A Challenging thought...

I thought I would share something that has been a incredible challenge in my walk with God lately. I have made it a point to study the persecuted Church across the globe, and I made a very startling discovery: I think we're one of the few countries that does not experience what most of the Christians in the world experience!
I've been SO challenged to read testimonies of Christians who are suffering; who are counting Christ - alone - as more precious than life, family, belongings. They're living and dying for Christ, every day. They know what it is to fear for the lives of their families, their children.
It's really changed the way I look at life. The little trials I walk through are very small in comparison to the trials and challenges our brethren overseas face. I've been provoked to much prayer for the Church - of which we are a part - that is suffering so greatly for their faith in Christ. Let's not forget them.
I also read a book by Brother Andrew, "Secret Believers", that is excellent, provoking reading. It details numerous very real lives of Christians who are persecuted - and brings reality very close to home.
I hope this isn't too long and boring, but I've been inspired, and challenged, and wanted to share it with you all. Let's pray for our brothers and sisters overseas, and let's let God challenge our hearts by their testimonies. I think we're missing out, because of the comfort and freedom that we enjoy. It has helped me tremendously to widen my world and to realize that for many, following Christ means loosing everything else. Is He that precious to us?

yes jessi...putting things in perspective makes a "trial" here like rebellious teen, wayward spouse, jobs, bills etc. pale in comparison to what the church worldwide experiences daily. I hope we're ready when its our time to choose Jesus or our ____________....

I have asked the question as to why the persecution seen in other countries isn't seen here in the U.S.A. I think part of the answer is because America is a little more civilized in action? Yet, I have been amazed by the passion of those who are persecuted for their faith to the max and wondered what the difference between them and people here are.

I heard a program this week with a guy in India who used to be a hardcore communist who is now a christian. He says the difference is hunger. People here are not hungry for Jesus whereas people in these other lands are because they have nothing to their name but Jesus whereas here we have 'stuff'. That is sobering if you sit back and allow that to sink into your heart.

wow martyr that question hit me at my heart.....

Good challenge, brother. I have to think of Leonard Ravenhill: "How is it the world couldn't get on with the holiest man that ever lived, and it can get on with us?" That's a good question! Quite possibly we're not living lives that radically show the grace of God till it startles the world!

I fear more for those who are not in constant danger of persecution, including myself. It is not that I don't pray for those in immediate physical danger, or acknowledge their constant witness to those around them. They win souls by their bravery, and their committedness to Yeshua, and their willingness to die. All their trust in Adonai is on display hourly, and they do great works, and gain much fruit. They live and die in the moment, and must live their lives deeply and vibrantly, in the constant danger of an open battlefield.

For us in the West, the battle is a more subtle one, and to me, the more dangerous to the pilgrim who walks in it.

The West is a jungle of complicated choices, made all the more difficult by the lack of a good witness being visible, even to ourselves. Who do we influence? Are we even noticed in our fumbling attempts to live a Godly life when there are no barriers to hold us back from doing so?

Yet Adonai has ordained that we live here, in constant danger of drowning in the sea of lies around us. We, who are gifted with wealth, and a full belly, are in far more danger than the loss of our lives.

Those martyrs-in-waiting have an easy path, and perhaps a better life. They say yes or no to life eternal, because that is the question they live in, and are faced every moment with only the simplicity of dying.

If you are raised in the faith, and have only the open choices of yes or no to Yeshua all your life, while being buttressed about with a company of Believers who hold you up day to day, and in whose love and companionship you rest, the choice between your daily life and a possible death is plain.

Here, where there is an abundance of subtle mockery and mildly open jeering, a peer pressure of conformity to small evils, and so little reward in the living of a Messianic life, is it not strange that death because of Yeshua is a thing to be longed for? To long to be so bounded about with a simple yes or no to Yeshua, and to have the comfort and companionship of a family to worry for, and not that they might slip and fall on the path they cannot see clearly, nor even know whether they could withstand a question of belief that results in only a gentle shunning.

Yet what do our young ones face as they enter the world with so much option to sin, because the penalty seems so far away? Not a clear choice between right and wrong, and a yes or no to death, but a tangle of options that all can lead to sin and away from Yeshua, unless you choose the lonely pinnacle of an open belief.

Yet we were placed here in the wealth and ease of the West for reasons we cannot know, not what the effect of our immmediate witness might be, nor whether that witness will noted, and filed away for some future death that will seem all the more lonely and painful for the loss of the life we have had so bountifully. We have instead a struggle with the unseen, moment by moment, and in danger, not of losing this life, but losing eternity.

Q

Not an easier life, since persecution often brings with it poverty, but an easier choice of how to live, with appropriate support systems in place, and a reward of intimacy both with family and community, as well as with Yeshua.

Our smaller towns have good support systems still for following the faith, and walking with Yeshua, and will in time be the first ones to stand up to the more definate persecutions of the faith. And those persecutions will come, and cause the great apostasy that is yet to come, for many with a lightweight commitment to haMeshiach will become evident.

I worry most for the pre-trib rapturists, for their churches promise them no tribulation beyond shunning or less opportunity for wealth will be their portion in future. Such a Western notion, to ignore that there are those who die daily elsewhere in the world, yet be confident that facing such a choice will never be presented to them.

