On Monday, Donald Trump became the first American president to convene a meeting at the United Nations on Religious Freedom. A Fact which he stated was shocking, sad and long overdue.
“The United States is founded on the principle that our rights do not come from government; they come from God. This immortal truth is proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence and enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Our Founders understood that no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, and virtuous society than the right to follow one’s religious convictions.”
In the meeting, the president discussed the many strides his administration has taken to protect religious freedom in America and provide help to victims of persecution around the world. He stressed the protection of religious freedom is one of his “Highest Priorities.”
“Regrettably, the religious freedom enjoyed by American citizens is rare in the world. Approximately 80% of the world’s population live in countries where religious liberty is threatened, restricted, or even banned. And when I heard that number, I said, ‘Please go back and check it because it can’t possibly be correct.’ And, sadly, it was. Eighty percent.”
“Today, with one clear voice, the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution.”
“I’ve appointed a special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. We’re standing up for almost 250 million Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith. It is estimated that 11 Christians are killed every day for the following — I mean, just think of this: Eleven Christians a day, for following the teachings of Christ. Who would even think that’s possible in this day and age? Who would think it’s possible?”
“These evil attacks are a wound on all humanity. We must all work together to protect communities of every faith. We’re also urging every nation to increase the prosecution and punishment of crimes against religious communities. There can be no greater crime than that.”
President Trump also announced that his administration is dedicating “an additional $25 million to protect religious freedom and religious sites and relics”. He also stated that the United States is forming a first of its kind coalition of U.S. businesses for the protection of religious freedom in the workplace.
“Today, I ask all nations to join us in this urgent moral duty. We ask the governments of the world to honor the eternal right of every person to follow their conscience, live by their faith, and give glory to God.”
Dr. Robert Jeffress, a Dallas Pastor on Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board commended the President for the historic conference.
“Instead of going to some boring summit on climate change, an imaginary problem, he says to heck with that, and he has his own conference on a real problem, Religious Liberty. There is no president in history that would have the guts to do what this president did today,” Jeffress said on Fox Business, “This is the leadership that infuriates his enemies, and makes his people love him.”
It is not surprising that Donald Trump is being attacked for prioritizing the protection of religious groups from severe persecution, of which they are often subject to at the hands of their own government, instead of making “climate change” the priority.
2 Timothy 3:1,12 KJV – “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come… Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
