The Persecuted: Are We Next?!
The purpose of this article is to promote a prayerful discussion about the possibility of increased persecution cutting into our own slice of the world – “the land of the free” while helping us remember our persecuted brethren according to Hebrews 13:3.
Economic, political and social tempests may already be tracking toward the “perfect storm” of societal upheaval in America.
Imagine
Circumstances are extremely challenging for all … and worse yet for the Body of Christ. The secular and “religious” alike have blamed Christians for the onset and development of terrifying troubles at home and abroad. In your city, the threat to life and limb is such that the vast majority of pastors prayerfully determine it is best for their congregations to morph – almost overnight – into thousands upon thousands of micro-churches that must meet in homes.
The Persecuted: Will We Become Them?
Infamous maltreatment of Christians throughout the world is a widely recognized reality that varies from severe persecution (e.g. N. Korea) to minor inconveniences (e.g. America).
A Chinese proverb popular among persecuted Christians states, “If we appear as a small group of ants we will probably be ok, but if we begin to look like a colony we must beware of the feet that will stomp on us”. –For the foreseeable future it seems best to us and the Holy Spirit to walk with the wise in this way.
Are We Ready for Such a Time as This (Hypothetical?) Scenario
All Christian media has been shut down. When the Internet is up every Web page and email goes through exceptionally sophisticated government filters. There is no way to disguise your IP address or anonymize your activity.
Questions:
Are there enough Biblically literate, relationship-based, experienced disciplers to serve thousands upon thousands of House Churches necessary to meet gathering-in-safety requirements?
Who will risk hosting and/or leading these new “home groups” in your city? How small should our groups be so as not to draw undue attention?
How much time should we allow before the next person comes or goes to avoid detection?
If an unrecognized person spots us approaching the meeting place, shall we continue to our destination or go back the way we came?
What was the name of that church down the street from yours?
How many people in our own church invested in authentic friendship with others?
Is This Beijing Where There are Thousands of Salvations Daily ... or is it Orange County?
Evangelism has not stopped, it has simply taken on a new shape – and increased! Spontaneous, exponential, expansion of the Church now accurately describes how the Lord has been adding to the Church daily! -Large numbers of believers become stealth evangelists when under persecution. However, enough qualified leaders cannot be found.
We need to develop secret, intensive, fellowship and training centers even as it is increasingly risky to gather regularly and continue in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. Add new believers to the equation and the amazing has become somewhat perplexing. More grace Lord; send help Lord!
The authorities will locate some of us. After severe beatings they will offer safety in exchange for information - especially related to pastors and leaders - including those in our hastily formed House Churches. They will threaten to relocate us to another city that has already been eradicated of Christians with the intent of exiling us to a place of social and relational rejection and isolation.
Many of us will be arrested, abused, beaten, imprisoned and some – killed, but the Church will not die. In fact, it growing like crazy! In God’s economy, persecution often has that effect. We pray like never before. Jesus is the Head of His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it!
The author of Hebrews posed this question to the Church of his day, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Thank God for His timeless answer:
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Are we next?
P.S. Part of the purpose of this article is to help us remember those throughout the world that are severely persecuted. The foregoing examples are occurring today. Whether we "are next" or not, let us take heart notes ...
... to remember them (in prayers and acts of kindness – JFB). that are in bonds, as bound with them (by virtue of the unity of the members in the body under one Head, Christ – JFB); and them which suffer adversity (Greek, “are in evil state – JFB), as being yourselves also in the body (and so liable to the adversities incident to the natural body, which ought to dispose us the more to sympathize with them, not knowing how soon our own turn of suffering may come. – JFB) Hebrews 13:3
JFB = Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary
Economic, political and social tempests may already be tracking toward the “perfect storm” of societal upheaval in America.
Imagine
Circumstances are extremely challenging for all … and worse yet for the Body of Christ. The secular and “religious” alike have blamed Christians for the onset and development of terrifying troubles at home and abroad. In your city, the threat to life and limb is such that the vast majority of pastors prayerfully determine it is best for their congregations to morph – almost overnight – into thousands upon thousands of micro-churches that must meet in homes.
The Persecuted: Will We Become Them?
