« BEWARE THE SIGNS OF ANOTHER HOLOCAUST | Main | Is South Korea appeasing terrorism? »
Is Persecution the Key to On-Fire Christianity?
By Thea | August 23, 2007
I sit here today and think about a very important issue the church is facing. I believe that today’s church is suffering from severe apathy and complacency. On-Fire Christians are becoming harder and harder to come by. Why? I submit as an answer to this question that Christians are way too comfortable. There is no fire, so why should Christians be on-fire?
In the forefront of my mind is China. The things I read about this country give me instant chills. The government controls everything they do. It’s the government’s way or the highway, and they’re very serious about keeping superiority in place. If you are against the government than you are a criminal; you can find yourself persecuted, imprisoned, and tortured while the government rips your family and life apart.
Unfortunately, (or is it fortunately?) practicing Christianity is against the government. Christians live in fear of their government everyday. So, do they leave China? Cower and deny Christ? No! And that is what I find simply amazing! China’s Christian population is flourishing at an amazing pace! Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the 1.3 billion-people country! Doesn’t that fact surprise and amaze you? Christians in that country have to practice their faith underground, and in the face of possible imprisonment and torture, yet they flourish.
A speaker for Voice of the Martyrs came to my college a couple of years ago. I will never forget some of the things I heard him say or saw on a video he brought with him. Some people had disgusied themselves as from the government and had video cameras. They persuaded some local Chinese police to allow them to accompany them while they “interrogated” some Christians. The police officers were eager to show off their skills and allowed the video camera men to accompany them. What was caught on tape is something I will never forget. One scene had an officer slowly breaking the ankle of a Christian woman while she was gagged with a rag full of oil. Her screams were went unheeded as they punished her for being a Christian. Other scenes on this video I will not mention. They are all sad and horrific. Yet, these Christians are to be admired. They keep their faith in the face of such things, they grow, and they’re on-fire for Christ!
Maybe persecution like the above mentioned is what the church needs to become alive again. History tells us that the church flourished the most when it was being persecuted. I believe one of the biggest strategies the Devil uses is apathy and being too comfortable. Things are heading towards more wide spread persecution around the world and in America. The signs all point towards this. It is scary, but at the same time reassuring. Maybe the church needs a wake up call. Maybe this will be the answer. It looks like persecution may very well be the key to on-fire Christianity.
Christian Persecution, Christian Political Issues, Church in China, Church Issues, World Church
Topics: Church Issues, Political Issues |
