ALERT: DO AMERICAN CHURCHES CARE ABOUT THE PERSECTION OF CHRISTIAN WORLD WIDE?

Our 24/7 news cycle is consumed these days with American politicians sparring over the debt ceiling and the implementation of President Obama’s controversial healthcare plan, both important debates to be sure. Meanwhile, the tragic fact that followers of Jesus Christ are being targeted and slaughtered across the globe is given scant attention.

We learned recently of the horrific attack against a Pakistani church by Muslim extremists that killed 85. In Kenya, the jihadists that attacked an upscale mall in Nairobi reportedly killed hostages that couldn’t recite the Koran. Christian pastors in Iran are being jailed and Indian Christians endure violence, imprisonments and even death,

Physical attacks against Christians appear to be on the rise around the world, and yet both the American media – and all too many American Christians themselves – seem to be setting their sights elsewhere. It’s not that we don’t care, it would just appear that we care more about other issues.

Not surprisingly, I’m deeply concerned at this prospect, as I imagine many of you are, too. But why do we find ourselves in this difficult spot? For several reasons, I think.

First, the ease and access of global communication alerts us to these atrocities more quickly than ever. What once took days to reach us now takes seconds via social media. The filter of traditional media is gone. A tiny camera on one smartphone is all it takes to expose the violence of a despot or mob a half a world away. As a result, there seems to be an inordinate amount of bad news to process lately, both domestically and internationally. I think many of us become paralyzed under its weight. We feel helpless. We’re here and they’re there – and so what can we possibly do about it? Unfortunately, many of us tune out, I think, as a means to cope with the sorrow and sadness.

But I wonder if behind the American Christian’s disconnect with the plight of our brothers and sisters across the globe is also an ignorance of historical Christendom itself. Could it be that we’ve become so comfortable with the freedom we have to worship in the United States that we too easily dismiss the violence against Christians elsewhere as something of an anomaly? To do so is a grave mistake.

Dating back to the early Church, Christians have been the victims of regular and repeated persecution. From the Emperor Nero in the first century to Diocletian and Galerius in the third and fourth, right up to modern-day oppression in communist countries and Bashar al-Assad in Syria, millions upon millions of believers throughout history have died for espousing a belief that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world.

According to Pew Research, the growth of Islam and Islamic-led governments in the Middle East and North Africa has led to a steep decline in the numbers of Christians in those regions, from 9.5 percent of the population just a few generations ago to just 3.8 percent in 2010.

This is not to say that Christianity is dying. The fact is, the Gospel is a force that cannot be stopped. But it would seem a wise and worthy endeavor if Christians in the U.S. would commit to praying earnestly for those sisters and brothers in harm’s way elsewhere. We need to ask the Lord to soften our hearts to the plight of the persecuted church.

Voice of the Martyrs, Christian Freedom International and Freedom House are three organizations that can help you stay connected with our brothers and sisters living through unspeakable hardships for the sake of the Gospel.  I encourage you to connect with them through social media so you can get periodic updates that will prompt you to take a minute and pray.

By lifting up this important issue and encouraging believers to “pray without ceasing,” we unleash God’s power.  Prayer is effective. Prayer is the answer.

"Lord, I ask you to pour out your grace, strength, and mercy upon our brothers and sisters across the globe who are suffering in your name. Amen."  From http://community.focusonthefamily.com.

In Jesus Name
Roger

THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL GROUPS

The Small Group is the prime platform for establishing and instilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission that Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 22:36-40. 

Matthew 28:18-20
¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  
Matthew 22:36-40 
³⁶ "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
³⁷ Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

The Small Group is also the vehicle with which to develop and experience authentic relationships and growing discipleship. This builds a Church of authentic community, poured out to His precepts and being in relational intimacy and fullness in Him. 

This is what we are called to emulate from our Lord. Because people will be learning and growing, they will move from personal agendas and pride to growth and service to our Lord. This produces a supportive environment that has love and care, hospitality, and the Spirit impacting the people. This will then foster the engagement of the community and world for the Gospel.

The Great Commission says, "Go and make disciples!"  Small Groups is where the real making of disciples takes place. 

Making Disciples for Jesus,
Roger 

Adapted from an article found at http://www.discipleshiptools.org/pages.asp?pageid=60405

ADVERSITY AND HUMILITY

“The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. ¹¹ The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, ¹² be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”  - Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NLT)

How do you deal with adversity?  How do you deal with the problems and pains of this life?  In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, He speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. Pain is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

As we address the problem of pain, we also need to talk about the problem of prosperity.  Prosperity brings responsibility, because we are not owners; we are stewards.  Everything God gives to us is a gift, and we will be held accountable for what we do with the resources He has made available to us.  Therefore, as a follower of Jesus Christ, we need to always remember that in all things, we are always dependent upon God.

When life gets really hard and adversity hits, we pray. We become very dependent upon God —and so we should.  But, on the other hand, when life is going reasonably well, we tend to forget about God and prayer.

When the terrorists attacked New York City on 9-11-2001, and 3,000 Americans were killed in one day, the following day churches were filled to overflowing with people seeking God, and lifting up prayers.  But only a short time later attendance was back to normal. 

The psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word” (Ps. 119:67).

Adversity wakes us up and keeps us humble, while prosperity can make us proud and self-sufficient. We tend to forget about God when we are in good health, have lots of credit cards, or a bank account full of money.  But when the economy goes south or the doctor has bad news, we turn to God, because we are reminded of what really matters.

It’s hard to thank the LORD for adversity in our lives.  We never say to God, “Thanks for making me sick” or “I’m sure glad I lost all that money, I really needed that.”  No, of course we don’t respond that way.  But on the other hand, God is in control, and we need to humbly remember that in the face of hardship, trials and difficulties, God is allowing us the opportunity to depend on Him more. And in the process, we actually get to KNOW Him better.

May the LORD bless you abundantly, but may you always remember where the blessings came from.

Yours in Christ,

Roger