Persecution
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Question
Dear Butros and Secret Believers, I want you to know you are all in our prayers every night. Tonight I am going to watch the movie Struggle For Freedon about our persecuted Brothers and Sisters facing persecution. What I'd like to ask is that the amazing way persecuted Christians don't show any bitterness toward your persecutors, is really praiseworthy and something, my father and friends from our church find is a true sign of genuine Christianity. I find in my Christian life it is very difficult for me not to hit back when someone challenges me. How do you show so much love to your persecutors, because it really is honourable how Christlike persecuted Christians are. And it is an area I find hard to deal with, not hitting back at those who challenge me, yet you all have real attacks on you, and you have the admirable ability of loving your enemies.Have you found it hard to achieve this?
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Answer
Dear Gordon, my brother, thank you for your email. I tell you dear brother it is not easy, not at all. As hard as it is for you it is for us. In fact sometimes I think some of us are so resigned to the persecution we think there is no point, then there are those of us who do react and then get into trouble and then there are those of us struggle with the anger, the frustration, the apparent hopelessness but with our Lord by our side we have His help. We are not always successful- all of us trip up and fail from time to time. But praise God He is with us and helps us overcome the anger that the evil one tries to use in breaking down relationships with Muslims. My friend it is not easy - always pray for us that we always be Christlike. Always.
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Question
What can we do to help those two Christian girls who were kidnapped be returned to their families?
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You can pray. I do not say this lightly. We have seen time and again the responses to prayer are so much more affective than any kind of interfearance. Pray and ask God to give lawyers and those who are involved wisdom. Pray also for God to raise up Christians around them, that where they go they would meet others who know Jesus and can encourage them to stay faithful to the Gospel and not to be afraid. That is key. Please please keep praying for Aleena and Saba and their families and the millions others like them.
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Blessings in the name of Christ! This question is probably best answered by Bro. Andrew or Al, who have traveled around the world. God has really been moving me to get actively involved in the fight against human-trafficking (aka slavery!). I amy have the opportunity to work with an American organization that works with individuals in America who have been trafficked for forced labor and prostitution from other countries. While not expressly a christian organization, my work is a response to Christ's love. I, of course, want to offer these victims the hope I have found in Christ. As many of these people will have been brought from the mid-east and africa, I know many will be muslims. Through things like this website I am learning a lot about ministring to Arab muslims. My question is about Muslims from other primarily muslim countries. Are there cultural differences that would affect evangelism efforts with them, or does shari'a law keep cultures fairly similar? Of course, with former slaves, there are a lot of other issues to be addressed as well when ministering to them, but I think ignoring their religious heritage would be a mistake. Please pray for the 12.7 million slaves--precious children of God--who are being tortured and oppressed every day throughout the world. "For freedom Christ has set us free" (Gal. 5:1). I love all of you reading this and all struggling from the evils of the Enemy. Peace, Karen
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Answer
Dear Karen
Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. You are right that the
problem of slavery is one that should bring out compassion in all Christians
and we pray that God will guide your efforts. Regarding your question, yes
there are cultural differences between Muslims
in different countries. But whether that would affect our evangelism
efforts, I can't say. From our experience, we have found that the most
important thing we can do is show Muslims the love of Jesus. From my
interviews, I have seen that it is Jesus that draws Muslims,
not our arguments or presentations. So pray that God will give you wisdom as
you witness, and that Jesus will shine through you. If you want to know more
about specific differences between Muslims, I would suggest the book Healing
the Broken Family of Abraham by
Don McCurry. You can order it from the Secret Believers website: Click on
"Resources," then "Understanding Islam" and then, under "Learn About Islam"
click on "Additional Resources" and you'll find the book.
I spoke to my friend Maaria and she said that they find that when it comes to slavery, you will know there is a whole
new dynamic that comes into play. Depending on when you come in contact with
them, whether its clsoe to the time of having left home or many many years
later many things about the person's
character and identity will have changed or begun to change, whether thats
for survival or a direct result of shame. For all slaves a religious and
spiritual past is significant. It will always be their link to who they
associate themselves with being. Knowing this will help
identify feelings of betrayal and guilt as well because if workers (like
yourself) can identify which god they served or what religious community
they saw themselves as belonging to they can either start to clarify that
God did not let this happen to them nor did GOd do this
and they can start to understand what makes them tick.
For example if a Muslim is kidnapped at age 5- 7- they will always
associate themselves as Muslim, no matter how much abuse they go through -
but they will always feel guilty about sexual abuse because they will feel
they are fault rather than their persecutor- very
seldom will they blame God. My concern for Aleena and Saba the two christian
girls is that they will feel being Christian made them inferior and that God
forsook them or they may be told that their abuse and kidnapping is God's
punishment on them for not accepting
Allah or they may be told that Allah wants to help them and if they become
Muslims they will be helped. Of course help could mean better lifestyle,
better clothes than they ever had as Christians, better meal arrangements
than normal slaves...so religious background will
matter in various ways. Especially if they are Catholics, the question is
how much were they involved in Marion worship, however I find that poor
Catholics can either be completely sold into the Marion and Saint worship,
or they have experiences Jesus so much in the
every day that their eyes are firmly fixed on Him. In any case the religion
of honour and shame will play a very important role in this esepcially if
they have been sexually violated. There are two forms of abuse that I find
predominant both to with humiliation
1. Working as menial labour and / or Cleaning other people's dirt
2. Being physically/sexually violated.
So there is a lot to think about but the most powerful thing that changes
them no matter what is that God is not angry at them, He does not despise
them, they are not filthy in His sight and Jesus cleansed them and healed
them and He wants to love them with a pure
unmanipulative love and would love their love back.