Martyr and Questor these are questions that deserve examining. For those fearing how scripture qualifies a true life in Christ, I would think many should be asking these same questions. So is this bit of scripture somehow nullified due to the religous freedom enjoyed in the U.S.A.? I know it is even possible to sit in church being one who was unsaved, but not knowing it, and asking this very question concerning persecution. How much more pressing should it be among those who know the truth?

The sword of religious freedom does seem to brandish two edges; one good and one bad. To worship freely should be considered a great blessing of the Almighty. However, one edge that we see consistently cutting its way through history is corrupted and in its blindness sees itself the standard. So many will look at the current state of the church in America from which they sit and see the limelight spotlighting the corruption in others while being blind in their very own vision. What Satan has conquered he need no longer attack being that which he has already defeated.

So for the most part, since religion in America enjoys such freedom, the persecution will have to come from a source other than the Govenment (at least for a while longer). What falsly believes itself Christianity should not coexist well with that which represents truth. There should be a great uncomfortableness with those who do not share the common compromise. So as scripture speaks there should be persecution in varying degrees and at varying times for those who would follow in the footsteps of Christ. Not all the churches were persecuted alike. Not all Christians were persecuted by the same people or group and not all were persecuted at the same time, but what is true is that all will be persecuted who are Christ indwelt. Not to make little of the intense persecutions of brothers and sister condemned by foreign government or religious groups bent on their demise, for Christ will richly reward those who have not retreated from such maltreatment, Yet conditions for persecution should be found in a largely religious country like our own. Christianity claims majority status in America. It was in a simialr atmosphere that Christ received his greatest persecution from religious people. Rome did to the Son of Man as Christ's fellow countrymen demanded. It may be that religious freedom for the most part enjoys the refrain of Government because of what is not being stood for. Reverse that and see what happens. It would not take long before government would begin it's effort to silence such contrarians. The true in Spirit cannot stand within or amongst a religious people and not bear some form of consternation caused by their unadulterated message of an uncorrupted Christ. That is not unless those who say they are of Christ are truly of Christ, but if one cannot discern that then evangelism is pretty much dead in America.

Hi all

I've enjoyed the responses on this post and the question to ponder. I personally think that there is a different kind of persicution in the western world, one that is more subtle and hidden in it's aproach. I read once of a christian who was in afganistan years ago who lived through daily persecution and when he came to australia he warned that we were asleep to whats going on with the enemy he felt sorry for us as we as a nation couldnt see what was before us. I think the enemy is the same in every country just different stratigies against the saints. being an ex-soldier my self, i would prefer an enemy that i could see in my sites rather then an assassin hidden with poison that i can not see. I think the western world is under huge attack as laws are being change and the massive decline in moral reasoning. but the thought entered my mind what if all of a sudden in the western world that a gun was pointed to our head with the question "deny Christ or Die" how many would recieve the bullet. Just my own thoughts on the post.

Crusader, one of the many teachings that seems to be consistent on SI from a great many of those who have there sermons archived here deal well with the gun/bullet theory. When put to the test will one deny Christ? Should our attention be on a one time denial that we will most likely never face or should it be gauged by our daily obedience. If one would deny Christ in the small things of day to day living, and then at some point in the future be faced with this life or death question, will their confession offset the daily denial that had become common practice? I imagine Ravenhill would have had a field day with this proposition don't you?

Thanks all for the thought-provoking responses. In reading over all, I was challenged in one area (among many): we don't have very much persecution here in America. That's a fact most of us cannot deny. But then the obvious question that arises: why?
I have to question myself, does MY life shine the radical grace and salvation of Christ, in such brightness and glory that the world is startled? Shocked?
Too often I think the world has nothing to fear in our lives. We're not caught up with God. I can't help but think that if we lived lives that were startlingly real with God, that we might find more persecution than we bargained for.
Just my thoughts. Not trying to condemn anybody or make any strong statements - just walking with you all for the Goal!

Hi Lylewise

i agree totally with what you say, i personaly have had to face many things and deny myself everyday. Some of these things (as a man reasoning) i would have rather faced death then to have gone through but it was my hope in Christ that got me through and knowing my position in Christ. The only person who see's my persecution is God and they have been counted as the marks of him. In saying this that is my race that i may run that one day i have run a good race and go home to the Lord. I believe and have heard the testimonies of many Godly saints in the western world that go through hard things because of their faith. The persecution is their againgst anyone who has Christ because the world hates him. I supose it is more about what we see and what we dont. I do feel for my brothers and sisters who suffer in the flesh and by no means can i fatham what they go through.

Hi Julius21

i do agree, i think these are good posts to chew the cud on. :)

Quote by Jessi:
"we don't have very much persecution here in America. That's a fact most of us cannot deny. But then the obvious question that arises: why? "

The preachers used to say the reason for rampant apostasy in the western world is because of affluence. If the 'church' has become so rich and has the mindset of "I am rich and have need of nothing" why bother? The devil is happy and the worldly church is happy. Leave well enough alone!

Sobering questions asked here on this thread...