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What do you think of when you hear the expression “religious extremism”? For millions of Americans, this term congers up images shown on media outlets of Islamic terrorists’ attacks or the kidnapping of Israeli women and children on the Jewish holy day of Sukkot.
But our Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America defines it differently. Do you know who are the new religious extremists? You. Yes, chances are high that if you are reading this blog, you—and certainly me—fit the FBI’s definition.
A terrifying new report has exposed that the FBI created a new category of extremists labeled AGAAVE for “anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism.” In other words, if you oppose the indoctrination of your children by LGBT activists, government funding of Planned Parenthood, medical tyranny under the guise of vaccine mandates, or Biden’s open border policy, you are now classified as a violent extremist. Even simply being Catholic is considered radical by our weaponized government agencies. You can read more here.
This new category will allow the FBI to allocate untold resources to investigate these “extremists” just in time for the 2024 presidential election. Who didn’t see that coming?
One such “extremist” is Troy Newman, head of Operation Rescue. He is being forced to pay $18 million in fines for releasing videos exposing Planned Parenthood’s horrific practice of harvesting and selling the organs of aborted babies on the black market. Yes, you read that correctly. His “crime” is exposing the true crime. You can read the LifeNews article here.
It’s not just the FBI pursuing these new “extremists,” either. Jay Sekulow, founder of American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), uncovered an elaborate and sophisticated scheme by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to target faith-based organizations. This new revelation came when the group Christians Engaged was refused tax-exempt status. You can read more here.
Dinesh D’Sousa has captured this shocking new phenomenon of how our rouge government agencies are targeting conservatives in his documentary, “Police State,” premiering at the end of the month. The link to the website will be posted below.
We shouldn’t be surprised by the persecution of Conservative Christians (believers who hold to a true Biblical Worldview) in America. Those who have been paying attention over the past three years saw this was coming.
Was Jesus an Extremist?
Because of our great freedoms and prosperity in this country, we as Americans have been immune to religious persecution—until now. We forget that Christians all around the world are suffering horrific persecution. Tragically, it appears to be escalating.
Pakistan, for example, has recently witnessed an escalation of attacks by Muslim mobs on 25 Christian churches and many of their parishioners’ homes in Jaranwala, Pakistan, as reported by a friend in the area.
This prosperity mentioned above has led many in the American church to view Jesus as a beta male. As we discussed previously, the new Love Gospel is predicated on the idea that Jesus was always nice, and we should be, too. (If you missed it, I’ll post the link below.)
Jesus was not always “nice,” as some have presumed. He was a religious extremist, according to the establishment of His time.
Jesus trained and commissioned his early followers to be activists, not choir directors. The Son of God didn’t come to earth to lead a worship service; He came to lead his disciples into battle.
The State of the Church
Since the Son of God was persecuted as an extremist, we shouldn’t be surprised this is happening—even in our beloved America.
So why isn’t every church in the country talking about this?
The truth is that not every individual claiming to be a Christian will experience discrimination because not every Christian is radical.
Research conducted by the Barna Group over the two decades concluded that only 9% of those identifying as Christians hold a Biblical worldview—even among those who are devoutly religious. For the purpose of research, the Group defined a biblical worldview as believing in absolute moral truth.
The core finding of the study? That a Biblical Worldview has a radical effect on an individual’s life.
People’s views on morally acceptable behavior are deeply impacted by their worldview. Upon comparing the perspectives of those who have a biblical worldview with those who do not, the former group was 31 times less likely to accept cohabitation, 15 times less likely to condone gay sex, and 11 times less likely to describe adultery as morally acceptable. Similarly, a very small number of those holding a biblical worldview endorsed abortion (compared to 46% of adults who lack a biblical worldview).
And yet, only 9% of those sitting in our churches hold these views. Could this be explained by the fact that Barna also concluded that only 37% of pastors hold to a Biblical Worldview? In other words, only one out of three pastors condemn behavior that the Bible clearly defines as immoral. Think about that for a minute.
Christianity used to be inexplicably tied to conservatism, the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman, abortion is murder, there are only two genders, and that God is King, not the government. But this is no longer true.
The industrialization of the church in America has created the normalization of a Christian subculture that is divorced in many ways from the traditional values the Bible embraces.
The Wrap Up
In the Last Days, this connection between church and state will only accelerate—not decline. We know from the book of Revelation that the Antichrist will establish a one-world government and religion.
Consider Daniel’s prophecy about the coming “man of lawlessness”:
“He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws…” (Daniel 7:25)
Yes, the Antichrist will change the laws to persecute the believers.
When religious persecution comes to America (and it has already started), one will not targeted because of their denomination membership but because of their political affiliation. This is precisely what we see with the FBI’s profiling of “MAGA Republicans” and the IRS’s profiling of Conservative organizations.
As every persecuted Christian in China, Pakistan, Sudan, Libya, and India understand, their OWN GOVERNMENT is the primary aggressor against them.
So, when our government comes after you and me for taking a stand that the establishment views as radical, let’s not forget that Jesus was arrested, detained, and executed as a political prisoner, not a criminal one. And we shouldn’t think it won’t happen here in America.
To see the trailer for POLICE STATE, click HERE.
If you missed the post, “The Pastor Said What??” you can check it out HERE.
Thanks for reading What in the World? today and remember to always pursue the truth—regardless of the consequences.
Links:
https://nypost.com/2023/10/05/is-the-fbi-turning-trump-supporters-into-terrorist-targets/
A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person's Life - Barna Group
"And yet, only 9% of those sitting in our churches hold these views. Could this be explained by the fact that Barna also concluded that only 37% of pastors hold to a Biblical Worldview? In other words, only one out of three pastors condemn behavior that the Bible clearly defines as immoral. Think about that for a minute."
Please note these passages: - (2Pe 2:1) "But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
Also note what the Bible says with respect to greed and immorality - "Eph 5:6 - See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."
Finally, this is the verdict "1Jn 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us. "
What people like Andy Stanley and countless others are doing today is embracing sins that God explicitly says are why judgement is coming on this world. The false teachers are doing this to their own eventual, eternal demise.
I am appalled yes, but surprised, no. This is exactly what the Bible says was/is going to happen. May God give us the ability to discern the times and separate from the "psuedo-Christianty" that embraces and celebrates things that God hates. We should have nothing to do with the 63% of "pastors" or "churches" - Barna identified. Instead we should - motivated by biblical love for the flock - actively oppose them using the Bible as the "sword of the Spirit.(Eph. 6:17)" Sorry for being long winded on this one. Continue to fight the good fight, my sister.
Acts 5:41 So the missionaries went away from the court happy that they could suffer shame because of His Name.