Christian Holocost

This picture of a Christian being crucified was originally posted at The Daily Beast.

As I sat down to write this I had tears running down my face because of what is happening in Iraq.  The extremist disgusting no, EVIL group called ISIS is perpetrating a Christian Holocaust.  No, it isn't at the level of what happened to the Jews under Hitler's reign, and I pray it will not reach that level.  If you are unfamiliar with what is going on, PLEASE watch the video at the bottom.  

The United States went to Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction and found none.  Whether you agree with that decision or not, what the U.S. did there had positive effects.  There was some kind of freedom even if it is not what we enjoy here in the U.S.  Human rights began to be recognized on some level.  Men and women in the armed forces died for those people and for ours.  For that I am eternally grateful.  Not that long ago, the American forces, for all practical purposes, left.  We decided (not me, but the royal we) that it was not in our best interest to maintain a peace keeping presence in the region.  Shortly after we left, ISIS went on a rampage against all Christians offering them 3 options:  1) convert to Islam 2) pay the Jizya (tax) for being non-Muslim.  3) die.  Of course there really is only one choice unless you are okay with watching your 8 year old daughter become the wife of a Muslim.  What lessons should we be learning from this?

• Progressivism is a false ideology, humanity is sinful and incapable of anything resembling a utopian society.  Humanity is not evolving into a more moral species, nothing has changed (Ecc. 1:9).  Even when there are pockets of progress, they are short lived.  Satan is still at work and he is very effective.
• The United States, with all its faults, has the ability to be a force for good.  While we should not be "nation building", we should be involved around the world as a strong military peace keeping force.  When we are not, evil runs rampant.  
• Moral equivalence is a false narrative and should be rejected.  The idea that different cultures and different religions are somehow morally equivalent and that no person, people, or faith hold the moral high ground is patently and obviously false.  The U.S. isn't perfect, but it does hold the moral high ground most of the time because of the influence of Judeo Christian values.  Unfortunately those values are becoming less popular.  If this statement is untrue, the only other option is to claim pure relativism and hold that ISIS has the moral right to commit these atrocities...good luck sleeping at night.
• Whether we think the Crusades were right or wrong, this situation is starting to look a lot like what happened just prior to the Crusades.  This should broaden our historical perspective and at least give us some insight regarding what the Crusades were fighting against.  
• Last, there is great evil in the world and we, in America, are shielded from the worst of it, for now.  We must not forget to pray for the rest of the world.