February 19, 2019 – Click here to listen
A friend of mine and I are going through the book of Philippians chapter by chapter each morning. When we first began our study of this book he wrote: “I’m not quite the biblical scholar you are, and because as a catholic I think I was shorted on biblical knowledge I looked up the backdrop for Philippians . . . sounds like Paul was the kind of guy to make lemonade out of lemons – or as some of us say he was the eternal optimist – preaching contentment while in prison in chains? Impressive! While I think today . . . very few people actually physically suffer for their faith . . . I think people need to understand that the circumstances that they are in do not need to dictate who they are – and I as I like to say, you see the character of a person when they are walking through fire – so for Paul to be content while in chains? Wow!”
Then he listed the verse that God spoke to him about this chapter: “Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him.” And he wrapped it up by saying, “So my sense is God is with us during the good times and the bad times – I’ve always struggled because during the bad times is always when I reach out and ask for Gods help . . . but during the good times? Too often we kind of put God aside in our lives and say, “I’ve got this” and will get back to home when times are tough again.”
My friend is wrong about his statement, While I think today . . . very few people actually physically suffer for their faith . . . Christians are the most persecuted people group in the world today. They are being raped, tortured, burned alive, beheaded, imprisoned, enslaved, and their churches destroyed.
Every month:
255 Christians are killed
104 are abducted
180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage
66 churches are attacked
160 Christians are detained without trial and imprisoned
According to Open Doors
215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution in the countries on the World Watch List. This represents 1 in 12 Christians worldwide.
North Korea is ranked #1 for the 17th consecutive year as the most dangerous country for Christians.
During the World Watch List 2018 reporting period: 3,066 Christians were killed; 1,252 were abducted; 1,020 were raped or sexually harassed; and 793 churches were attacked.
Islamic Oppression fuels Christian persecution in 8 of the top 10 countries.
These are our brothers and sisters in Christ!!!
Here in the United States persecution exists in the early stages. People are being subjected to devastating lawsuits resulting in financial ruin, losing their jobs and businesses, receiving death threats, and public humiliation all because they follow Christ and the Bible. In Canada today one can be imprisoned for merely reading the Bible verses dealing with homosexuality from the pulpit.
My friend picked up on this verse: “Here is what He has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in Him. You must also suffer for Him.” We are assured that there will be no shortage of martyrs in heaven. The attitude of Christians in America is far different from those elsewhere in the world. At the moment we are free to worship, but too many take that good news with a grain of salt. Is this the classic definition of what my friend referred to as seeking God only during the bad times and ignoring Him in the good?
The Bible is clear that as we move closer to the End Days Christians will be persecuted as never before. Christ suffered and many in His church will suffer for Him. While in prison Paul wrote: For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. He explains, For I am hard-pressed between the two. – Having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better . . . Or, live on and produce more fruit for Christ. He opted for living on and producing more fruit for Christ. His faith is inspirational and here it is in another translation:
Phil. 1:21
For to me living means opportunities for Christ, and dying – well that’s better yet! But if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better to live or die. Sometimes I want to live, and at other times I don’t for I long to go and be with Christ. How much happier for me being there! But the fact is that I can be of more help to you by staying!