November 13 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The event is sponsored and promoted by such organizations as The Voice of the Martyrs, <persecution.com>. The free Church of the west would do well to remember its many brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who must worship their God in darkened rooms and secret places in wilderness areas. Persecution is real. Loss of financial support, jobs, homes, health, and even life are risks that believers of Christ must often face if they seek to remain faithful.
Throughout the year I notice how our nation remembers those who have contributed to its strength and progress. Not all notables are military. We memorialize those who have made life safer, easier, and its materials and cultural blessings more accessible to more people. We have celebrations, parades, speeches, offer awards and examples to those who have succeeded and to those who would follow.
How do we as Christians measure up in celebrating the heroes of our Father's Kingdom? Even setting aside some names that would raise disagreement, we have more than enough martyrs in our faith heritage to give us reason to remember with pride those who have gone before. Not considering the martyrs, individuals beyond count have made sacrifices that resulted in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They turned their backs on family, material comforts, and positions of privilege. Do our church members celebrate these individuals? Do our church members know what they have done? Do our church members know their names?
David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills, has a special interest in the persecuted church, the Secret Church, due to his contact with them in various countries. His broadcasts of Bible studies under that name have been received by more than 50,000 people at a time through simulcasts. His experiences in working with the persecuted church have led him to see the strength of the church can never be in its material image or possessions but only in its faithful sacrifice. His book, Radical, is a result of this faith pilgrimage.
At least once a year our churches should remember that not all Christians enjoy religious freedom. We should remember that many Christians are paying heavy prices for living out their faith. We should remember that the freedom to worship openly without government interference is a blessing and a freedom granted by man and as such can be taken away by man. We should also remember that the strength of our faith is not determined by the laws of the land but by the Lord of our hearts. Our persecuted brethern know that all too well.
My plea is that on at least one day of the year our churches remember that the strength of our own fairh may well be dependent upon the faithful prayers of individuals who cannot share their prayers. The strength of our faith may be dependent upon the faithful lifestyles of individuals for whom such a lifestyle will result in imprisonment, torture, or death. It may well be that as we enjoy our freedom to worship, we do so because people who have no such freedom are praying for us. Let us take the time to pray for them.
