Our weekly bulletin lists prayer requests for specific missionaries and Christian workers each week (in the order of service), and a description of areas of emphasis for prayer for that month.  Some of those workers have the name of their nation removed or given in vague terms (Central Asia, etc.).  One of our missionary couples uses pseudonyms because of the risk of their names and country being associated by mistake.

Many of these workers are working in predominately Muslim countries where there are no missionary visas issued.  If it became known their primary reason for being there was religious, they would likely be permanently expelled from the country. In other cases, there is danger to them personally with being identified as Christian workers in a country.  Even last week three people were killed in Afghanistan by gunmen.  Their faith played a role in their murders.  In India, it is Hindu nationalism that presents dangers for the spread of the gospel.  I want to make a few quick observations about these circumstances.:

Pluralism isn’t the norm

We live in a pluralistic society that is so “tolerant” that there is usually only intolerance for people like us who believe in absolute truth.  We can’t imagine the world where there is legal and social consensus that says you can’t open your religious worship center in town. We can’t imagine a place where you aren’t free to open a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple.  Our world is most comfortable with the idea that whatever is true to the individual is truth.  The experience of our fellow Christian believers in many parts of the world is that of the first century Christian; persecution and hardship is the norm.  Pluralism is the aberration. We should be thankful we have this freedom!

Lost people act lost

Why would people persecute Christians?  Why kill a doctor who, along with his Christian faith and message, is bringing medicine to heal the people of your land?  The Bible makes it clear: people are lost without Christ and blind without the awakening ministry of the Holy Spirit.  They act and live in accordance with their situation.  Blind and lost, they act as people who have no spiritual sight and have lost their way.

Fortunately, many people in those countries don’t have as their first instinct to kill or expel a Christian worker.  Lost though they may be, they welcome these new residents to their towns and appreciate the blessings they bring to the community.  It does require the Christian worker to be very careful about when and how they discuss their beliefs.

Obedience to the great commission involves a cross

There is a cost to following Jesus, especially when it comes to bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth.  Jesus called us to take up our cross daily and follow him.  Whether it is discussing your Christian faith with a friend in the neighborhood, or taking the gospel to a Muslim country, there is a risk and a cost for obeying Jesus in this regard.

A call to intercessory prayer

Lastly, when you see information about “Saleem and Joy in North Africa”, pray for them often. (Saleem and Joy are pseudonyms for Christian workers in a Muslim country.) They love Christ and love the people of the land in which they serve.  They really do care for their physical and spiritual needs.  They live this out in a dangerous context.  They could be expelled from the country in which they serve, or, in the worst case scenario, give their lives for the cause.

Join me in praying regularly for the advance of the good news of Jesus Christ!

In Him,

Don