The daily assaults on the Church will not destroy the Church, but strengthen the Church. The recent attack in Iraq that left more than fifty Christian worshippers dead, the daily attack on Christian ethics and practices throughout the world and the harmful words spoken daily against the Gospel demand our prayers.
The Voice of the Martyrs lists these nations as Restricted Nations (''government policy or practice prevents Christians from obtaining Bibles...anti-Christian laws lead to Christians being harassed, imprisoned, killed or deprived of possessions or liberties"):
Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Comoros, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.
The VOM lists these nations as Hostile Areas ("governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are persecuted by family, friends, neighbors or political groups"):
Chiapas (Mexico), Colombia, Ethiopia, Gaza and the West Bank, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mindanao (Philippines), Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
"For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18
I am excited about the challenges and means by which the Church can support and encourage the persecuted. Through business venues and missions opportunities, the Church truly can exemplify the name of Christ as we allow the brokenness of persecution to more fully display the love and grace of the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment