We here in the United States have no idea what it is like to live within a country where we have no freedom to openly express our Christian beliefs. We can freely attend church, buy and read Bibles, read and publish Christian writings on the inter net, attend Christian conferences,purchase Christian materials at Bible bookstores, etc. We are incredibly blessed in this way. And most of the time we do not really appreciate it.
About 17 years ago, I had a very brief experience in a country where the people do not have the freedoms that I just mentioned. During the week that we were there a church around the corner from our hotel was closed down and the pastor was put in jail. We were followed to every church we went to the first two nights. After that government officials came to our hotel and forbid us to participate in any more church services. The large open air evangelistic meeting we were supposed to participate in was cancelled, even though proper permits had been gotten. I believe some of the restrictions were put on us because we were a much larger group than they had anticipated and it was too difficult to keep constant surveillance on all of us. There were even men in the lobby of our hotel that kept tabs on us. We had been warned before we entered the country to be careful about what we said even when we thought no one was around.
Before the ultimatum was given concerning not going to any more churches, two groups of us had already left the capital city to go to outlying cities to preach. We were followed, but were not harassed. We had some very good meetings. The people were incredibly hungry for the Word. They crammed into the house church for the meetings, sitting on the floor filling every inch of space, and gathered outside the windows to hear what was being said. Only a handful had Bibles. It was an incredible experience.
The tension we felt constantly while being watched and followed was difficult to deal with and it was just for one week. I can't imagine what it must be like to live like that constantly. Although at that time the church was not severely persecuted, there certainly was not much freedom.
That experience made me much more appreciative of the freedoms I have in this country.
In the coming weeks I will be sharing info about the persecuted church. In the mean time here are a couple of scriptures to ponder in light of the persecution that many of our Christian brothers and sisters are experiencing today.
Hebrews 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
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