In the "land of the free and the home of the brave," we enjoy certain liberties that some citizens of other countries aren't privileged to. For example, we have the freedom to vote and voice our opinions through peaceful protests.
In some nations, you might be killed or imprisoned for protesting against government policies. The Constitution of the United States protects our liberty to build churches and television stations, which allows us to freely proclaim the Gospel. In certain parts of China, however, Christian churches are outlawed.
Unfortunately, countless numbers of our Christian brothers and sisters in foreign countries are suffering for their faith. Churches are burned down and firing squads are killing believers. There are hundreds of thousands of Christians in Islamic-controlled countries, such as Somalia and Sudan, who are massacred each year.
Some have compared the crimes against the Christian Sudanese people to the Jewish Holocaust in World War II. It makes you wonder what the common denominator might be: the influence of pure evil.
Evil Is as Evil Does
The sad reality is that believers aren't the only ones around the world who are being persecuted and denied their human rights. That's the thing about evil—it doesn't care what "faith" you proclaim, neither does it care about the color of your skin or where you were born.
Its ultimate goal is to relentlessly destroy all human life—nothing more, nothing less.
Take a moment to consider the wicked practice of human genocide or ethnic cleansing. It is defined as "the systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political or ethnic group." In a nutshell, it is a planned attack against the human right to enjoy life.
Did you know that genocide is taking place in various parts of the world today? Most of us are familiar with the genocide of European Jews in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and '40s.
But what about the ethnic cleansing taking place in Bosnia and Kosovo nowadays? Reports have shown that there are villages that contain fields full of corpses of executed Albanians. Talk about a "field of blood." There are all kinds of hellish things taking place in this world.
In parts of Nigeria, human rights are being denied almost daily. For example, domestic violence against women is prevalent, and believe it or not, there are Islamic laws that permit certain forms of domestic abuse. Female genital mutilation (FGM)—the circumcision of women—is a known practice in Nigeria.
In fact, it is estimated that 50 to 100 percent of women in some areas undergo FGM. If you ask me, that happening to one woman is too much!
Rape, sexual harassment and trafficking of women to other countries for forced prostitution are also some of the human rights violations taking place there. Countless children are lured into prostitution after being abandoned by their parents, while others are forced into child labor throughout the country.
What's taking place in Nigeria makes you think about what's going on in other countries of the world such as Brazil, where policemen often kill "street children." Like in Nigeria, many children are being "trafficked" and forced into prostitution.
Reports have shown that death squads, linked to the police and other vigilante groups, have been involved in numerous lawless acts, including violence against suspected criminals.
Racial discrimination has also been an issue in Brazil. For example, some "Afro-Brazilians," as they are called, often report that they are subjected to mistreatment when it comes to employment and housing. There is also an estimated higher conviction rate of black criminal offenders than there is for other races.
Haiti is another country that is suffering from human rights abuses. Talk about a hellish situation. Although Haiti's constitution prohibits police brutality, news reports show that it's happening frequently.
Some police officers won't think twice about brutally killing their own Haitian brothers and sisters during political and social demonstrations. It's as if human rights get thrown out the window in the heat of the moment.
The violation of human rights can also be seen in Cuba where Communism rules the day. Freedom of speech...there really is none, because you can be imprisoned for criticizing the government and its leaders.
It is said that the Communist Party controls the media as a means to purposely indoctrinate the citizens of Cuba. Basically, all media must express the general views of the government.
In the face of all this, we need to remember that the Word of God can change what may currently seem like a hopeless situation. It will work when you work it by applying what you learn concerning your country and your God-given right to freedom from oppression.
Don't ever think that God has abandoned you or that He favors others more than you. He is willing and able to break the bonds of evil in your life and nation. Give Him an opportunity to do just that. The battle isn't yours anyway; it's His.
Therefore, trust that He will confront evil on your behalf. Don't worry; He's never lost a fight!