Infamous maltreatment of Christians throughout the world is a widely recognized reality that varies from severe persecution (e.g. N. Korea) to minor inconveniences (e.g. America).
A Chinese proverb popular among persecuted Christians states, “If we appear as a small group of ants we will probably be ok, but if we begin to look like a colony we must beware of the feet that will stomp on us”. –For the foreseeable future it seems best to us and the Holy Spirit to walk with the wise in this way.
Are We Ready for Such a Time as This (Hypothetical?) Scenario
All Christian media has been shut down. When the Internet is up every Web page and email goes through exceptionally sophisticated government filters. There is no way to disguise your IP address or anonymize your activity.
Questions:
Are there enough Biblically literate, relationship-based, experienced disciplers to serve thousands upon thousands of House Churches necessary to meet gathering-in-safety requirements?
Who will risk hosting and/or leading these new “home groups” in your city? How small should our groups be so as not to draw undue attention?
How much time should we allow before the next person comes or goes to avoid detection?
If an unrecognized person spots us approaching the meeting place, shall we continue to our destination or go back the way we came?
What was the name of that church down the street from yours?
How many people in our own church invested in authentic friendship with others?
Is This Beijing Where There are Thousands of Salvations Daily ... or is it Orange County?
Evangelism has not stopped, it has simply taken on a new shape – and increased! Spontaneous, exponential, expansion of the Church now accurately describes how the Lord has been adding to the Church daily! -Large numbers of believers become stealth evangelists when under persecution. However, enough qualified leaders cannot be found.
We need to develop secret, intensive, fellowship and training centers even as it is increasingly risky to gather regularly and continue in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. Add new believers to the equation and the amazing has become somewhat perplexing. More grace Lord; send help Lord!
The authorities will locate some of us. After severe beatings they will offer safety in exchange for information - especially related to pastors and leaders - including those in our hastily formed House Churches. They will threaten to relocate us to another city that has already been eradicated of Christians with the intent of exiling us to a place of social and relational rejection and isolation.
Many of us will be arrested, abused, beaten, imprisoned and some – killed, but the Church will not die. In fact, it growing like crazy! In God’s economy, persecution often has that effect. We pray like never before. Jesus is the Head of His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it!
The author of Hebrews posed this question to the Church of his day, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Thank God for His timeless answer:
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Are we next?
P.S. Part of the purpose of this article is to help us remember those throughout the world that are severely persecuted. The foregoing examples are occurring today. Whether we "are next" or not, let us take heart notes ...
... to remember them (in prayers and acts of kindness – JFB). that are in bonds, as bound with them (by virtue of the unity of the members in the body under one Head, Christ – JFB); and them which suffer adversity (Greek, “are in evil state – JFB), as being yourselves also in the body (and so liable to the adversities incident to the natural body, which ought to dispose us the more to sympathize with them, not knowing how soon our own turn of suffering may come. – JFB) Hebrews 13:3
JFB = Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary
Tags: 13:3, Frontline, Hebrews, Resources, faith, for, imprisoned, martyrs, persecuted, persecution
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ernie Morones on -
Something about persecution that makes us bolder in the faith. As soon as the apostles faced persecution they went out and continued to both teach and preach the gospel. We as Americans have never faced such persecution as our brothers and sisters through out the world. I don't think it will happen here to be honest, let me put it this way and again its just my opinion which really means nothing. What bombs couldn't do to this country the economy has, what persecution couldn't do complacency is. We trusted in other things and turned our hearts away from the true and living God, as the church we have given way to doctrines of demons that focus more on being a better you rather then denying you and taking up our cross and following him. I remember sitting and listening to John Wimber talk about spiritual warfare, and the need for Christian's not to give way to the lust of this world. I wonder how his message would be received today? I do know that without a doubt these are the last days, and we are living in a time where others only dreamed of. I pray that we as the bride of Christ will repent from alot of what we call a new gospel. Yes we probably could use a little more persecution here in America. Sorry if anyone doesn't agree with me however I did say its just my opinion.. in his grip. Ernie
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Permalink Reply by Karen Flaherty on -
Hey, Ernie,
I hear what you are saying. There does seem to be sort of a laodicean attitude in many Christian circles.
There doesn't seem to be much of a flame that needs extinguishing. It's definitely time for all of us to be on our knees.
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