Jews and Christians – The new soft targets

It’s gotten to the point where religious identification can no longer be done without some repercussion. That was the discovery of one Redlands, California family whose Chanukah decorated house sustained 20 bullets.

The family, upon returning home from dinner at a local restaurant, were met with expletives by the shooter, who sent a loud message that visible religious symbols will no longer be tolerated. 

Sadly, this sentiment is becoming an all-too-familiar consequence of what happens when hateful and intolerant individuals are confronted with someone’s religious identity.

Over the past few years, the Jewish and Christian venues, which have become the new soft targets include: religious schools, churches, synagogues, private homes, religious gatherings to observe holidays, faith-based museums and events, where there’s an expected high attendance of Jews or Christians.  

Shockingly, these attacks are not solely executed by extremist Muslims. Some of the more recent perpetrators have been individuals radicalized online or through the hateful propaganda of Woke and progressive ideology. Marxists, transgenders and professionally-paid activists, are also among those seeking to sow anarchy. These are the angry, anti-God crowd who cannot allow others to openly express their devotion or faithfulness to the Creator.

Turned off by anything connected to the inner faith which sustains so many, at a time when chaos and self-inflicted tragedy have become commonplace, their goal is to remove those important foundations. That way, everyone is equally without hope or a divine belief in which to anchor their life.

It is why many in the media have harshly criticized the expression, “thoughts and prayers,” frequently offered, after tragic incidents, by those attempting to spread some comfort to the suffering. Stating their outrage by those three well-meaning words, news anchors and commentators, alike, have had on-air meltdowns when hearing such responses.

The general goal of antagonistic “unbelievers” seems to be focused on targeting recognizable Jews and Christians, preventing them from audibly or visibly standing out in any meaningful way. 

Whether that involves decorating one’s home with religious objects, wearing religious symbols, praying in public or engaging in anything that will invoke prayer, worship or the observance of faith, those things will be met with anger, disgust and contempt for any who still defer to a divine being.

It means that courage and bravery will be required for anyone who chooses to outwardly identify as those who rely upon God in some way. Knowing that such a personal decision is now likely to elicit violent attacks, it will demand a deliberate resolve to take that risk, realizing that you or the place where religious events are happening, will become the soft target of someone’s rage.

Such things seem impossible, given the laws protecting religious liberty in Western societies, because all of these attacks are happening right there – in the bastion of free and democratic nations. 

Look at what just happened in Sydney, Australia at a Chanukah candle-lighting event or what occurred in September at a Michigan church where a gunman opened fire while simultaneously setting fire to the premises. Just a month prior to that incident, another shooting took place at a Minneapolis Catholic school, during a religious assembly.  

At this holiday season of Chanukah and Christmas, celebrated by Jews and Christians, respectively, how many more of these attacks can we expect? And what kind of security measures will need to be employed to make sure that those who are entering houses of worship will come out in one piece?

Regrettably, we are seeing an evil intersection of angry political leanings combine forces with those who deplore faith. Add to that the perverted and twisted ideology of radical Islam whose sights are squarely aimed at Jews and Christians, and you have a sure recipe for hermetically silencing all people of faith.

It is reminiscent of dark, medieval times, when the Jews of Spain and Portugal had to keep their faith under wraps for fear of being burned at the stake. While that particular mode of execution is no longer being employed, death by shooting still ends up with the same result – permanent silence.

There is no question that entertaining these thoughts are extremely uncomfortable as we are forced to face the new reality of a world which has gone mad, forbidding one’s sincerely-held faith to be expressed and heard by others.

Too much of a threat, it must be eradicated in a violent way in order to frighten and intimidate others who insist that this God-given freedom must not be curtailed.

But as these types of scary incidents increase, there is no doubt that some will be silenced into compliance. Weighing the cost of religious identification will be too heavy a price to pay for them, and that means that these anti-God terrorists will have been successful in getting some to back down.

For those who will muster the courage to continue attending religious events or sending their children to faith-based schools, they will willingly take the calculated risk of standing strong for their biblical values along with the comfort and strength derived from their belief in a powerful and loving God.  

Heaven help us if we come to a place of capitulation where we are silenced, by force, allowing these enemies to sow fear among Jews and Christians. Because a world without any spiritual connection to our Creator is a world which cannot stand.

It is a planet devoid of meaning and regard and respect for others. It can only be characterized as an existence which strives to please oneself and then ultimately go to the grave.  

Without the presence of God injected into our daily lives, there is no incentive or motivation to display mercy, generosity toward others, forgiveness or hope, because those are all divine attributes which we learn from our heavenly Father! Consequently, if that input is absent, we are pretty much left to our own devices – doomed to exhibit the worst tendencies within us.

This is the dirty secret known by those who hate Jews and Christians, because they know that it is only with God’s help that we are able to excel to acting more in His image, and, for them, that must not happen.

Sadly, it’s almost certain that these deadly tragedies will continue to take place in the coming days, months and years. But as people of faith, we must rely upon the divine protection which covers us when we trust in our Maker!

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