How Strong is Your Faith?

Persecution of Christians still exists today. According to one recent estimate, 100 million Christians presently face persecution. These persecuted Christians live in countries, such as North Korea, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, India, Nigeria, and China.

Christianity gained its foothold in the Roman Empire, a vast area that included Palestine. The first known martyr of Christianity was Stephen, a leader in the early church, who was stoned to death by a mob in Jerusalem in 35 A.D. Peter and Paul were executed by the Romans under Nero during the period 64-67 A.D.

When, following the great fire in Rome in 64 A.D., some Romans accused Nero of having ordered the burning, he sought to deflect blame from himself to the small Christian community. The historian Tacitus wrote that "to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations called Christians by the populace."

Here are a few examples of Christian persecution occurring in today’s world:

Two failed bomb attacks on churches in Jos, Nigeria, have magnified the fears of Christians in the region. On Sunday, March 20, a bomb exploded prematurely, killing three men who were carrying it toward two churches. The intended targets were worshipers at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the nearby Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)

Four years after the brutal murders of three Christians at a publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, attitudes toward Christians in Turkey have become even less favorable. According to a new report from the Turkish Association of Protestant Christians, the Christian minority in Turkey suffer discrimination, slander, personal attacks and attacks against churches on a daily basis.

Six Christians leading a service at a nursing home in Uzbekistan on March 13 were detained by police and charged with resisting police orders and violating procedures for conducting a meeting. The Baptist Christians were leading Sunday worship at the “Kindness” nursing home in Ohangaron City when police raided the service in an “anti-terror operation.

Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani spoke out against Christianity and evangelism during a recent religious class at the Islamic seminary in Qom, Iran. On Wednesday, March 9, Khorasani stated, “People [in Iran] have become Christians, and Shiite youths are being misled by Christianity.” His statements were published on the government website “Ayandeh.”

Right now, Asia Bibi, a Christian woman in Pakistan, is sentenced to die for blasphemy.

Jesus expects us to be faithful to Him, no matter the circumstances and no matter the consequences. The Greek word for faithful is “pistos,” which literally means trustworthy, faithful, or believing. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines “faithful” as: True and constant in affection or allegiance to a person to whom one is bound by a vow, be ties of love, gratitude, or honor, as to a husband, a prince, a friend; firm in the observance of duty; loyal; of true fidelity; as, a faithful husband or servant.

History has shown that it can, at times, be difficult to be a Christian. In fact, Christianity can sometimes even turn deadly. What if you were faced with the decision to either deny Christ and live or remain faithful to Christ and die? What would you do?

Scripture Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:14;Romans 14:9;Revelation 2:10

Let's pray:

Father in Heaven, ever-living source of all that is good, keep me faithful in serving You. Help me to drink of Your Truth, and fill my heart with His Love so that I may serve You in faith and love and reach eternal life. Keep me in Your presence. Let me never be separated from You and help me to do Your Will. Amen.

Have a blessed day,

Theresa