- The 2019 “Ministerial” – both hosted by the Trump-led US State Department;
- President Trump’s stellar speech before the United Nations in New York City on September 22, 2019
- This conference in Hungary.
Yet, I was not doing or saying much about the problem. I repented. That is why I labeled this the “I Repent” Issue
.
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Jim & Rosemary at the President Trump's UN speech
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President Trump on Protecting Religious Freedom – UN, Sept 22, 2019
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5.)
So I am trying to allow the Holy Spirit’s conviction to show us
how Well Versed can be a stronger advocate for fellow Christ-followers who are being persecuted for their faith.
How will we do that? I am not certain. An obvious way will be that we bring the topic up more forcefully when we meet with high level political and governmental leaders. And another way? By discussing it with you right now.
I mentioned that some say there are 11 persons being killed every day for their faith in Jesus. Others contend it is much higher, claiming that a Christ-follower is killed every six minutes for his or her faith. If that is true, then somewhere in this world,
one of your brothers or sisters in the faith was killed in the length of time it took you to read this newsletter!
That is jolting!
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21 Coptic Martyrs beheaded by Islamic State – February 12, 2015
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Most persons our age are enjoying retirement, living in a condo on the beach, in a cabin in the mountains, in their favorite small town or urban high rise or riding around America in an RV. Why am I (a beach lover) not doing that?
Answer: My grandchildren. Yesterday six of my ten grandchildren were in my home – all grandsons. What future do they have?
To be honest, the future does not look good. “But God…” Those words comfort me. “But God…"
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