There are millions around the world who are born again believers. Where I live in America it is not an issue to believe and worship however you chose. There are churches of some kind in every area. Small towns of less than a few hundred people are known to have 8-10 churches. This is the norm in America. However, when you begin to look around the world you will find many countries where Christianity is prohibited. In China it is allowed, but only under government supervision. China is officially an atheist nation and Christians are living under persecution.
On February 2, 2018 a new law went into effect that will impose heavy fines on organizers of unofficial religious events and prohibit them from carrying out basic functions like receiving donations, providing religious information online, or teaching children. If you are a registered church, you are watched carefully. Suvaliance cameras are installed in your church where your teachings are recorded and monitored. The churches are prohibited from preaching or teaching certain passages in the Bible. Such as, the story of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel is ordered to worship the king, but instead he worships the true and living God. This biblical account would be considered propaganda against the government. To teach this lesson could cause the registered church to be closed and the leaders could be fined heavily, or imprisoned.
This type of persecution has caused the church to grow. It is estimated that in China alone there are more than 115 million Christians and the vast majority are involved in underground churches. This type of growth, due to persecution, is not new. In the book of Acts, we find the message of salvation spreading greatly because of persecution.
In Acts 8:1-8, persecution is rampant and as Christians run for safety the church is spread abroad and growing.
Act 8:1-8 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.”
This rapid persecution caused the church of Jesus Christ to grow at a much faster pace than it had before. Persecution tends to promote the very thing it is designed to destroy. Below are a couple of testimonies of those under persecution today.
“One of my biggest fears is that the secret police would come one day, and they would rape me,” a female house church planter in Iran told The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. A former Muslim said she is high on the secret police’s wanted list. However, her feelings now are different. “After years of being a Christian, God gave me peace and took my fear away.”
“We are being hunted in many regions of the Middle East. These are some of the most violent places on earth toward Christians. Religious zealots are all around us, seeking out kafir “infidels” – those who have turned to Jesus Christ. We persevere, nonetheless, even while threatened. On any given day, we could be taken from our friends and family, and be imprisoned, beaten, raped, or killed. We are surrounded by tens of millions of Muslims, devoted to Sharia Law which mandates that those who turn away from Islam must be punished and killed. But God and your prayers sustain us.”
These Christians truly understand putting God first in their lives. They know what the psalmist was talking about in Psalm 44:22.
Psalm 44:22 “Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Every article and testimony I read about those meeting secretly to worship, focused on two things. 1) they were committed to staying true to God and exalting Christ even unto death, and 2) they begged for our prayers more than anything else.
How can those of us who live in countries where we have the right to worship, as we chose, continue to sit by while many around us don’t know of the saving power of Jesus Christ? Are we so blessed we have forgotten what we have been called to do? We are to tell and teach others of this wonderful Savior that offers eternal life.
Does God need to allow persecution to be inflicted upon us for us to get serious about our relationship, and service to Him? Are you prepared to stand for Christ even if it means prison or death? What are your actions teaching your children about your faith? Do others know that your time of worship comes before ANYTHING else?
Your actions always speak louder than your words. If you wait until persecution comes to determine how you will respond you only have a 50/50 chance you will make the right decision. Are you willing to take that kind of chance with your eternal soul and the eternity of your children? Get serious about seeking and serving God. Determine how you will stand and start living that way today. Your eternal life depends on it!
