I read an interesting piece concerning a man inside the Mall of America last week who was ordered by security guards to remove his T-shirt that read “Jesus is the only way”. The man’s bright yellow shirt read “Jesus saves” on the front and “Jesus is the only way” on the back with the “Coexist” symbol which represents peace among different religions crossed out.
In a video Security guards told the man that other shoppers at the Minnesota mall said they were offended by the shirt. “Jesus is associated with religion and it’s offending people”. The man tried to reason with the guards, telling them that he didn’t speak or say anything to anyone — in terms of preaching.
“I’m giving you a couple options,” the guard told the man, who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath the T-shirt. “You can take your shirt off and you can go to Macys and you can do your shopping — or you could leave the mall. Those are your only options right now.” However, after a brief interaction, the guards relented and the shopper was not required to change his shirt and was eventually allowed to keep his shirt on and go about his way shopping, a spokesperson for the mall said.
Many Christians said they were shocked to learn the video was taken in the US. “There is no way this should happen in the USA,” Twitter user Carol Harper wrote. “He has a free speech right to wear that shirt, and a freedom of religion right to practice his faith in public places. More people should wear Christian shirts to that mall.”
A pastor said the man should take legal action against the mall. “He should sue them into oblivion,” Pastor Chase Thompson tweeted. “This wouldn’t have happened anywhere in the US until very recently, and it certainly wouldn’t have happened if he’d had a gay pride shirt on and even 50 people complained.”
My Bible study partner and I have had the discussion about religious persecution on numerous occasions. He takes a casual approach to it saying that it rarely occurs anymore. Boink! Wrong, wrong, wrong! The Cato Institute just published the sad facts: Christianity is the world’s most persecuted religion. The group Open Doors USA figures that 360 million Christians last year lived in countries where persecution was “significant.” Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.
American Christians talk of persecution such as in the foregoing incident, but that is what real persecution looks like.
The argument is that this only happens in distant countries like Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran and the like, but it is more and more prevalent right here in the United States and Mexico and Canada are already on the watch list as they become more aggressive daily.
Here in the USA, we are in the early stages and the T shirt incident is just one example. Much to the chagrin of my wife I personally have had numerous death threats for writing this devotional primarily for writing about homosexuality and abortion being sins as detailed in the Bible. I responded by telling them to Bring it! My wife was incensed when I said that I tell you.
Christian persecution is real, every day 13 Christians are killed because of their faith in Jesus Christ, every day 12 churches or church buildings are attacked, every day 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned and another 5 are abducted. Are we next?
Is it wrong to live lives as secret Christians for fear of reprisal or even death? Should Christians be willing to die for confessing the name of Jesus? Should we keep our faith secret in order to preserve our lives? This is a question that is only hypothetical for Christians in many parts of the world, with the worst persecution they could receive being ridicule and/or insults. However, for Christians in some parts of the world, this question is very real and practical—their lives literally are at risk. It is one thing to not be as bold as you would like in order to protect your own life and/or the lives of your family. It is another thing entirely to make your own life a higher priority than serving, honoring, worshiping, and obeying Christ. So, with that said, is it wrong to keep your faith in Christ a secret?
Jesus Himself gives us the answer: Matthew 10:32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword”.
Jesus said to the world in Matthew 24:9 “They [the world] will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake”. Jesus has promised us this: at the End Times Christians will suffer severe persecution by this ungodly world. We will be profaned, abused, and cursed. The phrase “will deliver” comes from the Greek word meaning “giving over,” as in the sense of being arrested by the police or military. Many will be murdered. We will be “hated by all nations” for His name’s sake. As we are witnessing today throughout the world, being identified with the name of Christ will cost us our freedoms, our rights, our respect, and sometimes our lives.
Living for Christ in this world can be difficult, even brutal. We must keep in mind that this world is not our home. The world is a battlefield. The trials of life are the tools God uses for building us up and making us more like Jesus. It is in those dark times that we look to Christ and let His power work within us. Just before His ascension into heaven, Jesus gave us His final command to spread the gospel to the world. With that He also gave us His final promise. And that is all that matters.
Matthew 28:20
“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.