Last week we ended with a quote from Philip James Elliot a Christian missionary
(October 8, 1927 – January 8, 1956) who was one of five persons killed during Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodoni people of Ecuador.
Phillip James Elliot, along with Pete McCully, Edward McCully, Roger Youderian, and their pilot Nate Saint began to search by plane in hopes of finding a way to contact the Waodoni. They found a sandbar in the middle of the Curaray River that worked as a landing strip for the plane and it was there that they first made contact with the Waodoni. They were elated to finally be able to attempt to share the love of Christ with this people group.
After their first meeting, one of the tribes men, whom they called George, lied to the tribe about the men’s intentions. This lie led the Waodoni warriors to plan an attack for when the missionaries returned. The men did return on January 8, 1956, and were surprised by ten members of the tribe who massacred the missionaries.
The persecution of Christians can be historically traced from the first century of the Christian era to the present day. Christian missionaries and converts to Christianity have both been targets of persecution, sometimes to the point of being martyred for their faith.
Fast-forward to the present, and surprisingly it continues. I saw an article in this Sunday's Newsweek magazine, dated November 22, 2020. It said the following; "The persecution and genocide of Christians across the world is worse today than at any time in history, and Western governments are failing to stop it." A study done by "Aid to the church in need", a Catholic Organisation, said the treatment of Christians has worsened substantially in the past two years compared with the two years prior and has grown more violent than any other period in modern times. The writer continues,
"Not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group, but ever-increasing numbers are experiencing the very worst forms of persecution".
The report also examined the plight of Christians in China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Turkey over the period lasting from 2015 until 2017. The research showed that during that period, Christians suffered crimes against humanity, and some were hanged or crucified. This report was released in November 2017, but received renewed attention this week based on research in the countries and testimonies from multiple victims.
We have come a long way since the martyr of thousands of Christians torn by wild beasts and lions in Roman Colosseum.
Vice President of the United States of America Mike Pence, made this remark, "No people of faith today face greater hostility or hatred than the followers of Christ." It is therefore imperitive that we Christians that are fortunately living in the west with more liberty, and privileged, must support and pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in other nations, the 10-40 window, and countries that are aggressively persecuting followers of Jesus Christ.
Christians in the west today are being persecuted by government by being forced to fund programs and provide services for groups and organisations that go against their beliefs. We are denied the right to talk about our faith in public educational buildings and have symbols of our faith removed or vandalized! but, we are still here! From one generation to another the church of Jesus Christ has not been extinguished or become extinct! the light of the gospel still shines brightly! It has been said that Christ was physically involved in the life of people in the first century; when the gospel reached Rome it became a religion; when it reached Europe it became a business; when it reached Asia it went under ground; in the Americas the Gospel was used as a tool of extortion; and when it reached Africa it became spiritual! In spite of all this, it has never lost the power of transforming the lives and hearts of tens of millions of individuals, as the gospel travelled the world, like a ripple in a pond, different cultures were impacted. Jesus said upon this rock (meaning of Peter's name and statement of accknowlegement) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I am convinced the best days yet are ahead for the bride of Christ. In all the persecution there are stories of hope, miracles and extra-ordinary survival.
"We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but not broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us."
While persecuted Saints are going through the worst, the passion and zeal for God will grow from strength to strength, there will be an explosive increase of newly converted Christians worldwide the best of times and the worst of times are ahead of us and it will be a bitter sweet phenomenon the more we are persecuted the more Christianity will increase!
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you”. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, that no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-31) My intention in these final lines is to encouraged, motivate, comfort, edify and inspire you the reader of this blog, we only pass this way once in a life time and the greatest privilege is sacrificial glory to our Lord Jesus Christ a rewarder of those who will not deny him in adversity but stand in suffering and persecution, our hope must never be in this temporary world of woe and decay but in the promised new heaven and the new earth. Not all will grasp this, some will ridicule and others will laugh and scoff at the mention of heaven or hell but Jesus's sheep know his voice and can testify of this spiritual truth which is an eternal reality beyond the grave. So we fear not who can destroy body but him who can destroy both body and soul. If this blog has impacted your thoughts and worldview we welcome your questions or comments we also implore you to make a conscious decision and serve God with all seriousness.
Yours in Christ
Marcel Bruff
Walk Good in Christ
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