I'm a firm believer that God teaches you through the circumstances you are in. What I never expected was to be taught about persecution and the freedom I have to worship because of poison ivy. I'm twenty-five years old and never in my life has poison ivy bothered me. That changed last week after I cleared off the fence line in our front yard and came in contact with the dreaded itch inducing plant. The encounter left me with spots on the inside of both elbows, my left bicep, and above my left knee. If you are wondering what any of that has to do with persecution this is why; In seeking to control the itch because I'm allergic to the medicine I was using to get rid of the rash I took Benadryl. The relief lasts about 4 hours which meant I wake up in the middle of the night wanting to scratch my arms off. Still confused? I'll explain further. My church started a read through the bible Sunday evening at 7:45. Someone is at Bayside twenty-four seven reading aloud and it is being simulcasted on the church website. The last time I checked in we were in the book of John. So how does all this tie in? Being woken with itching arms I've taken more Benadryl and been wide awake so I logged onto the website to listen for awhile the past three mornings at 4:45, 3:45, and 2:30 in the morning.
There isn't a place in the world where freedom such as this would allow a church to do this, much less where I'd have such access to listen at any time as I do. When we were told about the read-through I just found the idea interesting. It had never been something we'd done before and was an interesting concept, having someone there at all times reading the Word and having it simulcasted. What occurred to me at 4:45AM Monday morning was just how much freedom I have in this country. My brothers and sister in Asia,Africa, or the Middle East certainly couldn't have done such a thing. Remoteness and lack of technology not withstanding it is illegal for them to worship God and if they were found doing such a thing death would be the likely punishment.
The simulcast aside, I can attend any church I wish any time the doors are open and worship,pray, and read the Bible any time I feel like it. I can share my faith and speak out about my beliefs without being afraid I'm going to be beaten, jailed or killed for sharing. I went to Bible Study last night and the topic was on persecution. We were studying John 15:18-25 where Jesus is telling his disciples that the world would not only hate them the world would persecute them because it had done so to Him. Monday I read Acts 5:40--42 where the apostles are brought before the council and then beaten and told not to speak about Jesus again. The result was much rejoicing on the apostles part and then continued proclaiming of the name of Jesus.
The world has tried since Jesus walked the Earth to silence the gospel. They've yet to understand that such a goal will never be met. You can't stop the spread of the gospel because you can't stop God. Certainly you can silence those spreading it by killing them but that isn't as effective as it is hoped to be by those that do it. Historically, the Church doesn't shrink and die under persecution it thrives. Burn their homes and their churches, beat them, kill them, the Church isn't a building it is the Body of Christ and that cannot be stomped out. Spilling the blood of those who follow Christ causes the gospel to spread, it doesn't stop it. You can look at the church in Asia and Africa and see that persecution grows the church rather than kills it. When you martyr the children of God you are only giving the world more reason to look at the faith these men and women had and the God they loved enough to die for so that others may hear about the love He has for the world.
322 Christians will die for their faith by the end of the month.
100 million Christians are being persecuted right now for the gospel they cling to.
Persecution isn't a new thing. Persecution is the reward for living a life that points others to Christ. It happens around the world at an alarming rate. It isn't to the level of such drastic measures in America but it is getting to the point that being mocked or losing relationships is going to become more common. When it happens will we love as we are called to do? I certainly hope my response would be like the apostles, one of rejoicing as I'm being marked as a follower of Christ by people who hate him.
November 1st is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Join me in praying for our brothers and sisters who do not have the freedoms we do. Check out Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs. Give if you can to help this family of ours as they live as they are supposed to and continue to spread the gospel no matter the risk.
Want to check out the simulcast? Go Here
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