The last several posts have been about church, worship, and living in a manner that honors Christ. That is EASY to do in America. Yet across the world our brothers and sisters in Christ are being killed for one reason… they are Christians. I found this article last week and it reminded me to pray for Christians who are suffering in ways we can’t imagine. Below are some quotes and you can click here to read the article.
Egyptian Maher El-Gowhary and his 15 year old daughter Dina never pray twice at the same church, never stay longer than a month in any one apartment. They are constantly under threat, always on the run because they converted to Christianity in a largely Muslim country.
They tell their story out of fear and desperation. Born Muslims they chose to convert to the Christian Church after both claim they had religious visions. Now Maher says “Muslims try to kill us, and will kill us if they find us.”
Several religious fatwas have been issued for “spilling his blood” after Maher asked an Egyptian Court to legally recognize his conversion, so he can one day be buried as a Christian and so his daughter won’t be forced into a marriage by her Muslim mother. The court ruled a legal conversion to Christianity would threaten public order. In some cases authorities turn a blind eye to attacks on Christians, in other cases there is evidence police sparked the attacks.
Now… how should Christians in America view the lives of our brothers and sisters who are being murdered? Consider the following…
It is God’s will that some Christians die for their faith in Christ (Phil 1:29; Rev 6:9-11).
Pray for those who are being persecuted (2 Thess 3:1-3).
Identify closely with those who are persecuted (Heb 10:32-34).
Have a Biblical perspective of joy in the midst of suffering (Mt 5:11-12; 2 Cor 1:7; 1 Pet 4:13-14; Col 1:24).
The God who answers prayer is powerful. We may not know their names or the situations they are in, but we can pray for them to be strengthened… protected… and (If it is God’s will for them to be martyred) to glorify God in their death.