Have you ever thought on your way to church that you could be bombed for your faith? When you go out in public do you fear someone asking you to resight passages from the koran? And fear being murdered if you can’t? Do you feel that you must practice your faith in secret to save your life or the life of your loved ones? If you are a United States citizen those thoughts have probably never crossed your mind. That is because you are living with true religious freedom.
For Christians in other countries that is daily life. Some even break the law by serving the Lord. Millions of Christians live their lives never experiencing religious freedom. It is a concept we as Americans often are unable to understand. The honest truth is that we are extremely blessed to live in a country where we are free to practice our religion freely. Any persecution we may face is only a drop in the bucket when compared to many other countries.
Do we really take advantage of this freedom? Are we serving God in every aspect of our life as we are allowed to do by law? Sadly this country is full of “Christians” who are not living up to the religious freedom we have been gifted. Many Americans who claim to be Christians chose to never even attend church services.
That is far different than what you see in other countries. Every Sunday people meet in underground churches in China. Coming together to worship the Lord knowing they could face a prison sentence or worse if caught. Similarly, in predominantly Islamic countries believers flock to churches on Sundays. Knowing that everything they know and love could at any second blow up around them.
It is amazing that believers in other parts of the world are willing to risk their lives to go to Church. Even more amazing is the fact that these Churches are not dying, but growing! From our viewpoint that makes no sense. Who would be willing to share the gospel with others in that environment? What if you shared with the wrong person? They can turn you in and have you sent to prison or worse killed. So is it worth the risk?
These Christians realize the truth of the gospel. First and foremost they understand that the Bible never claims that life for Christ’s followers will be easy. It does not promise that nothing bad will ever happen and blessings always will follow those who believe. In fact, the Bible paints a much darker picture at times.
MATTHEW 24:9
9 “THEN YOU WILL BE ARRESTED, PERSECUTED, AND KILLED. YOU WILL BE HATED ALL OVER THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS.JOHN 15:20
20 DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU? ‘A SLAVE IS NOT GREATER THAN THE MASTER.’ SINCE THEY PERSECUTED ME, NATURALLY THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU. AND IF THEY HAD LISTENED TO ME, THEY WOULD LISTEN TO YOU.2 TIMOTHY 3:12
12 YES, AND EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.
These believers understand the implication of these verses. To truly serve Jesus Christ is to understand that one day you will face persecution. But serving God in times of persecution is well worth the reward of an eternity spent in heaven. For the Bible says that Jesus will acknowledge those who acknowledge him and deny those who deny him on earth.
MATTHEW 10:33-34
32 “EVERYONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES ME PUBLICLY HERE ON EARTH, I WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. 33 BUT EVERYONE WHO DENIES ME HERE ON EARTH, I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.
Not only do they realize persecution comes with being a Christian and that standing against said persecution comes with a great reward. They believe what the Bible says and know that hell is not a joke. Knowing it is not going to be a party for sinners but an eternity of torment and pain.
MATTHEW 25:46
46 “AND THEY WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL GO INTO ETERNAL LIFE.”MATTHEW 13:50
50 THROWING THE WICKED INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
So instead of worrying about their life in this world, they worry about the eternal lives of non-believers. They go out into their towns and cities proclaiming the Gospel. Hoping to introduce them to the same mercy, grace, and forgiveness they know through Jesus Christ. All to save the lost from the awful torment of an eternity in hell. That is the best sacrifice anyone can make in this life.
Can you imagine if Christians in America had this same attitude about their faith? In this country where you have true religious freedom to do anything, you wish in your faith. If we went to church every time the doors were open with no complaints. Maybe our families would be closer and our lives would be better.
If we were not so concerned with what people think of us. Maybe we would be will to share our faith everywhere we went. It is a shame that people in other countries with no religious freedom do more daily for the Kingdom than most “Christians” do all year.
We need to move forward and take advantage of the blessing that is religious freedom. Stop being a cold Christian! Don’t just sit on the sidelines! You have an ability to spread the gospel farther than it has ever gone before just because of where you born! Stop letting yourself get in the way and embrace your true purpose as a Christian! We have no reason to fear for the persecution in this country. For they can only throw out harsh words. Other believers have to face far more than words to spread the gospel. How much more should we be willing to do!
I have not written this to condemn others for not doing enough in the faith. Honestly, I believe this is meant just as much for me as it is anyone else. News stories of church attacks and staggering persecution statics constantly pop up in front of me. Causing me to think about this subject, at least for a moment. But since I do not live that life day in and day out it never changes me.
I pray that is not the case this time. God, I pray you will change me. Help me to remember my persecuted brothers in faith. Cause me to live a life as they do. Always striving to do all I can to further your Kingdom no matter what obstacles that may stand in my way. Not worrying about what will happen to me in this life, only focusing on what lays in wait in the next. Please help me to realize how blessed I am to live in a country with religious freedom and never take it for granted.
I hope you will share in this prayer with me. I truly believe that the religious freedom we have in the US is an overlooked blessing. Hopefully, you now share this belief as well and will help others to see how blessed we are.
Before you go please say a prayer for persecuted Christians. Ask God to be with them and strengthen them. Both physically and in their faith. While they have continued to fight the good fight, they need prayer just as much as we do.
If you have experience living without religious freedom. Please share about it in the comments below. We would be very interested to hear your story.