Shortly after posting a link to my blog article two weeks ago, I received the following notice from Facebook,”
“Your post goes against our Community Standards on spam. No one else can see your post. We have these standards to prevent things like false advertising, fraud and security breaches.”
I was surprised by that action because it came with no warning and no explanation of what had caused the offense. Facebook’s “help” section wasn’t very helpful either. It offered a few predictable explanations, yet nothing in my post seemed to fit their reasoning. Another speculation was that because the post was gaining circulation from numerous likes and shares, some antagonists may have angrily registered their objection and reported it as “spam,” which would automatically generate its removal as a safety protocol. While we don’t know for sure, this seems to be more plausible since the post wasn’t an advertisement, there was no technical problem with my website, and the same link was posted days later without issue. You can read it by clicking here.
There is nothing politically controversial in the blog article. It is basic Biblical teaching about the last days. It contains some minor spiritual controversy about the rapture – but that is a debate among Christians. I have written several other articles that are much more politically controversial than the one that Facebook removed. I suspect the end result will be positive. Reposting the blog article a second time has allowed more people to read it. Plus, one publication has already asked permission to reprint it.
Without an explanation as to why it was considered spam, I am not ready to cry “Censorship!” or “Persecution!” However, it was unnerving to receive that notice during the same period when Facebook and other media organizations were actively removing millions of users and content they disagreed with. Furthermore, it is a reminder of the very real threat of increased censorship in the future. A recent article, Prepare for Persecution: Domestic Terror Law, Big Tech, and Big Media May Target Christians, underscores this point. The report quoted Rod Dreher, who studied the communist lies that devastated East Germany following World War II. Dreher’s book Live Not by Lies contends future persecution of Christians will come not as it did from the Soviet and Eastern Bloc communism, but with what he calls a “soft totalitarianism.” It’s not going to have gulags, secret police…. Instead, it’s going to be done mostly by Big Tech limiting access to the economy, keeping it so only those who conform with what the regime wants can participate in the economy.
Kohl’s® Department store, Kroger®, Bed Bath and Beyond®, and several other chain stores announced last week they will no longer carry “My Pillow” products promoted on television by owner Michael Lindell. Why? Because Lindell was an outspoken supporter of former President Trump and conservative causes. Professional golfer Justin Thomas was quickly dropped by sponsor Ralph Lauren after he muttered a homosexual slur at himself after missing a putt. When others have been overheard blaspheming God’s name, there have been no such repercussions. But any disparaging remarks against the LGBTQ community will not be tolerated.
Rod Dreher also predicts lawmakers will begin to designate those who disagree with the government as terrorists even if we are adamantly opposed to violence yet question how things are done. There will be no difference made between peaceful conservative Christians and those who want violence.
Some are already linking “religious extremists” in the category of domestic terrorists implying any committed Christian poses a dangerous threat to democracy and needs to be “reprogrammed.” That is absolutely absurd. No one identifies all “progressives” as members of Antifa who endorse rioting and looting. Being a dedicated Christ-follower does not make them an insurrectionist.
The Bible warns of a time during the coming Tribulation when without the mark of the beast, no one will be able to buy or sell. Revelation 13 predicts a day when powerful authorities will seek to monitor and gain total control over every individual’s life. Those who refuse to cooperate with the Satanic sponsored agenda will be clearly identified and threatened with job loss and potential starvation. “Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast…” (Rev. 13:17).
No one can predict precisely where we are in Bible prophecy. I believe the Scripture predicts that one day Satan will temporarily gain almost total control of this world. But we are not unaware of his schemes. We know his time of dominion is short, and Jesus Christ will blow him away with the breath of his mouth at his coming.
In the meantime, we can do two things. First, be bold. Don’t be intimidated by the bully. “Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV). When the early Christians were threatened with censorship, imprisonment, and execution, they praised God for the privilege of being persecuted for Jesus’ name. And, they prayed that they would speak the word of God with boldness.
Secondly, make a concerted effort to train your children in the truth. The Bible forewarns that in the last days, Satan’s lies will be so deceptive and the world’s pressure so pervasive that many of the elect will be deceived and their families divided over their loyalty to Jesus Christ. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22).
Christian parents need to be very intentional about training children in the way they should go. Don’t be silent at home and assume your kids are automatically going to share your values. They are bombarded with the world’s propaganda at every turn. Saturate them with Scripture, point out Satan’s lies, pray for them daily, talk about what you believe and why. Encourage them to be willing to stand alone for Christ if necessary. There are some excellent documentaries like American Gospel – Christ Crucified that underscore a Christian Worldview that families can watch together. (Watch American Gospel – Christ Crucified film by clicking here).
The Apostle John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). I believe the day of popular Christianity is nearly over, and more challenging times are ahead for genuine believers. We need to “set our affections on the things above” and do everything we can to assure the circle of our family will be unbroken for eternity. Satan and his minions will then be the ones censored!
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