Learning From The Persecuted Church
I was at home with my family. We were getting dinner ready. We were about to sit down, when the front door swung open. The police came through the front door, headed directly towards me. They grabbed me, hit me, kicked me. They threw me on the ground still attacking me. My children crying standing right next to me. My wife with our children around her, looked into my eyes, crying, begging the police not to take me. It was no use. They took me. My wife and children following the police still begging them to let me go. My children crying hysterically not understanding what was going on. We got to the front door, the police pushing me along. Cursing at me. Beating me telling me that I'm a traitor. Telling me I have broken the law. Saying that I have harmed national security.
We got to their police car. They threw me in. Two officers sat next to me on either side, making sure I didn't escape. Feelings of fear came over me. Would I ever see my family again? What would happen to my children? How will they get food? What will happen with my job?
We arrived at the police station, they took me out of the car. They charged me with harming national security. They threw me in a room. They interrogated me. They asked me, did you give up your Islamic faith? Are you a Christian? Why are you selling Christian books at your bookstore? I stayed quiet for a moment, praying for strength. I knew that if I said I didn't give up my Islamic faith, then they would let me go. I just had to get rid of my Christian books. Then I could go back home and be with my family. Then I could take care of them. But how could I? How could I deny the name of Jesus, who save me from my sins? After all of the beatings he suffered for me? How could I say no to him?
After several times of them asking, they demanded I answer. I sat straight up in my chair, took a deep breath, and spoke up. "I believe in my Lord Jesus. He died for my sins, and saved me from the dead." The officer walked up to me and hit me across the face. The pain from the impact shot through my face and through my head. The impact from the blow threw me right off the chair. Unable to stop the fall because my hands were cuffed behind my back, my head again made hard impact, this time with the ground. Extreme pain shot through my head. I finally had enough strength to open my eyes. I saw the ground, and there I was lying in a puddle of blood. I lay there praying, "Lord, please, help me to be strong. Overcome those who persecute me."
While I was praying, one of the officers walked over to me and sternly said "GET UP!" I tried but was too weak. Standing right next to me he swung his foot back, and aiming right for me, kicked me in the stomach. The pain I felt now went through my whole body. Not one part of me was not in pain. This interrogation lasted an hour. Finally, they took me to my sell. They put me in prison clothes, and left me. This continued day after day. Every day I prayed for strength to say yes to God. To accept the beating for my Savior.
End of Story
*****************************************
Stories just like this happen day after day. God tells us in His word that we will experience persecution. Some of us will experience it worse than others. For a while, I felt guilty because I wasn't experiencing this. I thought, maybe I'm not doing something right. Maybe I need to go out and look for ways to be persecuted. This is not what the man in the story did though. This is not what the disciples did. This is also not what Jesus did. Never once did God say, go out and look for trouble. Go out and who ever can get beat the worst because of me wins! No, this is not a game. This is not a time to "show your toughness." I thank the Lord that he has placed me in a country that (at this point) allows me to glorify Him without being persecuted. Sure, someone may insult me because I prayed before I ate my dinner. Maybe someone even physically punched someone in the US because of their faith. On rare occasions, some are even killed in the United States, because of their belief in God. I think back to the story of the girl at Columbine High School. When asked if she believed in God, she said yes. As a result, the gunman pulled the trigger. But the persecution that happens in the United States is typically NOTHING compared to what some have to endure.
Not often enough, but sometimes I will just take some time to think about my brothers and sisters in other countries who are truly enduring this persecution. They can't walk outside and say to their friend, "Hey, what did you learn at church this week?" If they did, that church would be taken over by the government. The police would come in and arrest those attending.
As I continued to think about my brothers and sisters in other countries enduring this suffering, I thought to myself, "How often do I take time to pray for them?" How often do I take time to think about them and lift them up to our Father?
