“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
We have it so easy in America; good food, health care, hygiene, decent paying jobs, but most of all we have freedom of religion. I can’t ever recall a time when I heard someone being persecuted for their religious beliefs in America. I am sure there are cases out there, but I can’t recall any. This leads me to my next question would you still be a Christian if you knew that your life could be at risk?
In a country that is legally Muslim I have had the privilege of working alongside some amazing brothers and sisters in Christ and although this country is a melting pot of ethnicities and religions you are still considered Muslim on legal documents. They have stories that left me questioning if I would still call myself a Christian if I faced what they face or have faced.
Would you still be a Christian if after one day of ministering to a young man who was ready to accept Christ you were jumped by a large group of people? Thrown every which way in a human pinball fashion meeting fists, knees, feet, and other objects as you were hurled from one side to the other. Finally they walk away and you are left trying to make your way to help. Only you don’t get very far when a few of the people from earlier decide that human pinball was a fun game and you are back at it again. Left for dead or to become a snack for a hungry tiger in the jungle you are found by a villager who drags you to the train tracks and gets you on the train and to a hospital. You have no recollection of how you got there, but you know that you are burned, and broken. The doctors say you won’t walk correctly anymore and they have done all they can. Living like Jesus would you don’t press charges although everyone you know tells you to do so until the men that beat you come into the hospital begging for forgiveness and asking to accept Christ. Would you still believe?
Would you still be a Christian if you were forced to attend an Islamic college and forced to wear hijab and learn their ways? You carry around your bible covered in wrapping paper and you call it your inspiration book. If it is found or if you are found out you could be beaten. You know there are a few others like you, but to talk about it would be dangerous so you feel all alone. Would you face this risk and still believe? She actually wrote us a note that said. “Please include me in your prayer. I am Becca*, currently studying in Islamic college. I have accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I can’t profess my faith openly…There are many people like me. Please pray for us so that we have the freedom to believe!”
Would you call yourself a Christian if you knew it would cause you to be shunned by your entire family because they all practice Hinduism? In fact, your mother may just beat you with a brick for going to church and confessing that you believe in Christ. You still go to temple, but You pray to Jesus instead of the Hindu Gods. You know it won’t always be like this so you press onwards hoping for the day when you free confess your beliefs. Although your family may start praying to Jesus they won’t stop praying and practicing the Hindu ways, you still press on knowing that you are loved unconditionally. Would you still believe?
This is real life for them. One of these people told me, “I still believe and I will still go out because Jesus gave his life for me and if I have to suffer a few small things in comparison to his sacrifice then that’s what I have to do.” Please pray for these people and pray for this country to have the freedom to believe!
*name changed
