Friday, October 30, 2015

Have You Ever Been Persecuted For Your Faith?

Hey Friend,


It troubles me, in this world, how much we persecute each other for differences.  It is pure cowardice that says I can harass you or harm you because you are of a different race, ethnicity, political mindset, religious belief, or just plain different from me. 


Being able to hide behind social media devices contributes to this.  What begins as somewhat innocent name calling, morphs into bullying, and in it's grossest form can be what starts wars.  We don't seem to have learned much from history either.  Unfortunately what we don't remember, we are doomed to repeat. 


I have never been persecuted for my faith.  The worst I received was jeeringly being called "the littlest angel" by mean girls on the cheerleading squad because I hurried off after practice to get to my church youth group meetings.  Lately, however, being categorized as a "Christian" has taken on a somewhat derogatory meaning.  It means I am close-minded, not enlightened, and puritanical. 


Still, I don't fear going to church on Sunday.  I can carry around my Bible in public and no one really cares.  I can wear a cross around my neck or sing off-key to Christian praise music with my car windows down and basically nothing happens.  It's a non-event. I am guilty of taking my religious freedom for granted.


Not so in other parts of the world.  I can't speak for all countries in the Middle East, but I do know of some particular events in Pakistan.  Most of the atrocities are carried out by extremists...but many turn a blind eye.  Christians make up less than 1.5% of the population in this country.  I admit I do not know what it feels like to be such a radical minority.


If you carry around a Bible in public, you can be accused of violating the "blasphemy laws" and be locked in jail and the key thrown away.  You fear going to church or any type of Christian gathering because suicide bombers have showed up and have detonated lethal amounts of explosives on themselves killing and maiming hundreds and thousands. 


A beautiful young Christian couple who refused to denounce Christ as their Savior was forced into a kiln and slowly incinerated inside.  A youth who was asked if he was a Christian, dared to say, "Yes".  He was then doused with petroleum and set ablaze in broad daylight in the city streets.  The authorities did nothing.


"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."  (Matthew 16:25)




 Christians are employed, generally, in the lowest and most menial positions if at all.  Their children work as slaves for other wealthy families because their parents, though they try, can't support them. 


If you are a Christian you live with a target on your back...


Not unlike when the Nazis painted the Star of David symbol on the houses of Jews during WWII, Islamic extremists paint the Arabic symbol for "N" or Nazarene on the fronts of houses where Christians live.

Can you imagine the fear of returning to your home to see this symbol in blood red paint on the front of your home?  I can only imagine that it must be terrifying. I ask myself...would I be willing to die for my beliefs???
 


Sunday, November 1st, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.


I invite you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are persecuted and tortured because they know what it truly means to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. Will you pray with me for them?  Will you pray for an end to the persecution, the hatred, the war that has broken out because the world has failed to follow the Lord's greatest commandment of Love Others As You Love Yourself.

On Sunday, I will be wearing this traditional Pakistani dress, or kameez, with its beautiful embroidery as a symbol of standing in solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world and in Pakistan in particular.

 So what can you do on this day in addition to praying?  You can let a small group of orphaned and destitute children who are growing in their relationship with Jesus and claim Him as their Savior know that Jesus, and others, have not forgotten them.  You can be a messenger of love, and light, and hope that their faith is not in vain...that God does, indeed, care.

I invite you to my "Missions" tab to see how $25 can bring Christmas to these precious and innocent believers in a world where all they see is persecution.  Because of their poverty, this will most likely be the only gift the children of Redeemer Christian School receive this Christmas.  Will you join me in letting them know that Jesus sees them and loves them? (Please send contributions by Nov. 10th).

Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me Lord for the times that I do not love others as much as I love myself.  Be with our world that is filled with prejudice and persecution.  Where there is hate, let me be an instrument of your love.  Be with my brothers and sisters in Christ who are tortured because of their devotion to You.  Heal our hearts and heal our world.  Let me share love with the "least of these" so that they know that they are not forgotten.  Thank you, Lord, for your love and the hope that can only be found in You.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.


Be blessed...

26 comments:

  1. This is an eye-opener, a gentle reminder, Bev ... thank you for being His voice today. May our prayer lives increase because we are touched by the need around us ... far and near.

    Blessings.

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    1. Linda,
      Yes, my eyes have definitely been opened to all the injustices going on in our world. I pray along with you that hearts would continue to be softened....
      Blessings Linda,
      Bev

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  2. Thanks for this post, Bev. And for the prayer, too. Persecution is happening on our home soil as well. May we stand up for those being persecuted. Following you at Barbie`s today.

