The Persecuted Church

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) The impact of these words spoken by Jesus, are possibly a bit lost on us today. But when Jesus spoke these words, the significance of these words would have been quite clear. In Jesus’ day, it was a common sight to see condemned men carrying their crosses through the streets to the place of execution. Jesus was saying, to follow him can be costly.

Living in twenty first century Britain, we face little or no opposition as Christians. We are free to practice our faith without fear or intimidation. But for many Christians the reality is very different. In the twentieth century more Christians died for their faith, than in the previous 19 centuries combined, and for millions of Christians around the world, persecution is part of the daily reality of life. And by persecution I mean a situation where people are repetitively, persistently and systematically inflicted with grave or serious suffering or harm and deprived of their basic human rights because of their faith.

In 1 Corinthians 12:26 Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe the church, and he says that “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” And our Gospel reading reminds us that we have a duty to support our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and that failure to do so will result in judgement.

In many countries where Christians are a minority group, they find themselves vulnerable to abuse and injustice of many kinds. They are often discriminated against, with no hope of redress, to violence with no hope of protection.

Pastor Daniel

Take for example Pastor Daniel. He and his wife run a home for orphans in India. Along with their own four children, they care for 20 Dalit ("untouchable") children.
A converted Hindu, he has experienced severe persecution from fundamentalist groups opposed to his Christian activities.

Since 1995, he has been severely beaten and left for dead, and his house stoned by violent mobs who once besieged his home for 15 days.

To date, the police have failed to arrest those responsible and in fact arrested Pastor Daniel once, on trumped-up charges.

Pastor Daniel and his wife have been ordered to leave the region by Hindu extremists, or be killed.

Rahmet from Ethiopia

Next there is Rahmet from Ethiopia. She became a Christian at the age of 15, but when her Muslim family found out of her new faith they were enraged, and have disowned her, as have many of her friends. Rahmet now lives with a Christian family.

Yousif Matt from Iraq

Yousif Matty has led many Muslims to Christ. The church that he founded in 1992 has over a 1000 members, most of whom come from a Muslim background. Yousif has received hundreds of death threats, and his Christian bookshops have been attacked.

Since the invasion of Iraq three years ago, the situation for Christians has worsened. Earlier this year Christians in Iraq were by Islamic extremists that that they must either leave, convert to Islam or be killed. The aim of these extremists is to cleanse Iraq of every last Christian, and to a certain extent they are succeeding as many Christians have fled to neighbouring countries.

Sarah from Uzbekistan

Sarah was the first person in her hometown to become a Christian. She shared her faith with friends and neighbours, and a church of 300 was soon established.

However, after spates of heavy persecution, many of the new converts were too frightened to attend church. Sarah herself was kidnapped by a Muslim and forced into marriage. She is forbidden to visit her Christian friends, and on many occasions she has been pelted with stones when walking through the streets.

SHOW SLIDE These are the stories of just four people, but it is estimated that up to 200 million Christians in 60 countries world wide are facing similar persecution and discrimination on the grounds of their religious beliefs.

Psalm 31

Our first reading this morning was composed by King David. In his own life David had to face many trials, the times in which he lived were fraught with uncertainty and violence. In the psalm he talks about being pursued by his enemies. The experiences that David writes about in this psalm, are similar to the experiences many Christians around the world face. Being pursued by their enemies, living in times of trial and uncertainty. For example, we have seen the rise of a very militant form of Islamic extremism. In Nigeria, where there is a large Muslim population 270 churches were burnt to the ground last year, and in one horrific attack 20 Nigerian Christian children were burnt to death when the bus they were travelling in was attacked. Other Christians are having to face discrimination of an institutional, legal and employment nature, or are finding their rights to practice their religion suppressed.

In the psalm David describes how his experiences, left him distressed and anxious. He describes how he was scorned by his neighbours, and forgotten by his friends, who treated him as though he were dead. And the burden for Christians living with the threat of persecution is similarly great.

But throughout the trials David had to face, his trust remained in the Lord. David was conscious of the fact that God was ultimately the one in control. He said, “I trust in you, O Lord, I saw, ‘You are my God’.

David’s confidence was based on his understanding that God is a righteous God, and that he is concerned with justice. He trusted in God’s unending goodness, whose abiding presence offers support and encouragement even when we are faced by great hardships. Paul who similarly faced similar hardships, writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” He was able to say this, because his confidence was based not in men, but in God whose faithfulness endures for ever, and he knew that his future and his destiny lay in God’s hands.

In Exodus 3:7 we read that God hears the cries of his people, and is concerned with their suffering. Which is why, David is able to end the psalm with these words, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:29)

What I find so striking about hearing stories of Christians under persecution, is the strength of their faith, and their confidence in God’s goodness and justice. It is also striking that where the church is seeing some of it’s greatest growth, is in those places where Christians are facing the most opposition. Where does the confidence and joy of these Christians come from? It is based on the knowledge that they are suffering for Christ. In the 1st letter of Peter, he writes, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

What is the main message that Christians who are suffering take from Psalm 31. I believe it is David’s message urging us all to be strong and to take heart, to wait expectantly for the Lord to bring justice for those who have put their trust in him. These are not glib words, but come from one who himself experienced extreme suffering, yet clung faithfully to the Lord and eventually saw him work.

So what should our response be to the suffering of other Christians?

Four main responses:

1. Pray for our Christian brothers & sisters who are facing persecution
2. Pray for those who are persecuting the, in Matthew 5:44 Jesus said “ “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
3. Support them with our gifts – many of these Christians suffer extreme poverty, and rely upon the support other Christians can give them.
4. We are to stand with those who are oppressed. Proverbs 31:8-9—“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”