Christians are dying, yet we’re ignoring it.
In Mumbai, churches are being vandalized, robbed, and burnt to the ground. In Vietnam, the government closely monitors pastors and imprisons Christians for going public with their faith. In Somalia, believers fear for their lives due to persecution by Islamic extremist groups. These are not just stories and statistics; these are the realities of real people all across the globe. Persecution, fear, and death constantly fill their lives. But we, the Western church, continue to ignore it.
According to Open Doors USA, over 75 percent of the world’s population live in areas of Christian persecution, and over the past three years, the number of Christians dying for their faith increased exponentially, with the numbers rising from 1000 to 2000 and 4000, respectively. They are openly persecuted by the state, slaughter by community terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, and even viciously beaten their closest family and friends. This kind of terror is happening in over sixty nations across the globe while much of the Western church is standing by idly.
Christians are dying, yet we’re not praying for them.
The cry of the persecuted church is for us to be praying for them, but how often does that truly occur for many of us? Are the majority of our prayers being focused on the nations, or do they always seem to put the focus on ourselves and our comforts?
Our brothers and sisters in Christ need us, just as we need them. Without these courageous believers, the church in many areas would be dead. It is due to their faithfulness that the light of Jesus is reaching into a darkness that we can’t get to as Americans. They are the true hands and feet of Christ in their unreached areas. They don’t ask to be rescued or taken out of their homes; rather, they want to keep running their race with perseverance as God has called them to do. The only thing they ask of us is our care. They’re asking for our prayers, above all; that we may lift up His name in praise and ask for His hand over the nations.
Christians are dying, yet we’re still lukewarm believers.
Christians who live in persecuted nations discouraged to the point of giving up by the terror they’re facing every day. Rather, they push on and continue boldly praising our God. Having to fight for one’s faith only draws them closer to Christ. Their praise, which can only rise to a whisper, is drawn from the depths of their hearts while ours remain shallow at times.
Why is it that here in the United States of America, a land of religious freedom and tolerance of all kind, we can still barely convince ourselves to pick up a Bible each day? Many of us still live a halfway-Christian lifestyle, praising God one moment and living our way the next. The average American household has three Bibles in it, yet we keep them on the shelf, while believers in the Middle East are willing to walk miles just to receive a few precious pages of Scripture to pour over. They cannot afford to live their lives for Christ half way; to live for Christ is to give it all for Him.
So what can we do?
The first thing we should do when we hear this news of persecution is to drop to our knees and pray. Let's not live in condemnation for what we have not done, but instead take our newly opened eyes and run. Educate yourself on what’s going on and lift up the nations in prayer. Open Door USA offers a World Watch List of the top countries where Christians face persecution. Use this as a tool to help you learn about and pray for the specific needs of these nations. Ask that His glory be revealed, even in the midst of despair.
Once you begin to grow your knowledge, share it with others and raise awareness about what’s going on in the world. We cannot propel ourselves into action as a church if the truth doesn't reach the hearts of believers. But once we have heard, we are held accountable, and we have to act. Let's make the entire church accountable to helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. You can take part in the Blackout campaign or other events on social media, share articles and videos, and just begin to talk about what you know. The more people that are aware, the greater the impact we can make in the lives of others.
In addition to prayer and raising awareness, we can use our time and talents to raise money to provide resources to Christians in need. Give so that organizations can continue to push Bibles and other keys to freedom through closed borders. Just a few dollars can bring the Gospel to some of this world's darkest places.
Or, you can bring God's word to them yourself. This seems impossible to some, but with the help of organizations like Open Doors, you can find a way. Things may seem hopeless, but with God, all things are possible, and He will make a way for the Spirit to move in even the darkest of nations.
God is still moving, even when His people are hurting. This persecution is not the end for us. Over and over in scripture, God tells us of His victory. The Lamb will overcome those who rise in opposition against us (Revelation 6:2, 17:14). And when we are in Him, we have overcome the world (1 John 5:4, Romans 8:37).
“But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Visit https://www.opendoorsusa.org/ for more information on the 100 million persecuted Christians across the globe and what you can do to help.
