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I find it rather humorous that the progressive socialist left is up in arms because Christians from the Middle East are receiving priority entry into the United States. Funny, we heard nothing from the left when these same Christians were being refused entry, and many — Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Copts — had family already established here in America.

Image added by WhatDidYouSay.org

It appears that the left has deemed insidious protected status for Muslims, not realizing no foreign national has a right to enter the United States. It is a privilege that we as Americans reserve the right to deny, and our president has the enumerated power to restrict, for concerns of the safety of our citizens. Sadly, folks like the progressive socialist left in America, along with Angela Merkel in Germany, don’t comprehend that.

Muslims — protected. Christians? Not so much. And it appears to be getting much worse very close to home.

The Christian Post reports, The United States has for the first time been named among the top 12 nations where Christians are targeted for their faith by a persecution watchdog group in its “Hall of Shame” report for 2016. www.persecution.org/persecutionnl/2017-01/ICC 2016 Hall of Shame Report.pdf

“We felt it was very important this year that we highlight three countries where religious discrimination and persecution are deemed unusual but have reached a certain threshold of concern. These are Mexico, Russia, and sadly, the United States,” explained in a press release Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern. 

“While conditions in the US are in no way comparable to other countries on the list, a certain segment of the culture and the courts seem to be intent on driving faith out of the public square. There have been too many court cases with bad decisions to miss the clear trend line.” 

The ICC report divides the 12 countries into three categories. Nigeria, Iraq, Syria and North Korea were listed among “the worst of the worst”. India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were listed as “core” countries of persecution. Finally, the U.S., Mexico, and Russia were identified as “new and noteworthy” nations where Christians are facing increased persecution.”

Another report on Christian persecution doesn’t yet include the U.S., but the list is noteworthy for another reason.

As reported by the Christian Post, “Persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA has ranked the top 50 most dangerous places for Christians in the world today in its 2017 World Watch List, with North Korea once again topping the list. 

“For Christians in the West, the Open Doors World Watch List is a clear indicator that we need to advocate on behalf of those who do not have the same religious freedom privileges we do,” said David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA. “We hope the Trump administration will address religious liberties in the first 100 days in office.” 

Open Doors revealed that persecution rose globally for a third year in a row, with countries in South and Southeast Asia rising rapidly in danger levels, almost matching the severe persecution Christians face in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. The watchdog group estimated that close to 215 million Christians experience “high, very high or extreme persecution” in the countries that made the top 50 ranking.

Researchers with Open Doors used a points-based scale to rank the worst persecutors of Christians around the world, with the top 10 list going as follows:
1. North Korea (92 points)
2. Somalia (91 points)
3. Afghanistan (89 points)
4. Pakistan (88 points)
5. Sudan (87 points)
6. Syria (86 points)
7. Iraq (86 points)
8. Iran (85 points)
9. Yemen (85 points)
10. Eritrea (82 points)

Did you notice? Six of the seven countries listed in President Trump’s (and Barack Obama’s) executive order as “terrorist hot spots” are in the top ten worst countries for persecution of Christians…and the liberal progressive media outrage is, wait for it…crickets.

“As in past years, Islamic extremism remained the top driver of Christian persecution, and was the primary reason for the oppression of Christians in 35 out of the 50 nations listed. North Korea and its secretive government, which outlaws even owning a Bible and carries out imprisonment and executions of Christians, remained in the top spot for the 15th year.”

I tend to believe the Christians residing in these countries would celebrate exuberantly if they were afforded the simple freedom of religion that others enjoy here in America. And these are often historically older communities that have existed long before. I guess we need to ship some “coexist” bumper stickers overseas to these countries. Why is it that we have become so subservient and allowed this to happen while we create false narratives and embrace an absurd level of political correctness? We appear abjectly weak.

Just ask Oregonians Aaron and Melissa Klein who once owned Sweet Cakes by Melissa about state-sponsored persecution of Christians. It never happens quickly, but slowly — almost imperceptibly. And we need to pray the tide is turning.