In some prayer time today I was reminded of Peter's last day. He watched his wife being led away to crucifixion, shouting encouragement to her, then took his own turn, asking his executioners to crucify him upside down, as he was not worthy to die as his Lord. What occurred to me was our pre-occupation with living longer and avoiding trouble. As Christians we are told to expect, and I believe to embrace persecution. (1 Timothy 3:12) And above all, as much as the opportunity presents itself to us, to die well. Let us remember our brothers and sisters who are in chains (Hebrews 13:3) and prepare ourselves to be willing to sacrifice all when the time comes. God is good, and His grace will be sufficient for our needs! (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Article from Koinoniahouse.org
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The Joy Jesus Church in Likoni, Kenya was attacked by gunmen during the recent Sunday’s morning services, resulting in the deaths of four church goers and the wounding of 17 others. The attack was no random robbery, but a purposeful effort to murder the church members. The gunmen moved on to Redeemed Gospel Church down the road but were prevented by armed guards at the door. The Somali-based Islamic terrorist group Al Shabaab has committed enough religiously-motivated attacks against its neighbors in Kenya that Kenyan churches must behave like Nehemiah, posting guards while the work of God is being done. Not all live in the freedom we take for granted in the West, where we can gather with our fellow believers to worship Christ any time we like.
“The ruthless attack on a church, as men, women, and children were gathered simply to worship God, reveals the hatefulness and emptiness of the ideology that motivates these terrorist groups,” said Todd Daniels, International Christian Concern Regional Manager for the Middle East. “The Kenyan military and security forces must continue their efforts to root out terrorist groups and provide protection to their civilians.”
The weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, more than 150 people were killed in Islamic attacks on Christian areas of Nigeria. Open Doors reports that many of the victims were burned beyond recognition and were buried in a mass grave. Herdsman disputes are part of the problem, with West African Muslim ethnic herdsman attacking communities of Christian farmers.
“The gunmen invaded our village at about 10 o’clock in the evening on Sunday, they started shouting “’God is Great,’” Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper quoted one villager. “In some houses, they did not shoot at the residents but ordered them to vacate their houses and set them ablaze, saying ‘We are here for God work.’” Two churches were burned along with the houses.
Persecution spreads across Nigeria. That same weekend, militants suspected of connection to the Boko Haram insurgency killed two people in Nigeria’s northeast. Boko Haram is considered responsible for the deaths of thousands of Nigerians since 2009 with the intended purpose of setting up Islamic law in the north.
Half a continent away in Libya last month, seven Egyptian Christians were found dead on a beach. “They were killed by headshots in execution style,” a police officer told Reuters. “We don’t know who killed them.” The government still struggles to maintain order three years after the Arab Spring led to the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi, and Islamic militants freely take their revenge on those they perceive as enemies. Witnesses said that the men go door-to-door and ask people if they are Muslim or Christian, then drag out the Christians and execute them.
Africa is rife with violence, but Christian persecution can be found across the world. Those of us who freely attend church any day of the week we like, we who may own three or four or five Bibles, we may not truly appreciate the extent of the struggle faced by our brothers and sisters every day.
But, we can help.
Open Doors, the organization Brother Andrew founded, has arms in many countries, reaching out with love to the persecuted church all over the world. Groups like Voice of the Martyrs and International Christian Concern also do great work in offering help to Christians suffering under religious persecution.
There are many things we can do to help our brothers and sisters. The first of which is prayer.
Prayer
What should we pray then? We can pray for those in prison to be filled with the Spirit of God to minister to others while there. We pray for faith and courage and peace for those who attend church every weekend knowing they might die for it. The joy of the Lord is our strength! We pray the same for the little Christians and churches in Laos and Burma, China and Iran, Maldives, Eritrea, North Korea and Cuba. Most of all, we can thank God. Thank Him for the Spirit of God who moves in might and shines the light of Christ more brightly than ever in great darkness.
Honor Freedom
We must also take advantage of the freedoms we have. Do we own Bibles? We need to read them every day, growing in our love of God’s Word for the precious treasure that it is. Do we have the freedom to meet with other believers? Then we should, enjoying their company and taking advantage of opportunities to fast and pray and study together.
Donate
We can give our funds or volunteer time to ministries that offer important assistance to the Church around the world. Ministries that reach the persecuted church help the orphans and suffering families of the disenfranchised, imprisoned and slaughtered Christians. They provide support to underground pastors, providing Bibles and teaching materials. They stand with devastated communities and help them rebuild after massive attacks on the populace. We can further this vital work by giving of our funds and time. [See links below.]
Speak Up
We can raise awareness of others to the persecution that is happening right now. The Holocaust may have ended in Germany and Poland, but modern day concentration camps exist, where people are being starved and tortured and executed every day. People need to know. They need to be aware, so that more can be done to help.
Let’s not forget our brothers and sisters, instead remembering them daily as though suffering with them. We are a body.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”— Hebrews 13:3
Article from Koinoniahouse.org