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    1. Julie,
      Persecution is all around us...including our back yard. Thank you in joining me in wanting to be a voice for those being persecuted.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  3. It's heartbreaking and upsetting that Christians around the world suffer ridicule, mistreatment, and even torture for their faith. I do pray for the persecuted believers in hostile countries, and will gladly join with others tomorrow. I was not aware that November 1st is a National Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Thank you, Bev, for your passionate voice and for keeping us informed.

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    1. Nancy,
      It truly is heartbreaking that Christians are literally being tortured for their faith and the world sits idly by. Thank you for joining us in prayer for the church around the world...and especially for people of true faith that are being persecuted because they will not deny their Savior. May we all have faith like they do...
      Blessings to you sweet friend,
      Bev

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  4. Praying along with you for the persecuted church today, for Christians worldwide as well as in our backyard. Thank you for sharing at Weekend Whispers!

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    1. Barbie,
      Love your heart and thank you for joining in prayer for those who truly need a voice!!
      Blessings to you,
      Bev

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  5. Praying with you, Bev. Thank you for sharing about the persecuted church. Your dress is beautiful!

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    1. Thanks, June, for joining me in prayer for the persecuted church and our brothers and sisters in Christ. I love my dress...it IS truly beautiful!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  6. Bev, I'm a day late but I'll pray. This is a good thing you are doing. You're right I can't imagine what real persecution is like either but before the end of time, if we are still here, we will all know.
    Blessings,
    Christy

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    1. Christy,
      Thanks for your prayers...after seeing what my brothers and sisters in Christ endure now, I truly don't want to be around for the persecution that is to come...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. Thank you for reminding us to think outside our safe borders here and feel the true sacrifices of believers around the world. Thank you for calling us to prayer - on every day - for the God's power and strength to fill each of us, but especially those who know real persecution, who risk their lives for their faith.

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    1. Kathryn,
      You hit the nail on the head when you said that they truly know and feel sacrifice. Sacrifice is a concept that is foreign to most of us. Praying with you for them...for the strength that only God can give.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. Oh, we are truly blessed, and our complaints are weak and thin when we consider what others endure for the sake of the gospel. I needed this reminder to pray for the persecuted church. Thanks, Bev, and blessings on your day.

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    1. Michele,
      I think about the things I complain about each day and they are so petty compared to what others endure. Praise, though, that we have a God who cares about all our needs equally. Thank you for praying for the persecuted church!!
      May you be richly blessed,
      Bev

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  9. Thank you for sharing with us through your own experience that we live in a bubble in the USA. Other countries live in fear daily because they believe in God. I want to say that I will die for my faith but I have never been tested in the extreme. We need to spread an awareness of how other Christians live and understand how to pray intentionally for them. Thank you for these words today.

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    1. Mary,
      We truly do live in a bubble. I wonder that too...am I truly prepared to die for my faith?? Tough question to ponder. Thank you for praying intentionally for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith!!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  10. Wow! What a powerful truth you've shared here, Bev! I am praying with you, Love! Thanks so much for sharing! GOD bless you! :-)

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    1. Tai,
      Thanks for joining me today...so good to have you here! I hope that my words will enlighten others to what is truly happening in our world and give us something positive we can do in response!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. The hard truth is that we do not have a clue what it is like to be in those shoes (for most of us here in the US) and our hearts must be turned towards those who live under the threats, in the fear, and in unknown circumstances day in and day out. I so appreciate you reminding me and teaching me of the symbol painted on the Christians' homes. I did not know that. I am a visual learner and can see, through that symbol, the many who live in that world and need prayer.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda @ BeingWoven
    Visiting from Jennifer's

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    1. Linda,
      That symbol, painted in red, really struck me too! I can't even fathom my home being painted with such...indicating that I am, in fact, a target of evil. Thank you so much for joining us in prayer.
      May you be blessed,
      Bev

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  12. Thank you for the reminder to pray for those who truly ARE persecuted for their faith. You’re right that we can’t compare what small sufferings we have had to theirs. Praying now for their faith to remain strong!

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    1. Lisa,
      I know my petty problems seem so weak compared to what our brothers and sisters in Christ are enduring for their faith. So thankful, though, that God sees and cares about ALL our problems large and small! They do need prayers for strength...thanks!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  13. Bev, thank you for bringing these atrocities to light. Although I hear stories often, there is so much I don't know and to be blatantly honest, sometimes I turn away because it breaks my heart. But ignoring a problem never solves it and although we often feel helpless, there are things we can do. Thank you for empowering us with ways to reach out. Together we can make an impact.

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    1. Abby,
      Before I got involved with Redeemer Christian School, I knew very little about how Christians were treated and tortured in other parts of the world. Yes, I'd heard stories, but didn't know people who actually endured it. It is really stretching my faith. The best news is there IS something we can do to reach out and let them know they are loved and not forgotten...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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