Pilgrim,

First of all, I am amazed that you would continue to speak of someone as having a "Pharisaical mentality." Do you think I have a Pharisaical mentality simply because I expressed concern for the many persecuted Christians in China? That's what I'm hearing, because that was the main thing I was saying about the persecuted Christians there.

I was simply advocating that we remember to put into practice things such as are mentioned in the latter part of Galations 6:10, which reads, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

You wrote:

"I spoke of a "Pharisaical mentality"; i.e., those who would help their "brethren" but refuse to help those who are not "one of them"."

I have no idea who you are talking about. Who said anything about refusing to help those who are not "one of them?" You are battling a straw man.

One reason concern for the persecution of Christians in China was mentioned was, well, I assumed Christians elsewhere would be concerned as well. I didn't realize it was wrong to express that concern here.

As far as Africa is concerned, one large country that I was thinking of is Nigeria, where my brother-in-law is from, which is made up of Muslims in the north who fight against the Christians in the south. I don't believe Nigeria is the only country in Africa which is in this situation.

Also, by the way, I very much realize, and am concerned about, the many non-Christians in China who are suffering as well because of forced abortions, slave labor, etc. I just wish a few more people were as well. Granting MFN status to China has made it much more difficult on millions of Chinese citizens for many years to come. This did not need to happen. More people are persecuted in China than in any other country in the world. We were doing a little to try and stop it. Now we are not even doing that.