Blog note:  Christian Persecution. Jesus indicated that many would hate and persecute Christians because of His name. This has always been the case and is increasing in intensity and frequency.

Psalm 25:19. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

Psalm 38:19. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

Psalm 41:7. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

Psalm 69:4. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

Psalm 69:14. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let mebe delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Matthew 10:22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mark 13:13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Luke 14:26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 19:14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Luke 21:17. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

John 7:7. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 15:18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. End of note.

Australian Christians Choose Homeschooling in Droves amid Religiously Targeted Bullying

Kayla Koslosky | ChristianHeadlines.com Editor | Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Daily Mail reports that deeply religious families in Australia are more frequently choosing to homeschool their children as a result of increased religious bullying. Some parents have reported incidence of their children being taunted and targeted because of their moral opposition to same-sex marriage.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, the number of students being homeschooled has nearly doubled since 2014 with approximately 4,479 students partaking in home school education.

The Accelerate Christian Home Schooling co-ordinator Stuart Chapman said, ‘In our celebration of a diversity, Christians are now the ones who are the target of bullying and in the minority.’ Chapman continued, ‘[Parents are] feeling their children are being targeted because they believe in the traditional family.’ Chapman then cited on incident where “students who opposed same sex marriage were forced to stand at the back of their classrooms. “

In 2017, Australia legalized same sex marriage, and Chapman argues that since this vote, families are in fear of their children being attacked for having opposing values. Reportedly many of these families fear “the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction,” which has led many parents to pull their children from public and traditional schools.

Purportedly, due to the high cost of religious private schooling, home schooling became the more convenient and price-conscious option for many families, which could arguably be the reason for the 50 percent increase in homeschooled students.  A spokesperson from the New South Wales Department of Education urges others to respect parents’ decisions to homeschool their children.   McCrindle Social Researcher Geoff Brailey notes that Christianity as a whole is presently facing a plethora of concerns. ‘I think there is a lot of challenges the Christian religion has faced, ranging from the royal commission through to some responses from the same-sex marriage plebiscite,’ he said.

Photo courtesy: Unsplash/Ben White