Voice of the Martyrs

I know it's long...but I have a lot to say. The following topic has been on my mind a lot lately...the persecution and suffering of Christians around the world.

First of all, several years ago I had no idea that people were daily enduring intense suffering for their faith. This was not something that I saw or heard a lot of until recently. Voice of the Martyrs is a publication that gives a voice to the thousands of persecuted believers around the world. You can access their website here or type in "Voice of the Martyrs" on facebook to become a fan and see daily updates. This particular event that I read about yesterday took place on Sunday.

http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI0

On Sunday hundreds of christians living near Jos, Nigeria were slain with machetes by Muslim herdsmen. You can read the entire article at the link above. Now my purpose of this blog is not to retell the article, but to share with you the questions I've been asking myself lately.

Should events like this make us feel sorry for persecuted Christians around the world? No. 1 Peter 2:19-21 says this: "For this [submitting to just and unjust authority] is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." Christians are called to suffer because Christ suffered.

Should persecution by other religions cause us to hate those who hate Christ?
No. 1 Peter 2:23-24 continues with this: "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."


Should we continue in sadness over the acts of persecution?
No. 1 Peter 1:3-9 tells us that we are to rejoice because we have a hope far greater! "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Should the result of exposing ourselves to the acts of persecution be solely thankfulness for our religious freedom?
No. Persecution continues because people are displaying true faith. We do not pray for persecution to stop because Christ tells us in 1 Peter that Christians will (not might) endure suffering. We are not called to lives of comfort and ease. As more believers seek God in all of His glory and proclaim his name to the nations, persecution will increase. In this we praise God that he is being proclaimed to the nations!

In summary, it is challenging to not be overcome with grief and fear when you allow yourself to become aware of the suffering of believers around the world. It is also challenging to not allow fear of suffering to keep you from following the Great Commission to take the gospel to the nations. Our sinful nature pulls at us to go in these two directions: fear and pity. But Christ calls us to rejoice because we have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Our hope is not in this world, but in Christ and he will one day be worshipped by every tribe, language, people and nation!