Cry for Freedom

We recognize the hand of God around our world today.  Even though many believers in Christ face oppression, persecution, and the attempt to silence the voice of the Church, they are being sustained by the freedom of the soul and their hope in Jesus.  We can find these words in Romans 15 (ESV):
(9b) As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name. ”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. ”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him. ”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. ”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hope - it's a powerful force, and we are seeing hope that has been activated in at least two nations of our world as of late.  I'll be covering that today and next Monday.

In the South American nation of Venezuela, it's the end of an era.  There was doubt that Nicolas Maduro had even won the last election in that country.  He perhaps not only was an illegitimate President, but is also believed to have been supervising a massive drug cartel. The Christian Post reported, "Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended during an early-morning raid on Saturday in Caracas."  It went on to say that President Trump...

...said the mission was carried out without any American casualties or equipment loss. He called it one of the most successful military operations in recent history and announced that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela’s government until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could occur.

Maduro, previously charged in the U.S. on drug and weapons offenses, was the leader of the Cartel of the Suns and is the first target in the Narcotics Rewards Program to carry a $50 million bounty, according to the U.S. State Department.

Maduro had long been accused of running a narco-terrorism operation in coordination with FARC and other armed groups, and of violently repressing dissent in Venezuela.

There were evangelical Christian leaders who lauded this action taken by the U.S., which has been diligent in trying to bust up the drug trade in that region.  The Christian Post article quoted from Franklin Graham, stating: "Writing on X, he expressed gratitude for the U.S. military’s execution of the mission and said Venezuelans were likely relieved that 'this evil dictator' was gone."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was quoted as well - the article noted: "Writing on X, Huckabee said, 'Hezbollah is embedded there & financed by Iran,' linking the Venezuelan government under Maduro to one of the most prominent Iranian-backed armed groups in the Middle East.

The Christian Post also related, "Maduro’s regime was marked by widespread political repression, economic collapse, mass displacement and allegations of violent crackdowns. Millions fled the country to escape poverty and persecution, making his removal a potential source of hope for those who suffered under his rule or lost everything during his time in power."

John Amanchukwu shared a similar message.  The Post said that he...

...pointed to the timing of Maduro’s capture, noting that it came just hours after the Venezuelan leader had met with Chinese officials to discuss strategic alliances. Referring to that meeting, he wrote, “This [is] how it’s done!! I love it!!”

The remark suggested that the raid disrupted Maduro’s efforts to strengthen ties with foreign powers, including China, which has maintained economic and political cooperation with Venezuela despite U.S. sanctions.

Amanchukwu also shared a video on YouTube titled “Over 10 Minutes of Venezuelans Celebrating Their Liberation and President Trump!” capturing reactions from the Venezuelan diaspora.

CBS News reported on celebrations occurring in Miami, stating: "Chants of 'Libertad' echoed through the area as crowds sang both the U.S. and Venezuelan national anthems, marking a moment many said they had waited decades to see. Demonstrators told CBS News Miami this is the most free they've felt in decades."  It added, "Demonstrators told CBS News Miami the moment felt less like an act of war and more like an act of freedom. Many said they now feel a renewed sense of hope, and even relief, about the possibility of safely returning to Venezuela to see family members still living there."

No doubt the apprehending of Nicolas Maduro has brought hope to a number of people. Because people long to be free.  Authoritarianism may falsely promise the freedom that people seek, but cannot deliver, and unrealized hope can cause them to acquiesce for years on end.

A change in government can bring limited hope, and Venezuelans are celebrating right now, even though there are reports that government officials are trying to quash those celebrations and maintain order.   But, ultimately our hope and the source of freedom that human beings so desperately seek, come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.  That is why believers who face persecution around the world possess a sense of peace, even in their suffering - it's the freedom of the soul and hope in the Lord that can keep us going, even in the midst of our difficulty.  We can be a voice to call out oppressive governments, and in a democracy, we can prayerfully select leaders who pay attention to our voice and our values.  As we speak to our culture, we do so through a position of reliance on the Lord.