Bulletin Article
May 5, 2019
As much of the world celebrated
Easter, many people in Sri Lanka went into mourning, for the tragic church
bombings that happened there. Sri Lanka is less than 10% Catholic, and this was
clearly an act of Muslim terrorism aimed directly at Christians on the most
holy day of the year.
But sadly, this type of Christian
persecution is not rare; in fact, it is becoming even more commonplace
throughout the world. Even Newsweek magazine (no friend of Christianity), in a
January article, admitted that “Christian persecution and genocide is worse now
than in any time in history.” But we frequently do not hear about in the West.
The media and many politicians seek
to downplay the reality of Christian persecution. For example, as soon as the
Sri Lanka bombings happened, Barack Obama tweeted that the bombings were “an
attack on humanity” – wait, but wasn’t it almost exclusively targeted at
Christians? He and Hillary Clinton would not even use the word “Christian”,
preferring rather to call us “Easter worshippers” (…but we don’t worship
Easter?...). Many simply do not want to recognize the blatant persecution that
many of our Christian brothers and sisters must face to simply practice their
Faith.
Pew Research Center noted that in
144 countries in the world, Christians are the most targeted religion (consider
that there are currently only 195 countries in the world today). Most of these
Christian-hostile countries stretch from Saharan Africa through the Middle
East. Very few Christians remain in Iraq, which used to be a bastion of Eastern
Christianity. A couple months ago in Libya, a mass grave was discovered with
the remains of over 30 Christians slaughtered for their Faith by Muslim
extremists.
Even more developed countries such
as Bosnia discriminate against Christians for employment and public services.
Of course two of the greatest
offenders are China and North Korea. There are over one hundred million
Christians in China, but most belong to the “underground” (non-state-sponsored)
Churches. These Christians can be detained and put into work camps, their
churches destroyed, their property seized. According to “Open Doors” (an
organization whose mission is to serve persecuted Christians), North Korea is
the most dangerous place to be a Christian, where those who hold to faith in
Jesus are routinely imprisoned and executed.
The driving force behind much of the
persecution, particularly in Africa and Asia, is twofold. First, the rise of
Islamic extremism, which takes literally the verses of the Qur’an regarding
“infidels” (non-Muslims) such as “And slay them wherever ye catch them, and
turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression
are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they
(first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward
of those who suppress faith. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or
oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah.” (Qur’an Suph
2:191-193).
Second, though, is the rise of
Eastern nationalism. Some countries view Christianity as a “western” import, a
remnant of colonialism. Thus, they see expulsion of Christians and Christianity
as a way to purify their people from Western influence.
So what can we do about? Three
things. First, pray for our brothers and sisters experiencing persecution. It
should make us grateful to have the freedom of worship that we enjoy in
America, and we must not forget to pray for courage and steadfastness of faith
for those who suffer for their belief in Jesus. Second, raise awareness. Much
of the Western World is deaf to the trials that our brothers and sisters in
Christ undergo on a daily basis. We must be their voice to a West that does not
want to acknowledge that persecution is real. Third, we must courageously live
out our Faith and evangelize. In America there is a persecution too, but one of
a more subtle kind. Christianity is often mocked by the media, derided by
higher education, ignored by politicians. For Christianity to survive in the
secular West, we must live our own faith with courage and invite others to come
to know the Lord Jesus, too.
Lord, be with those who have
suffered for Your Name!
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