Evangelicals feel threatened by anti-terror policies

August 28, 2015 — ChristianToday.com reports: “Four out of five evangelicals believe their ability to share their faith is being harmed by government policies to tackle extremism. Most also no longer believe that Britain can be said to be a Christian country.

In new research into British ‘values’, the Evangelical Alliance surveyed more than 1,700 evangelicals and found wide concern about ‘unintended consequences’ of the government response to extremism.

More than seven in ten support government plans to define and promote British values and nearly six in ten consider it a reasonable response to extremism. Three-quarters also agreed that freedom of speech needs greater protection.

Many Christians, in particular evangelicals, take seriously the gospel command to go out and make disciples of all nations. Secular campaigners are currently standing alongside Christians in defending the freedom to say things other people might not agree with…”

Nine Chinese Christians arrested for opposing cross removals

August 27, 2015 — ChristianToday.com reports: “Chinese security forces have arrested at least nine Christians who opposed the ruling Communist party’s campaign to remove crosses from churches.

The Christians have been detained in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Tensions have been growing in the region since late 2013 when authorities began demolishing churches.

Christians have organised a series of protests in recent months against the campaign (ostensibly aimed at illegal buildings), with one Catholic leader denouncing the cross removals as an ‘evil act.’…” (The Cross is the most hated symbol of Christianity. Paul speaks about the reasons in the following Biblical texts: I Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:12 & 14. The next two reports show further hatred for Christianity’s holy book, the Bible, and holy places for prayers. See the next two reports.)

Egyptian Christian faces trial for handing out Bibles

August 27, 2015 — ChristianToday.com reports: “A Coptic Christian in Egypt arrested for handing out Bibles will today face a hearing before the prosecution after having his detention extended.

According to the weekly Watani newspaper, Medhat Ishaq was arrested by police on October 6 for giving away Bibles to passers-by and ‘attempting to persuade people to join the Christian religion.’ He had nine Bibles in his possession at the time.

The paper reported that Ishaq was accused of ‘exploiting religion in speech and printed material to promote sedition and harm national unity.’ According to Daily News Egypt, a charge of ‘insulting religion’ was later added to his case.

Attempting to convert people is not illegal under Egyptian law, and Arabic Bibles are printed legally in the country. However, Christians do face a number of battles for religious freedom. Current legislation dictates that churches cannot be built near schools, villages, railways, residential areas, government offices and canals, among other stipulations, for example…”

Syria: Islamic State moves kidnapped Christians, bulldozes monastery

August 21, 2015 — ChristianToday.com reports: “Islamic State militants have demolished a monastery in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitor said on Thursday, in a strategically located town the jihadist group wrested from government control earlier this month.

The group has also transferred several dozen Christians, captured during its offensive, to a location near its stronghold in northeastern Syria.

Militants used bulldozers to raze the monastery in the town of Qaryatain, which they had captured in early August, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Government warplanes were still pounding the area with air strikes two weeks after Islamic State took the town, the monitor said.

Qaryatain is near a road linking the ancient Roman city of Palmyra to the Qalamoun mountains, along the border with Lebanon.

The hardline militant group has been gaining ground in the desert areas east and south of Homs after it took over Palmyra last May…”