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“Faithful Unto Death” [see PDF file for colored pictures-ETI 3-03] Though politically influenced atrocities seem to get the media spotlight, each month 13,000 people are martyred somewhere in this world! Most of these are Christians. In addition, in 2001 (the latest accurate date), 29,920,000 new refugees were created because of civil war, ethnic violence and religious cleansing.1 Most persecution and death occur in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, China, Iran, Morocco, Libya, Egypt and Algeria.2 Every life snuffed out for Jesus has a story. Every person imprisoned or sent to hard labor has a suffering family. The data noted above mean, on the average, 433 people die each day because of their convictions. Few in North America grasp the solemn import of those lives being tortured. A recent publication: Death by Government by R. J. Rummel, a Jesus warned: “take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten ... and shall cause them to be put to death.” Mark 13:9, 12. Saw Htun Tin, a Burmese backpack medic, was killed a few weeks ago by governmental militia because he was heading to a remote Christian village to help the sick. A grieving wife and four children are left behind.3 [In the center] ... are Hmong Christian believers escaping a jungle fortress in Vietnam because of torture. Gia A Dia was targeted there for his faith, and jailed for 15 days. He only had water and grass to eat (growing on the floor of his cell). When released, the police came into his village and destroyed every home. Here they are moving to another Vietnamese Providence to get away from the persecution. Sung Seo Pao, an evangelist, was first jailed in 1990 for his faith [below]. He was released after eight months. 1995 he was unexpectedly handcuffed in his home, drug to the police station because he listened to a religious radio program and then shared his faith. He was beaten severely. You can see his picture (stripped clothes), the document sentencing him shows he is to be incarcerated for eleven years. What has he left behind – a wife and five children. One of his children was born while he’s been in prison. He has seen her once when mission funds came to pay for the wife’s travel to the prison for a brief visit. How does she survive? By working in the fields each day with two of her children, ages 8 and 9. The converts to Jesus are precious. Many of those are obtained through their own blood as they accept the cleansing blood of Jesus. These believers [to the right] are being baptized, illegally, in a North Vietnam jungle. “Christian Martyr’s Story – The Hidden Stones in Our Foundation. “‘You are of our blood, and unless you return to our traditions, I will take back your blood myself!’ shouted Brother U Maung Than’s uncle, therefore making Bother Than a marked man by his own family in his homeland – Myanmar. “On several occasions, one of Than’s friends tried to visit him to encourage him in his witness in the area of Southern Chin State but was prevented by monsoons, floods and terrible road conditions. “Finally, in March 2002, two Christians named Maung Maung and Kam Lian Ceu were able to reach Than’s area but found out that he had been arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges. “Maung and Kam learned of the seriousness of Than’s case as well as the intense hatred of his faith in Christ: The military dictatorship had used the uncle’s hatred of Brother Than’s faith to sentence him to death. For two days the two men diligently sought permission to visit him in prison but were continually rejected. “On the third day, the military police in that area informed Maung and Kam that if they wanted to meet Than, they would have to go that day. They were ordered not to speak with Than. “Maung and Kam traveled with Than and the police to a nearby wooded area where they were surprised to receive permission to speak with him. But before any of the men could share some words of encouragement, Than pleaded with them: ‘I am very glad you’re with me. Please go to my area and share the gospel? this is our responsibility, that the gospel cover the entire neighboring area. You must be faithful unto death.’’ “Suddenly, one of the police shouted at Than, ‘You have spoken too much!’ He drew out his pistol and shot Than in the head. “The men were permitted to bury Than’s body. “However, two of Than’s friends who were present at his execution were sternly warned to recant their Christian faith, or the same would happen to them. “Brother Than’s dying wish was for his friends to be ‘faithful unto death’ (Revelation “Why is there so much silence? Why are atrocities like these going on every day and receive virtually no attention?” Robert Balzola of the NSW Knights of the Southern Cross recently spoke out in Sidney, Australia: “One of the greatest reasons that the persecution of Christians around the world has now reached such a massive scale was that no Christian organization appears to be doing anything about it on a diplomatic scale. “‘Many refugees who come to Australia claim asylum because they say they were persecuted in their own countries because they were Christians, but at the government level there is systematic denial of the problem,’ he says. “‘There are 10 million Christians in China who also face persecution. But now China is in the World Trade Organization and there are increased opportunities for trade, the Australian government doesn’t want to raise it.’”5 Balzola is right. The concern over persecution holds little political value in light of the “greater issues.” In diplomatic and legislative circles it is a “local” “cultural” “civil” matter. Addressing it is a barrier to international relations and trade. It gets swept away. Every year the U.S. State Department produces a major document on global persecution. Every year it is filed away and not addressed. As with the abortion issue, the word murder is avoided. So with the persecution issue, the word murder is avoided. The outcome? The world is quickly adopting a concept that drives its political agenda. “The end justifies the means” if it is for the “common good.” The Bible talks about this psychological posturing in an end-time setting. The U.S. – the papacy – the world will persecute God’s true people, the pure woman, the remnant on a vast scale for the greater benefit of all. The evolution towards adopting justifiable homicide (the Bible calls persecution) is rapidly becoming acceptable, first through tolerance and soon through active participation. The “culture of life” is being promoted by governmental and non-governmental agencies, but tolerance of a “culture of death” is driving their ideologies. This mind-set and the denial of persecution are signs of the end. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. How valuable is your commitment to Jesus? References: 1World Refugee Survey 2002, World Refuge Statistics, U.S. Committee for Refugees, U.S. Gov 2www.houstonperspectives.com/missiontrivia.html 3Christian Freedom International, March/April 2003, “Burma’s 4The Voice of the Martyrs, March 2003, www.persecution.com 5The Catholic Weekly, Sidney, 12/1/02. |