There is something that I find very ironic though. I was listening to someone speak (can't remember who it was) and we were talking about the Persecuted Church. One of the statements they made really caught my attention though. In a conversation they had with someone who lived in a country where the persecuted church was more of a problem, they stated that they pray that people in the United States (and maybe free countries in general) would experience more persecution. Now, I really really don't think this is because they are jealous and just want us to suffer. Persecution requires people to commit. It can be so easy for someone in America to just say, I am a Christian, but not have to commit at all. But when persecution comes, people have to decide, do I trust in Jesus Christ so much, that I am willing to be disowned for him? That I am willing to be abused, both verbally and physically? Do I trust Him so much, that I will die for him?
As I said before, I am not saying that we should go out and look for trouble. But are we really living lives that means taking risks? Are we really living lives even for the United States, that means going out of our way to make sure people know about our Savior.
Jesus tells his disciples and also us in Luke 12:48, that when much is given, much will be demanded. As an American, I have been truly blessed. There are so many resources the Lord has entrusted with me, that I am responsible for fulfilling the needs of others. One of the most frustrating things in America (both in and outside of the body of believers) is that everyone seems to think that all of our problems with be solved if I throw money at it. Oh there is someone on the side of the street, give him $5. Oh there was a natural disaster, here is some money. Even with our children this is true. What you want an IPOD, fine as long as it means you will stop bothering me for a while about it.
Now here again is what I am not saying. I am not saying that money is evil and that there is no place for it. Money is a requirement in our society. We do need money in order to buy food, pay our bills, get from one place to another (usually). Even with giving, I'm not saying giving money is bad. What I am saying is that it is not always the answer.
God has entrusted us so many things. He has given us Bibles, knowledge of how to read the Bible and understand. He has given us money (whether you agree with me or not, it's true. According to global issues.org over 80 percent of the world lives on less than $10 per day) and it is important that we give willingly. He has given us people to encourage each other. We will be responsible one day when we stand before the Lord and give an account of how we used his resources.
All this to say (going back to the original topic), we have brothers and sisters in other countries who are literally giving up EVERYTHING for the Hope they have in Jesus Christ. We cannot simply live our lives halfheartedly following God. God says in Revelation 3:16, "Because you are lukewarm - not hot or cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In other words, I will have nothing to do with you. God speaks to the Israelites and warns them that one day "You are not my people and I will not be your God."
FINALLY, I strongly encourage you (as well as myself) to pray for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that they will stand strong against the enemy. Against those who persecute them. Against the beatings, the torture, and sometimes even the fear of death.
We got to their police car. They threw me in. Two officers sat next to me on either side, making sure I didn't escape. Feelings of fear came over me. Would I ever see my family again? What would happen to my children? How will they get food? What will happen with my job?
We arrived at the police station, they took me out of the car. They charged me with harming national security. They threw me in a room. They interrogated me. They asked me, did you give up your Islamic faith? Are you a Christian? Why are you selling Christian books at your bookstore? I stayed quiet for a moment, praying for strength. I knew that if I said I didn't give up my Islamic faith, then they would let me go. I just had to get rid of my Christian books. Then I could go back home and be with my family. Then I could take care of them. But how could I? How could I deny the name of Jesus, who save me from my sins? After all of the beatings he suffered for me? How could I say no to him?
After several times of them asking, they demanded I answer. I sat straight up in my chair, took a deep breath, and spoke up. "I believe in my Lord Jesus. He died for my sins, and saved me from the dead." The officer walked up to me and hit me across the face. The pain from the impact shot through my face and through my head. The impact from the blow threw me right off the chair. Unable to stop the fall because my hands were cuffed behind my back, my head again made hard impact, this time with the ground. Extreme pain shot through my head. I finally had enough strength to open my eyes. I saw the ground, and there I was lying in a puddle of blood. I lay there praying, "Lord, please, help me to be strong. Overcome those who persecute me."
While I was praying, one of the officers walked over to me and sternly said "GET UP!" I tried but was too weak. Standing right next to me he swung his foot back, and aiming right for me, kicked me in the stomach. The pain I felt now went through my whole body. Not one part of me was not in pain. This interrogation lasted an hour. Finally, they took me to my sell. They put me in prison clothes, and left me. This continued day after day. Every day I prayed for strength to say yes to God. To accept the beating for my Savior.
