Dear
friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test
you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you
participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his
glory is revealed~ 1st Peter 4:12-13
Persecution. It’s a twenty-first century problem.
According to Open Doors International, a non-denominational
group that monitors Christian persecution, every month 322 Christians are slain
solely for the offense of being Christian. Two hundred and fourteen Christian
churches or Christian owned properties are destroyed. And 722 acts of violence
(rapes, beatings, expulsions, abductions, forced marriages) are committed
against Christians. At least fifty countries are systematically targeting
Christians for extermination; in some countries Christianity is on the edge of
extinction.
Even in countries
where Christians are not routinely mistreated, attitudes towards Christians are
rapidly shifting. These shifts are unsettling.
Christian speech is openly discouraged and sometimes even suppressed
in public arenas. The President of the United States recently called out Christians
at a prayer breakfast for “not being loving” and glibly equated recent slayings
of Christians by Muslim extremists to exploits committed nearly a thousand
years ago during the Crusades.
Christian symbols are being
removed from the public square for fear of offending those of other faiths or
no faith. Christians who voice views outside accepted social norms are bullied
and ridiculed in public forums and have in some cases lost their livelihoods. Many
predict that that Christianity or at least some forms of Christian speech will
be criminalized in the near future.
These developments
have left Christians anxious about the future. Many are uncertain about what to
do for Christians who are experiencing persecution in other countries. There
are at least five things Western Christians can and should be doing in these
tough times to prepare for the future and help others experiencing persecution.
#1 Refuse to Panic
This is not the time to become unnerved, unsettled or weird.
Panic benefits no one. Christians have been persecuted in the past and we will
be persecuted in the future (1st Thessalonians 3:2-4). This is a time to put our trust in God and
put every effort into bolstering our faith through deeper prayer, study, service
and friendships with other Christians.
#2 Commit Already
Many American Christians have a rather feeble relationship
with Jesus. The typical self-identified “committed Christian” attends church an
average of 1.5 times per month, does not read or study the Bible regularly,
pray, follow Christian teachings, or contribute to Christian causes. None of
these behaviors are prerequisites for salvation, but they do reveal commitment
level. If your relationship with Jesus looks more like a casual hook-up than a
committed relationship, today is the day to get off the fence and start taking
your faith seriously.
#3 Live a Consistent Life
Everyone agrees that Christians should treat non-Christians
with kindness. However, unkindness is not the only only misstep that hurts the
cause of Christ. Lifestyle choices inconsistent with biblical teaching, sexual
atheism, hypocrisy, publically bashing Churches and tearing down fellow Christians
create just as many issues as unkindness or lack of love. Christians who
consistently live inconsistent lives make it easier for unbelievers to rationalize
the mocking and mistreatment of Christians.
#4 Get Out There
This is not the time for Christians to retreat into their own
little worlds. Locate a reliable news outlet and read up on the issues. Find
out who your legislators are and contact them regarding issues that concern
you, especially issues regarding religious liberty and oppression of Christians
around the world. If the legislators in your state don’t care about these
issues, work to elect new ones.
#5 Pray
Prayer is a neglected discipline. Christians should pray more
often, and rethink the substance of our prayers. Most prayers tend to be
focused on physical and financial needs rather than the spiritual. God cares
deeply about our physical needs but He is truly moved when we ask Him for
wisdom, spiritual understanding, and hearts inclined toward repentance. Prayer is the most powerful and consequential thing
we can do for persecuted Christians around the world. They need us to pray that
they will have peace in the midst of their trials, the strength to endure the
pressure, and relief from their tormenters. They pray for us; the least we can
do is to return the favor.
Jesus never promised that life would be easy. Nor did He
promise that everyone would like us or grasp our motivations and message. This
period of history is shaping up to be one of those times when Christians are
misunderstood and sometimes even hated. This is not the time for retreat or compromise.
This is a time to deepen our commitment to our God and trust Him with every
thing we’ve got.