Persecution

On Tuesday 27th June 2006, four house church leaders in the province of Sichuan, China, were arrested and assaulted after pleading for the release of 14 members of their church at a local police station. Four weeks later the four pastors, Mr Li Ming, Mr Wang Yuan, Mr Li Mingbo and Mr Jin Jirong, were sentenced to two years of ‘re-education’ through hard labour at the notorious Langzhong Detention House. Punishment of prisoners detained at Langzhong has included public humiliation, beatings and other forms of torture. (Click here for further information)

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.”  

Prayer is one of the most important tools we can use to help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling against terrible injustice. We believe that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can even ask or imagine, and from the testimony of many Christians around the world we know that amazing things happen when we unite together in prayer.

This is the amazing truth: when we sacrifice our time and energy to pray for those who suffer for their faith, we will discover a deep source of inspiration and receive countless blessings in return.

Therefore as you read this devotional today, please join in praying for these four pastors, that God would make them strong, firm and steadfast, and provide for their release.

In Britain we are highly unlikely to face severe persecution for being a Christian, but many Christians around the world have to live every day with the real possibility of undergoing physical abuse and injustice. Take a few moments now to think of what you would lose and what you might gain if your freedom was taken away. Thank God for the freedom of worship and expression that we have in this country. Do we take them for granted?   

 1John 3:13-18 “Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

With the freedom that we have been generously given, how could you love your neighbour today, or lay down your life for a fellow Christian who is being persecuted because of their faith?

Lord, let justice flow like a river.  

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church happens this year on 19th November. Maybe you could join with Christians around the world on that day praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith.

You can get further information about the IDPPC, the persecution of Christians in different countries of the world, and how to pray and protest, from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors UK and The Barnabas Fund.