In 2013, four Christians in Iran received eighty lashes for drinking wine during a communion service. About the same time in Pakistan, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside all Saints Church in the city of Peshawar. 81 people were killed in 120 people wounded. You may remember the attack on a mall in Nairobi back in 2014. Then, the Islamic terrorists made clear that any Muslim could leave. They were there to kill the Christians and the Keynans. In North Korea, Christians can expectation to face prison camps, torture, or death for their faith. In Syria, anti-government rebels have committed crimes against Christians which are so terrible I can’t bring myself to describe in this post. It is estimated that more than five thousand believers were killed because of persecution last year.
I hope those stories and stats cause you to pause. After all, these things are happening to people with which we will spend eternity. For all of the talk of persecution in America, we’ve got it pretty easy at the moment. I’m not saying that there aren’t difficult situations and cultural pressures. But we don’t have imprisonments or bodies dropping on the streets just because a person confesses Jesus as Lord.So how do we think about these things? The book of Hebrews is helpful to us. Some of the believers being written to in that letter were also suffering. The others came alongside them to help and support them. The author writes,
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward (Heb 10:32–35).
Notice the kinds of things these Jewish Christians were going through. He says they experienced public ridicule, verbal abuse, and physical violence (10:32–33). This wasn’t suffering that came simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was Christians experiencing mistreatment, persecution, and violence precisely because they were Christians.
And Jesus predicted this would happen in every age. He said, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (Matt 24:20). Likewise Paul said, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Even in Revelation 6, we read that under the altar were Christian martyrs—those “slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne” (Rev 6:9). Thus, Christian suffering should sadden us, but it shouldn’t surprise us.
But how did some of the other Hebrew believers respond? They became “partners” with their brothers and sisters who were being treated severely (10:33). That word partners is the same word from which we get the term fellowship. The author of Hebrews is saying that these Christians so aligned themselves with those that were suffering that they became partners in it. They became those that participated in a fellowship of suffering.
What does that look like? To begin with, it was an acknowledgment that those being dragged through the streets were their brothers and sisters. When we see somebody being ridiculed as the dregs of society, there’s a temptation to leave that person to endure it alone. We want to distance ourselves from them lest we be dragged into it.
But the Hebrews saw their brothers and sisters and they said, ‘Yes they are of us and we are of them. We are of the same body—the body of Christ. We are Christians. We are the church.’ So they would go to them in prison to care and support them. They publicly joined the shame and suffering of their brothers. This led to their own suffering: “Remember, you had compassion on those imprisoned and ended up joyfully accepting the plundering of your own property” (Heb 10:34). They could do this joyfully because they knew something better was waiting for them in the life to come; namely, God himself (10:35).
So, what about us? Christian suffering only seems to be getting worse. Someone once estimated that there has been more Christian martyrs in the last century than in all of the other centuries combined. How do we respond to the suffering of believers around the world? Two obvious responses come to mind.
1. Identify with Those Suffering
Hebrews 13:3 says we should “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (13:3). Look for ways to publicly identify with persecuted Christians because we are in the same body—the body of Christ. If it were your own parents or siblings or children, you would not hesitate to speak for them.
But remember loved ones, through faith in Christ, these are our parents and siblings and children. The blood of Christ runs thicker and deeper than any blood that runs through our veins. Therefore, even if we end up bearing their reproach ourselves, we must identify publically with the suffering church. Social media and access to politicians give a voice when others don’t. It would be shameful to waste it.
2. Pray for those Suffering
We can call politicians and urge political policies to help in global situations. But ultimately, our hope lies in a King who sits sovereign over all the nations on an eternal throne. So, we call out to him in prayer. Websites and apps like Open Doors and Stratus can give you specific needs for specific peoples and nations. Open Doors even keeps a world watch list of the worst places for persecution of God’s people. These are helpful resources in our information age. But here are three ways you can pray in any circumstance, for any of God’s people who are suffering.
From 1 Timothy 2, we pray for government leaders. We pray for them to be saved and create a peaceful environment in which the gospel may flourish.
Secondly, from the words of Jesus in Matthew 5, we obey Jesus and pray for our enemies. Again, we pray that they hear the gospel and turn from their wicked ways.
Finally, from Acts 4 and the example of the early Christians who were first persecuted for the sake of Christ, we pray for their endurance and boldness in preaching the gospel.
Sunday, November 6, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I can’t think of a better time to begin praying for our suffering brothers and sisters the world. And to begin making it a regular part of our prayer lives until the Lord himself returns, bringing justice for the persecutors and ultimate relief for the persecuted.
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