Dr. Tom White, director of Voice of the Martyrs, gave an incredible presentation this past Sunday about the persecuted church worldwide. He reminded us from 1 Corinthians 4:9, that it’s our persecution and suffering where God most powerfully uses us as a “spectacle” to this world. In context, Paul in 1 Cor 4:9 was talking about himself and the other apostles, and how they were being paraded around as fools. They were despised and harassed, beaten and tortured, under the threat of death–and yet in their constant weakness, God was revealing his glory to entire Roman empire.
So it is today that the gospel moves most aggressively and dramatically where Christians are willing to suffer for His name. And we saw that in the rain forest of Laos, and the forest clearings of Russia, and the darkened cellars in North Korea—where huddled secretly in groups of 5, 10 and 20 are some of the most beautiful and vibrant churches of all the world
Over lunch with Dr. White, he posed a really interesting question. He quoted Hebrews 13:3 “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” And here’s what he asked: “Dihan, did you ever think that the remembering was also for our sake–not just for theirs? Have you considered how the persecuted church leads the free church into greater boldness and fervency for the Lord?” He let me ponder this for a bit before he added: “It’s not simply they need us, but we desperately need them.”
I never thought of it that way before. You figure that the author of Hebrew is exhorting the free church to remember the persecuted so we could advocate on their behalf, provide material assistance, and at the very least–pray. And surely this reading is true. But what Dr. White was implying was also true. We’re called to remember for our own sake, so that vicariously we would be on the front lines. We could see through our persecuted brothers’ and sisters’ eyes how the gospel is advancing on enemy territory. Remembering and praying for the persecuted church naturally emboldens us to take the gospel to our cubicles and office suites. Knowing that there are brothers and sisters who find Jesus so precious that they would shed possessions and blood powerfully impresses upon how the all surpassing worth of Jesus Christ.
So remember the saints in chains. Remember our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Go to www.persecution.com and sign up for a free monthly newsletter. Remember not just for their sake–but for our own.
Dihan
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