Ponderings on the Persecuted Church
On Sunday November 13, we took the time in our service to highlight and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters across the world. That evening we included a time of prayer for them during our all-church prayer night. It definitely was a powerful and encouraging prayer service, as many people, including youth, came out to pray.
The example of my fellow Christians who suffer for the name of Jesus causes a dilemma in me. But it is good for me to feel this way. Yes, I live in a country that protects freedom of religion and I am very thankful for that gift. But as I read stories about persecution I am confronted of how weak I sometimes am in standing up for Jesus in this culture. Rather than standing up for Jesus I sometimes acquiesce to the god of tolerance. Not good. I’m not talking about going out of my way to be obnoxious and to look for a jail sentence, but I’m speaking about a deep seated willingness to suffer shame for Jesus. When I ponder the cost that the prophets paid for their message (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, John the Baptist, and ultimately, Jesus) I am challenged to a deeper committment in my faith.
In preparation for my sermon that week I watched a video about 3 women who were put in jail in Indonesia for trying to convert muslim children to Christianity. They were eventually released. During an interview, one of the women had a message for the church in the west. She said, “If you are not suffering for your faith, you have to ask yourself if you are truly a Christian.” While I don’t agree 100% with her statement (because being sent to jail is not THE mark of whether I am a Christian), her point did make me think. Am I more concerned about my own personal reputation or about being faithful to Jesus.
Then I read verses like Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been gratned for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Wow! Suffering for Jesus is a gift?! That is true, but hard to think about. Especially since I am more immersed in this culutre of comfort than I realize.
Here’s the point of my ponderings: The overwhelming message I take away from learning the stories of my persecuted brothers and sisters, is that I need to be more bold in my relationship with Jesus. To represent Him with confidence and resolve, even when I am put to shame. If they can endure so much pain for the sake of Christ, surely I can suffer for Jesus in my context too.