This morning I read about the persecution and murder of a pastor in Africa. According to Morningstar News, a group of Muslim extremists in Northern Uganda killed a pastor who had just finished a radio broadcast. The news report said the pastor had spoken on the radio about the differences between Islam and Christianity, which had angered a lot of Muslims in the area. The news agency spoke with the son of David Omara, the pastor. His son, Simon Okut, said that a person had called his father to commend him on his radio broadcast, and asked him to come and speak to some of his friends. However, when the father and son arrived at the meeting place, they were ambushed by six indivduals who started beating Pastor David Omara immediately. As they beat the pastor to death, his son was able to escape to safety, but was not able to help his father. Simon said that as they beat him, one of the assailants said, “This man ought to die for using the Koran and saying Allah is not God but an evil god collaborating with satanic powers." He continued, "As they were hitting my father with blunt objects and strangling him, I fled to save my life!. Two attackers ran after me but could not get hold of me.”
This is just one of many horrible stories of ongoing persecution of Christians worldwide. The journey I’m about to take you on is hard, especially if you have a sensitive heart. But, I urge you not to be turned away because of the suffering that the people of God at times endure. While on the surface, the martyrs’ testimonies deal with suffering and death, the hidden message is all about life—the life that we as Christians thirst for. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12.
The Bible is rich with accounts of people who suffered for their faith in different ways. We will look at some of these characters at a later date. It is important for Christians to note here, that the Old Testament is a type and shadow of the New Testament; what is concealed in the old is revealed in the new. For example, the millions of killed sacrifices placed on the altar are substitutes for "SIN". Under grace in the new testament Jesus Christ became the substitute for "SIN".
So why are we being persecuted? Why do we suffer? Why are we being killed? Why is it that millions of past, present and future Christians are, and will be killed for their faith?
In the future blog I will attempt to answer these question.
Marcel Bruff
Comments