In the past 24 hours approximately 480 people have died simply because they are Christians. That averages out to about 3 per minute around the world. It's so easy to forget that we are not alone in this world and not everyone enjoys the relative ease that we do in regards to serving our King. The most dangerous thing you will probably face today is that driver who is more concerned with their cell phone than with their driving. You will face no danger or persecution from others for being a Christian. Oh, you may hear a word or two of scorn from some but you'll not have to face the sticks and stones that many Christians around the world will. So why is it, that we who are free to say and believe what we wish without fear of retribution beyond that which is offered by a few scoffers, so silent? Could it be that we are so distracted by all of this affluence and comfort that we have forgotten what it means to be a disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Paul said to Timothy in II Timothy 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (ESV) Now I ask you as I have asked myself, "what form has your persecution taken?" It seems to me the modern day church in America is so concerned with what version one uses or just how relevant one is to his or her culture that we have completely missed the point of our being here in the first place. How big of a discussion do you think the persecuted church in China is having over the role of praise bands in the church? Or how much energy is wasted there debating the version of the Bible the preacher preached from? The church in this country is too concerned with the size of their youth groups, and the amount of time the praise band has to practice their culturally relevant rock ensemble to worry with whether or not God's Word is preached faithfully with authority and power. I wonder if those 480 men, women, and children who were martyred today were culturally relevant? Of course all of their suffering pales in comparison to evangelical christians who got blamed by the homosexuals for being homophobic because they voted for the christian boy on American Idol.
I encourage you to visit The Voice of the Martyrs web site and become a participant in their ministry. One way you can do this is by writing a letter to a Christian who has been put in prison for their faith. Let them know they are not forgotten.
http://www.persecution.com/
Remember, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Many millions of Christians have given their all for the cause of Christ. God expects no less from us. Be a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Sacrifice this life for the one to come.
Chris Connally
Romans 8:28
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