Am I the only one saddened by the prayers of American Christians thanking God for the peace and safety we have to worship in the United States... while Christians across the globe suffer persecution and unimagineable trials?

Consider an comparison.  "A marine stationed on routine duty at headquarters thanks his commanding officer that he can serve in safety at headquarters while his fellow marines are in harms way in the battle field."

That soldier's face is smeared with the shame of cowardice.  His heart is not Semper Fidelis, but craven.  Christians likewise are called into spiritual battle as soldiers for Christ.  Perhaps we need a Christian Memorial Day to renew our passion for the battle and honor those in harms way or who have lost their lives for Christ.

My proposal is not to undermine Memorial Day or dishonor those who have died in earthly warfare.  God has commissioned the state to wage war and men have fought and died gallantly.  Yet Christ calls his followers to lay down earthly warfare in order to fight and die gallantly in spiritual war.  The Christian Memorial Day reminds us to count the cost of following Jesus and to honor those who have already paid the cost.

Jesus honored Abel and Zechariah in Matthew 23:34-36 (WEB)!

34) Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35) that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36) Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.