Ordinary Eve
Persecution
Blessed are the persecuted
“Blessed are the persecuted”. That seems a bit of an easy thing for me to say in my comfortable UK existence where the only persecution I have personally suffered for being a Christian is the odd gibe. But these are the words of Jesus himself during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, vv 10 & 11). And he, unlike me, knew all about persecution. It is something to be expected; Jesus did not say “if you are persecuted” but “when” (Matthew 13.21) and he said to his disciples “if they persecuted me they will persecute you also” (John 15. 20). It is sobering to think that the persecution is due to increase as Jesus’ second coming approaches (Matthew 24, vv 9 & 14).
What is happening?
Although we might be OK here in the West at the moment there is terrible suffering being endured by Christians in other parts of the world. Some facts:-
The organisation ‘Open Doors’ states that no other world religion faces so much suffering as Christianity. Around 90 per cent of all martyrs that die for their convictions are followers of Jesus. 'Martyrs 2006', an annual report on the persecution of Christians published by the German news agency Idea, estimates that annually 90,000 Christians are being murdered. Their research shows that Christians suffer three-quarters of all injuries inflicted on people because of their religious convictions. Of the approximately 2.2 billion Christians in the world, an estimated 10 per cent are being persecuted or intentionally disadvantaged.Where are the worst places for persecution and why?
Every year ‘Open Doors’ publishes a ‘world watch list’ of the world’s 50 worst persecuting countries. In the 2006 list, for the fourth straight year, the isolated communist nation of North Korea remains no 1 of the list. It is believed that tens of thousands of Christians are currently suffering in North Korean prison camps where they face torture and death. Some think the hermit regime has detained more political and religious prisoners than any other country in the world. Saudi Arabia again holds the second spot on the list for the fourth year in a row. Here, a big crackdown has been taking place on Christians worshipping, even in their own homes. In Saudi conversion from Islam to another religion is punishable by death.
Iran is third on the list because the election of the new hard-line conservative president has initiated a new wave of persecution of Christians.
Rounding out the top 10 are Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos and China.
Most of the worst offenders are countries with Communist or Islamic governments, however Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan. Surprisingly countries like Mexico and Columbia also feature on the list. Violence against Christians in India (from No 34 to No 26) seems to be on the rise. Christians are coming under increased pressure – in the form of physical attacks, killings, depiction in the media, threats etc – because of accusations of alleged outreach activities.
In Iraq churches are being targeted frequently by terrorist bombers. Therefore many Iraqi Christians have left the country.
This growing oppression of Christians is directly related to the growth of the Church in African and Asian countries, says Thomas Schirrmacher, one of the authors of the ‘Martyrs 2006’ report. In many of these countries the governments support the traditional religions as part of a nationalistic strategy. 'Foreign' religions like Christianity are regularly being intimidated and discriminated against through the legal system and by force. Sometimes the persecution is not initiated by the state but by individuals and groups with a grudge against Christians or more recently against the West, fuelled by our involvement in the invasion of Iraq.
Often the police turn a blind eye to these injustices. In developing countries it is often the Christians who end up experiencing the greatest levels of poverty and who are given little access to facilities. There have even been reports of Christians being the last recipients in the distribution process of overseas aid and some have been left out altogether.
Our response
Yes, there is always going to be opposition and persecution but this does not mean we cannot do something. If you want to get informed look at the websites of Open Doors (www.opendoorsuk.org), The Barnabas Fund (www.barnabsfund.org), or Christian Solidarity Worldwide (www.csw.org.uk).
Try praying about some of the issues and see what God stirs up in you. You may have a particular country that you pray for, or missionaries that you support who may be experiencing difficulties.
In my case I have ties with some Christians in Southern India and I decided to find out if the organisation that I had worked for out there was experiencing any persecution. I received news back that two pastors who had been working in remote tribal villages had gone to pray with a sick woman. While there they were beaten up by anti-Christian thugs and were unconscious for two days.
As a response we can pray for protection, pray for the persecutors, pray for endurance, praise God that the church is growing, and above all, pray that the Gospel would be preached and that disciples would be made of all nations.
Blessed are the persecuted
Why are the persecuted blessed? Because they will be rewarded in heaven.
Kate Orr
January 2007