End of Story
*****************************************
Stories just like this happen day after day. God tells us in His word that we will experience persecution. Some of us will experience it worse than others. For a while, I felt guilty because I wasn't experiencing this. I thought, maybe I'm not doing something right. Maybe I need to go out and look for ways to be persecuted. This is not what the man in the story did though. This is not what the disciples did. This is also not what Jesus did. Never once did God say, go out and look for trouble. Go out and who ever can get beat the worst because of me wins! No, this is not a game. This is not a time to "show your toughness." I thank the Lord that he has placed me in a country that (at this point) allows me to glorify Him without being persecuted. Sure, someone may insult me because I prayed before I ate my dinner. Maybe someone even physically punched someone in the US because of their faith. On rare occasions, some are even killed in the United States, because of their belief in God. I think back to the story of the girl at Columbine High School. When asked if she believed in God, she said yes. As a result, the gunman pulled the trigger. But the persecution that happens in the United States is typically NOTHING compared to what some have to endure.
Not often enough, but sometimes I will just take some time to think about my brothers and sisters in other countries who are truly enduring this persecution. They can't walk outside and say to their friend, "Hey, what did you learn at church this week?" If they did, that church would be taken over by the government. The police would come in and arrest those attending.
As I continued to think about my brothers and sisters in other countries enduring this suffering, I thought to myself, "How often do I take time to pray for them?" How often do I take time to think about them and lift them up to our Father?
There is something that I find very ironic though. I was listening to someone speak (can't remember who it was) and we were talking about the Persecuted Church. One of the statements they made really caught my attention though. In a conversation they had with someone who lived in a country where the persecuted church was more of a problem, they stated that they pray that people in the United States (and maybe free countries in general) would experience more persecution. Now, I really really don't think this is because they are jealous and just want us to suffer. Persecution requires people to commit. It can be so easy for someone in America to just say, I am a Christian, but not have to commit at all. But when persecution comes, people have to decide, do I trust in Jesus Christ so much, that I am willing to be disowned for him? That I am willing to be abused, both verbally and physically? Do I trust Him so much, that I will die for him?
As I said before, I am not saying that we should go out and look for trouble. But are we really living lives that means taking risks? Are we really living lives even for the United States, that means going out of our way to make sure people know about our Savior.
Jesus tells his disciples and also us in Luke 12:48, that when much is given, much will be demanded. As an American, I have been truly blessed. There are so many resources the Lord has entrusted with me, that I am responsible for fulfilling the needs of others. One of the most frustrating things in America (both in and outside of the body of believers) is that everyone seems to think that all of our problems with be solved if I throw money at it. Oh there is someone on the side of the street, give him $5. Oh there was a natural disaster, here is some money. Even with our children this is true. What you want an IPOD, fine as long as it means you will stop bothering me for a while about it.
Now here again is what I am not saying. I am not saying that money is evil and that there is no place for it. Money is a requirement in our society. We do need money in order to buy food, pay our bills, get from one place to another (usually). Even with giving, I'm not saying giving money is bad. What I am saying is that it is not always the answer.
God has entrusted us so many things. He has given us Bibles, knowledge of how to read the Bible and understand. He has given us money (whether you agree with me or not, it's true. According to global issues.org over 80 percent of the world lives on less than $10 per day) and it is important that we give willingly. He has given us people to encourage each other. We will be responsible one day when we stand before the Lord and give an account of how we used his resources.
All this to say (going back to the original topic), we have brothers and sisters in other countries who are literally giving up EVERYTHING for the Hope they have in Jesus Christ. We cannot simply live our lives halfheartedly following God. God says in Revelation 3:16, "Because you are lukewarm - not hot or cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In other words, I will have nothing to do with you. God speaks to the Israelites and warns them that one day "You are not my people and I will not be your God."
FINALLY, I strongly encourage you (as well as myself) to pray for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that they will stand strong against the enemy. Against those who persecute them. Against the beatings, the torture, and sometimes even the fear of death.
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