Christians have been persecuted in various ways since Jesus was crucified. I would like to bring awareness to Christian persecution today, as it is still around. Many countries have violent persecution towards Christians. Christians in America may face persecution, but it is usually non-violent persecution, thankfully.
According to http://www.worldwatchlist.us/, 50 countries worldwide persecute people if they are Christian. Now, 50 countries might not sound like many, but there are 196 countries in the world. North Korea is ranked number one on the World Watch List 2014; there are about 50,000-70,000 Christians in labor camps in N. Korea.
"Religion is viewed as a means of foreign encroachment, and it is believed that it would inflict harm on North Korea's social disciplines. Consequently, in its social stratification system called Songbun, all Christians are classified as 'hostile' and even considered to be a separate 'subclass'. Christians whose faith is discovered are sent to political labour camps from which release is not possible." (from http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/north_korea.php)
The only thing, aside from God, that prevents persecution on the same level as North Korea in America is the U.S. Constitution, specifically the First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "(http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html)One could argue that there have been infringements on the First Amendment, nonetheless, we still have it. We take that amendment for granted many times, because there have been a few generations since the early Americans who had to fight for our religious rights. We should never take any rights for granted so we can preserve them for us and our future generations. Never forget, Edmund Burke's famous quote:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Many people ask: Why would someone suffer persecution for God? I look to the Bible for my answer:
"For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:17-19
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." John 15:18-21
"So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." 2 Timothy 1:8
As these verses explain: Christians are persecuted because Christ was persecuted, not because of anything we did, except deciding to follow Jesus; and nothing can separate a Christian from God, not even death. In Jesus Christ's last hours (after he was nailed to the cross) he said:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 22:34
Just as Jesus forgave and asked God to forgive those who persecuted him, so should we (as Christians) forgive and ask God to forgive those who persecute us. As I stated earlier, Christians are only persecuted because of our King. Those who persecute Christians now are like Jesus' persecutors, they ultimately do not know what they are doing.
http://www.persecution.com/ (Voice of the Martyrs), https://www.opendoorsusa.org/persecution/, and http://www.persecution.org/ (International Christian Concern).
God Blesses His children. The blessing of suffering draws us closer to our Lord. The world does not understand the Word of God promises suffering for the family of God, but it is through our suffering God is Glorified as we become more dependent on His Power to deliver us. Never forget God's answer to Paul in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12:
ReplyDelete2Co 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 2Co 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
2Co 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2Co 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Ps 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isa 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions ,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Ac 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Ac 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Ro 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Ro 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Ro 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Ro 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Ro 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2Th 1:5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
2Th 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
2Th 1:7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
2Ti 1:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
2Ti 1:9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
2Ti 1:10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2Ti 1:11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 2Ti 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
In 1898, the Boxer rebellion began in China by 1900 Christian missionaries were being killed throughout the country. A Christian Girls School was surrounded by armed boxer rebels inside were one hundred Chinese Christian girls. The Boxers told them they would be allowed to leave if they stomped on a cross placed outside the door of the mission. The first seven girls came out one by one they stomped on the cross. They were allowed to go free and live. The eighth girl came out kneeled down and prayer for the Lord's strength. She rose from her knees then stepped around the cross. She was immediately shot to death. The next ninety-two girls knelt prayed then stepped around the cross. Each girl was shot. They went to their heavenly home. Today China has close to one hundred million Christians who are saved by the blood of Christ. I pray they remember the ninety three girls who knelt and prayed for their salvation. The western church needs persecution for God does His best work through those who are tested and purified by the fire.
ReplyDeleteI thank the Lord for your blog; I encourage you to be more bold in your witness.
God's Grace!