Remember....and Pray

Some time ago “Christianity Today” Magazine listed as its top news story for the year the worldwide persecution of Christians. I am glad someone has taken notice of this problem. Fortunately, our government has also. The U. S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning the persecution of Christians around the world. Following many whereas clauses, it concluded with “Be it resolved that the Senate strongly recommends that the President expand and invigorate the United State’s international advocacy on behalf of persecuted Christians and initiate a thorough examination of all United State’s policies that affect persecuted Christians and...appoint a White House Special Advisor for religious persecution…“ 

However, it is going to take more than internal resolutions to slow the pace of persecutions in the world’s most populous nation: China.  The U. S. has already extended to China “most favored nation” trade status in spite of their miserable record of abuse of human rights. The Central Committee of China’s Communist Party still views Christianity as a “principal threat” to political stability. Many house churches in Wenzhou, where government statistics say over one half million evangelical Christians reside, have been blown up. In Shanghai over 300 house churches were closed by the government, and warrants have been issued for the arrest of over 3,000 Christian pastors nationwide. A high ranking Communist official in Beijing made a profound observation: “If God had the face of a seventy year old man we wouldn’t care...but He has the face of millions of twenty year olds, so we are very worried.” 

We have learned long ago that we can’t depend on resolutions or governments to do our “job” for us. Our job is to remember our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith in Jesus and lift them up to God daily (Hebrews 13:3).  They are depending upon you—their free brothers and sisters—for encouragement and prayer that the gospel, which no man can chain, will continue to grow in power among them. Please don't’ fail your family members behind the bamboo curtain.

 

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