Some Christians are concerned that their conservative Christian values could soon put them at risk of becoming terrorist suspects by Homeland Security.

A recent report circulating around the Internet has engendered the worry because of a newly distributed U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assessment called “Rightwing Extremism: Current economic and political climate fueling resurgence in radicalization and recruitment.”

The intelligence assessment was sent to law enforcement officials across the country and defines rightwing extremism in the United States as follows:

"Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

Notice too promotion of the Tenth and Eleventh Amendments of the Constitution that protects state rights and limits Federal government infringement may also tag you as suspect.

Christians opposed to abortion as a means of birth control could fit this label. Others that view abortion as murder, for example, could also. Even Christians opposed to same sex marriage and homosexuality are candidates because opposing views could be construed as hate crimes. These two shared Christian values, according to Homeland Security, could be classified as "hate-oriented" and "single issue." If you adhere to those particular biblical views you could be considered a rightwing extremist suspect and subject to surveillance.

The concern among some Christians is that such language within the documentation of Homeland Security circulars is dangerous and open for broad interpretation. They believe it could be possible that this line of thought could lead to a classification of Christianity as a threat against the United States. Some ask, “Could Christianity be defined as a hate-oriented religion when holding to differing values become apparent?”

Homeland Security is also concerned with "the high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition in anticipation of restrictions and bans” of firearms. The assessment reads as follows: “On the current front, legislation has been proposed this year requiring mandatory registration of all firearms in the United States. Similar legislation was introduced in 2008 in several states proposing mandatory tagging and registration of ammunition. It is unclear if either bill will be passed into law; nonetheless, a correlation may exist between the potential passage of gun control legislation and increased hoarding of ammunition, weapons stockpiling, and paramilitary training activities among rightwing extremists.” This, too, is concerning because many desire to exercise their Second Amendment rights and own firearms.

Regarding any talk about the “New World Order” the circular says, “Rightwing extremist paranoia of foreign regimes could escalate or be magnified in the event of an economic crisis or military confrontation, harkening back to the ‘New World Order’ conspiracy theories of the 1990s. The dissolution of Communist countries in Eastern Europe and the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s led some rightwing extremists to believe that a ‘New World Order’ would bring about a world government that would usurp the sovereignty of the United States and its Constitution, thus infringing upon their liberty.”

Homeland Security is also concerned with returning veterans that possess combat skills and warn of "end times prophecies that could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons." Their concern is that Christians often identify with such prophecies.

In the intelligence assessment, Homeland Security is sensitive to Christian religious teachings that might lead to violence: "These teachings also have been linked with the radicalization of domestic extremist individuals and groups in the past, such as violent Christian Identity organizations and extremist members of the militia movement."

It appears, therefore, that Christians should be aware that they can be lumped into the category of "rightwing terrorists" when taking a stand on certain issues such as abortion, homosexuality and immigration enforcement. Christians that believe God is their source of salvation rather than the State could face surprising challenges to their personal faith in the days ahead.

As the TEA Parties increase across the country some think the government may respond by calling out the troops, bringing in the police and using the Patriot Act to silence, harass and even jail individuals that exercise their constitutional rights.

The unclassified Homeland Security document concludes: “DHS and Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) will be working with its state and local partners over the next several months to ascertain with greater regional specificity the rise in rightwing extremist activity in the United States, with a particular emphasis on the political, economic, and social factors that drive rightwing extremist radicalization.”