Evangelizing: Freedom vs. Persecution

Last week in India, forty Christians were kidnapped by extremists who wanted them to convert back to Hinduism, and still no word is known about their well-being. Such stories are not common-place here in the United States of America because American citizens have the First Amendment of Bill of Rights that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." One might say that this principle is only for the United States and not for the world, but on the contrary, according to Articles 9, 13, and 18-20, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that all humans from every nation have the right to leave a nation as they please without restriction, to believe or change one's religion, and to assemble publicly without unnecessary seizures from the government. However, worldwide , lives are being savagely ransacked because of their faith. For a shocking reality check, watch these two short clips on lives disrupted by persecution: video, & video 2. Consequently, people of the Christian faith should be excited and readily sharing the gospel to others with at peace of mind because of the laws and regulations in place! One has to ask him or herself, if they are truly taking advantages of the freedom one has as an American citizen than others in persecuted territory. In my opinion, when a discipline is not tested, the authenticity of it is slightly diminished to mere utterances of allegiance rather than a life lived out of its convictions even if it meant harm to one's body or loved ones was inevitable. In my experience as a Christian evangelizing with this freedom, I admit that I do not always live out my convictions, but rather preach them because I am not in situations where I can not even have the luxury of verbalizing my religious affiliations, let alone encouraging others to join my faith, without having to think, "Is it worth my job, health, or life!"

In relation to the picture above, the Bible encourages the believer who may be going through persecution where their strength can and will be renewed when they believe. In John15; 18-21 affirms, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, "A slave is not greater than his master' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." Such a passage for warns the believer that God has given us knowledge that this world is in opposition towards you. Actually 1 John 3:13 states that, "Do not be surprised, brethren. if the world hates you." For further encouragement of strength such passages of 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 announces. "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our bodies. Overall, these verses embolden and revitalize the believer who is suffering to understand that God is always with them and he will never for sake them.

For this same reason, I am also taking the charge to go over seas to do exactly what this young man is doing in the picture below, however, I will also be teaching English to college students where I will get a chance to share American culture and to learn East African culture as well. Furthermore, I am going to live out the verses above and to see how complacent I have been and to see what and how a Christian lives their life in a country where it is illegal to share their faith.