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Dear Butros, I know when I read about Mustafa and the other Christian man being killed, I was very close to tears. Is this still a struggle for you, dealing with the greif of losing two good friends?
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May that never become easy! Sometimes when we see these things on TV we get immune to pain and suffering. However to lose friends, or even unknown brothers and sisters for the Gospel is something that we can never get used to. It is so painful. I still weep for family who were killed 30 years ago! The pain never goes away.
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Is there ever a time when defending yourself and family with weapons justified? I'm thinking of Muslims who kidnap young Christian women especially.
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Well thats a good question and one that Christians struggle with. In the Middle East it is not uncommon for most people to have one armed person protecting their main entrances and normally Christians and Churches are also protected by an armed guard but this is more as a deterent than as a weapon to attack with. I guess there may be cases where Christians would use fire a gun to frighten away an attacker or even maybe to slow down someone by making them slightly immobile so they can catch up with them. However it does not usually amount to that and if it did a single Christian with a gun against a whole gang of persecutors, kidnappers or bullies would never be enough. To make a difference and save someone it would probably need to be a mob of angry people and what is not justified is revenge and anger. I am not talking about righteous anger here. Also it is counter productive. HOwever the Church and Christians struggle with this and often seek God. The reason it does not come up much is that Christians are still on uncertain ground and do not take such risks in case of making the Muslims angrier and then they would retaliate and do far more damage. I think if we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves then it is in the light of that that we must make that decision. However it is not an easy decision to make so pray for Christians put in such situations and for God's wisdom, guidance and courage in this times. Thank you for your question.
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is your faith ever shaken or does i=the persuction make you stronger and how can western christians help
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You can help by praying and be aware, reading up, learning about the persecuted Church and praying knowledgably and being able to talk about Islam and persecution and the condition of Secret Believers. That way you can get others to pray and not just pray but know and pray and seek God's intervention. Watch the news and turn those news items into prayer. Pray that those people in Afgnanistan, Iran, Iraq etc... that you see on your TVs come to know Jesus, that the heads of these states come to know Jesus and that the Church is strengthened there. If everyone prayed for the Church in these countries when they watch the news every evening - thats millions of prayers - and thats millions of changes. Be part of that please.
There is no doubt about it Persecution brings with it fear and tiredness sometimes even depression and lack of will to carry on. But more importantly it throws us into the arms of Jesus and THAT is what makes us stronger Christians. IT IS JESUS who we turn to who turns our weekness into a forum to display His strength and perfection. Praise God!
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I am always amazed that the Christians who are placed in prison continue to share their faith. Does this incur more punishment? It seems as I read certain reports that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. Why is this? It seems that even the guards are saved because of the witness of the prisoners.
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Answer
It is amazing! Are we not amazed at the testimony of Paul in Prison? A Christian normally ends up in prison simply because he or she is so filled with the joy of the Lord and the Spirit that the infilling makes them deeply compassionate toward everyone they meet. Their perceptions change and everyone who reaches out to harm them becomes a potential soul for the kingdom. They become unstoppable in their witness and in the outworking of their faith.
Just days ago I was speaking to someone recently released and in his entire time in prison he had opportunity after opportunity to minister to fellow prisoners and even his oppressors. He was questioned about his faith and even tortured for it but he says he was given faith that he did not even know he possessed and the Spirit gave him answers and love for Jesus. Persecution is a time when Christians find they are completely weak and they throw themselves on the Lord, accept their vulnerability and leave Him to make His strength perfect in their weakness.
And it is impossible for this to come without witness and lives being changed!!! Sometimes it does incur more punishment; sometimes it sparks interest and guards are willing to let it go a little so they can get some of their answers and satisfy their curiosity. However it always aggravates the adversary at some point and calls for a reaction – but never without glorifying the Lord Jesus. We are just agents- Praise the Lord!!!
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Hi, I am an American Christian and have a friend that lives in Morocco and is being persecuted because he has become a Christian. His life is in danger from his uncles. Do you have any suggestions that will make him more safe other than praying and believing God will protect him?
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First, I want to say that it is important to never underestimate the power of prayer, nor the need to place our trust in God. Next, your friend, like Ahmed and others in our book, may need to relocate to things cool off a bit. Although I do not recommend leaving the country as that could make matters much worse. Finally, a priority for your friend should be to concentrate on growing in his faith. If he has any strong Christian contacts he should reach out to them and seek their advice and assistance. Pray, too, that God will open up doors to share his faith with his family. You also can read our book which gives more thoughts on this.
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How are you persecuted?
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Peter (see pp. 246-49 in Secret Believers): I’d say that all Christians are persecuted, but MBBs are persecuted more because Muslims are not allowed to change religions. Christians can become Muslims with government blessing. The police will arrest us and you have to know that torture and physical abuse is standard procedure.
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Have you thought about leaving the Middle East for a safer place in the west? What made you stay?
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Peter (see pp. 246-49 in Secret Believers): The first years of my faith I looked at people who emigrated as traitors to the cause. Now I think I was too strong. I now accept that some have to leave because of threats on their life. We have experimented with migration within country. But as for me, I believe this should be an exception. We stay because we want to be change agents in our society.
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Has the war in Iraq affected you where you live as a Secret Believer?
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Author Al Janssen: One source from within Iraq writes: “Shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, church visitation rose sharply. Since then it has dropped because of the violence and insecurity. Many Christians have fled to the northern part of Iraq (which is relatively safe) and neighboring countries. Four violent groups are active in Iraq. Each of these parties have their own reasons to intimidate, kidnap or even kill Christians, but the main reason is for money to finance their battles. Most Christians are shop owners and have some money. Muslim extremists want to spread Islam and remove Christians from their cities. Still, despite all the hardships for the Iraqi church, there are some positive developments. For example the sale of Christian books has risen sharply.”
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