Persecuted

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12 KJV)

Since I believe the Bible to be God’s word to mankind, I must believe that verse to be true. However, when I look through my life, these persecutions have been very light to this point -- for me. Only in the last few years have I felt myself facing persecution for my Christian beliefs.

Oh, there have been disagreements during discussions, for certain. Both verbal and written. And I’ve felt limited in my speech at times – during attempts at being politically correct. Not until the last few years have I felt that legal action could be the result of my speaking out.

A pastor is arrested for street preaching in Chicago and his wife requests prayer support from a group of friends. A student’s valedictory speech is tossed by the school administration because she mentions Christ’s name and a lawsuit ensues. Is that what persecution means?

Not hardly.

Do you doubt religious persecution in today’s world? Take a look at this Telegraph article entitled “Hanged For Being A Christian In Iraq.” If your father were killed for becoming a Christian, would you repeat that crime?

Just this summer, according to the article, "... Iranian parliament voted in favour of a draft bill, entitled "Islamic Penal Code", which would codify the death penalty for any male Iranian who leaves his Islamic faith. Women would get life imprisonment. The majority in favour of the new law was overwhelming: 196 votes for, with just seven against."

That’s the type of legal action half the world does not face. Here living in Christ Jesus’ name is celebrated openly, without fear of reprisal. Here mosques and churches are within hearing distance of their calls to prayer.

Yet, in other parts of the world, that is not true. In some countries it would be family members seeing to it that a newly baptized Christian dies.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to each of Christ’s disciples, but we do read of James: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (Acts 12:1-2 KJV)

Acts tells us, too, of Stephen: And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59 KJV)

I am so grateful that in my country I am free to worship as I choose. As was my co-worker, a Pakistani Muslim. Though in his birth country, nor a couple of others he’s lived in, I would not be free to do so.

I do wish that organizations such as CAIR would be as supportive of Christians. Wouldn’t that be a kicker?