Tag: Christian

INTERNATIONAL: Rise in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in Turkey Raises Concerns

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Reports show a significant rise in hate crimes targeting Christians in Turkey. Data from the Freedom of Belief Initiative (FOBI) highlights that such incidents have more than doubled over the past two years. In 2021, ten incidents were recorded, while in 2023, the number rose to 22.

Christians remain the primary victims of religious hate crimes in Turkey, with a total of 52 cases documented since 2020. These crimes range from harassment and property damage to acts of violence. The true scale of the issue may be higher, as many victims reportedly do not come forward due to fear of social exclusion.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has also noted several hate crime incidents against Christians in Turkey. These include not only physical violence but also broader patterns of intimidation. In addition, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reported in 2023 that Turkish authorities have increasingly targeted Christian pastors, missionaries, and their families with deportation orders and permanent re-entry bans.

Turkey’s treatment of its Christian minority is part of a broader historical and modern trend. Christians, who made up about 25% of the region’s population before 1914, now represent less than 0.5%. This dramatic decline follows decades of persecution, including the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1916. During this period, approximately 1 million Armenian Christians were killed through mass executions, starvation, and other atrocities orchestrated by Ottoman authorities.

January 2024, Two gunmen burst into Church of St. Mary Draperis in Istanbul. ISIS claimed responsibility.

Turkey is ranked 50th on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which assesses global persecution of Christians. Factors like Islamic oppression and authoritarian governance contribute to the challenges faced by Christians in the country today.

The rise in anti-Christian hate crimes in Turkey occurs amidst a broader increase in such incidents globally. For example, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) recently reported a 226% jump in hate crimes against Christians in Europe within a single year.

While the challenges faced by Christians in Turkey are not new, the growing frequency of targeted crimes underscores the ongoing risks for this minority group in a nation with a long history of religious conflict.

The Importance of Sharing the Gospel: A Biblical Perspective

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DAVID INGRAM

Jesus gave a clear command to His followers: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NASB). This Great Commission calls all believers to spread the Good News, not just through distant missions or donations, but through personal action and involvement.

In Mark 16:15, Jesus instructed His disciples to go into all the world and preach to all creation. This mission isn’t about hiding behind screens or only supporting missionaries; it’s a direct call for each believer to actively share the gospel.

Worship services are important for gathering, singing hymns, taking communion, and honoring God. However, we are called to do more. We must take an active role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Have you shared the gospel in your community? Have you personally gone out to spread the message of Jesus Christ?

Let’s not limit our faith to church walls. Instead, let’s embrace the command to make disciples everywhere we go.

God’s Eternal Nature: Beyond Time’s Boundaries

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JEFF TURNER

The concept of God’s eternity stretches far beyond human understanding. Unlike humans who are trapped within time’s linear progression, God stands outside of temporal constraints, viewing all of history simultaneously.

Scripture reveals that God’s perspective transcends our limited perception. As Psalm 90:4 declares, “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” This verse illustrates how time means something completely different to God.

God is not bound by moments, memories, or anticipations. He does not experience time as we do. Instead, He sees all of history in a single, vivid panorama. From creation to the fall, from ancient civilizations to modern assemblies, every event exists simultaneously before His eternal gaze.

The fundamental truth about God’s eternity is His complete freedom from time’s limitations. While humans are inherently time-bound creatures, moving between a fixed past and an unknown future, God stands apart. He cannot be constrained by something He has made.

In essence, God’s existence is timeless. He is unbound, unlimited, and sovereign over every moment of history, watching over the grand narrative of existence with perfect, comprehensive understanding.

Understanding the Importance of Religious Revivals

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Based on a writing by Rev. CHARLES G. FINNEY (1792–1875)

Let’s talk about religious revivals – what they are and why they matter. It all started with an ancient prophet named Habakkuk who, facing troubled times, prayed for God to “revive” his people’s faith. This idea of revival has been important ever since.

At its core, religion is simply about people choosing to follow God willingly and sincerely. But here’s the challenge: we naturally drift away from this commitment. Think of it like a New Year’s resolution – we start with good intentions, but slowly slide back into old habits. This is why revivals become necessary.

Throughout history, most religious growth has happened through revivals – periods of intense spiritual awakening. Imagine a sleeping person needing an alarm clock. People get spiritually drowsy, distracted by life’s many demands and entertainments. These distractions are like a strong current pulling us away from shore. To swim back, we often need a powerful burst of energy.

Looking at history, we see a pattern: God creates a period of spiritual excitement, people turn to Him, then gradually drift away as daily life takes over. Think of it like a family that grows closer after a crisis, then slowly drifts apart until another event brings them together again.

Ideally, we wouldn’t need these spiritual wake-up calls. In a perfect world, faith would grow steadily, like a well-tended garden. But reality is different. Just as political campaigns and advertising bombard us with messages that shape our thoughts, these worldly influences need to be countered by equally powerful spiritual experiences.

Here’s what’s important to understand: a revival isn’t a miracle that suspends natural laws. It’s more like waking up and using abilities you already had but weren’t using. Think of a couch potato – they have the muscles to run, they just need the motivation to use them.

When a revival happens, it starts with Christians rediscovering their original enthusiasm for faith, like couples remembering why they fell in love. This renewal then spreads. Spiritual truths that seemed dull become vivid and real. People develop genuine concern for others’ spiritual well-being. Often, the change reaches even those considered “hopeless cases” – the most unlikely people can have complete changes of heart.

The whole process involves three key players: God, someone sharing spiritual truth, and the person being changed. Think of it like helping someone learn to swim: there’s the designer of the pool (God), the swimming instructor (the teacher), and the swimmer (the person changing). The truth itself is like the water – essential to the whole process.

Even small actions can have big effects. Sometimes just seeing someone’s genuine concern can start a chain reaction in a community. It’s like how one person’s smile can brighten a whole room. The key thing to remember is that revival involves both God’s work and human participation. While God provides the truth and power, people must choose to share and respond to it.

That’s what revival is about – a return to spiritual health through a combination of divine influence and human response. It’s as natural as waking up from sleep, as practical as farming, and as personal as falling in love. It happens when people are deeply moved to make real changes in their lives and turn back to God.

The Harmony of Word and Spirit

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DAVID INGRAM

Many Christians make the mistake of separating the Spirit from God’s Word, thinking that spiritual life can exist apart from the truth of Scripture. But true spiritual living requires both the guidance of the Spirit and the grounding of God’s Word. The two must work together to transform our lives.

The Spirit brings the Word of God to life in us, showing us the truth and helping us live by it. Without the Spirit, the Word remains a dead letter, and without the Word, we lack a solid foundation of truth. As David prayed, “Give me life according to your Word,” we too must seek to be transformed by the Spirit working through Scripture.

Some may claim to have deep spiritual insights apart from the Word, but Jesus warned that the Spirit would not bring new teachings. Instead, He would remind believers of everything Jesus taught. Therefore, the Spirit always works in harmony with the Bible, never contradicting it.

Christians must test every spiritual teaching by the Word of God. Only when the Spirit and the Word are in harmony can we truly live according to God’s will.