Persecution of Christians is on an upward surge. In parts of Africa, specifically Nigeria, The Republic of the Congo, and other parts. The attention to the genocide of Christians in Nigeria in particular has made headlines, with little intervention. I am grieved thagt we are repeating the posturing beofre the Holocaust during World War II, where people read Jews were been annihilated in Germany and did nothing. Now our brothers and sisters in Christ are being killed, and the Nigerian President paid a visit to the US and was called out for doing nothing about the Antichristian pogroms being conducted on his watch.
In China over Twenty Pastors of the Underground Churches were rounded up and have been imprisoned. Fervor against our Faith and the Faithful is fever pitch, and yet there is paralysis of what do do. If we do not prioritize our Christian brethren now, what will be do when The Beast rises and persecutes the Church at the end? (Revelation 13:1-29, and Revelation 14:12).
What we can do?:
Firstly we can pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. The Writer of Hebrews admonishes us to remember those imprisoned as if we were so, “Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.” (Hebrews 13:3). Most importantly remember them in pray, for prayer is effectual, “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.” (James 5:16). We must offer up supplications to our Savior, and ask him to help our family in Him who are suffering all over the world, especially in Africa and China at this moment!
The Second thing we can do is raise awareness. Start talking about the Persecuted Church. Bring it up at your Church, and even prayer groups, get people to assemble and draw attention to what is going on in Nigeria! There are plenty of people protesting things that will pass away, but our family in Christ will not pass away, they will be with us in Heaven, tell me do you want to stand beside them in heaven and before God The Trinity, and be guilty of having not done what you could to ease their torments? What if your time comes in your country? Would you like them to be idle and do nothing?! Draw attention to what is going on, apply pressure even and if people buck you, then they will be guilty at Judgement Day, not you!
Thirdly, appeal to your leaders. Write letters, respectful ones, and find a means to contact your government and intercede! Ask them to act, to apply pressure in Nigeria, China, and other countries that are allowing Christians to be persecuted severely. I know this can be scary, but which kingdom do you fear? The Kingdom of this Earth or the Kingdom of God? For forget not what our Lord Jesus Christ said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). I am not saying to do all this out of fear, of course out of love is ideal, but I say wither it be out of fear of Judgement Day or genuine love, act! Do something!
Fourthly, if you know a reputable means to donate money out of what you have, not out of what you don’t have, through organizations to help Christians in persecution, that is another way you can help. I know we live in a cynical age, and I do not advise you just throw your money at any organization or church claiming to help the Persecuted Church in the World. But not helping with funds because you fear it might not get to the real persecuted ones is not a reason either. We do need to be shrewd and find a reputable and honest means to get aid to our brothers and sisters to help get them out or to feed them. Remember how when the Christians in Jerusalem were starving, the Apostle Paul and others raised money form Greek Christians to help them. We can do this for the Persecuted Church, the issue is finding out where to send the revenue that will get to them and be a resource.
Those born in the West have lived in a privileged state as the Church.
We have known favor since Constantine The Great, and even known popularity. This can numb us to persecution, because is feels alien to us. But it will not be so for long, already in the West laws, organizations, schools, and more have been persecuting Christians and their beliefs. Churches have been been attacked and burned down, with recent acts of hostility from protesters. We need to start thinking of the Persecuted Church as all of us Christians now, and that someone simply are more persecuted than others, and we need to who are only in level 1 or 2 persecution help those in levels 3 and 4 who need dire aid! Because one day we all will be in same boat of The Beast’s Level 5 Persecution of every soul that trusts in Christ. Amen.
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