ISIS began to control regions and establish what they called caliphate, in 2014. Christian homes and industries were labeled with the Arabic-letter-N (nuun) for “Nazarene,” that being the sign for Christ followers.
Long-established Christians were given the choice to move out and surrender their homes or be forced to pay a tax, known by the name jizyah, to be allowed to live on in the caliphate. Any Muslims won over to Christianity were given two choices: return to Islam (deny Christ) or die immediately.
Multitudes of Christians ran away from their homes in Syria and Iraq, relocating to isolated camps wherever they could. Recovering their lives and pursuing a sense of peace is still a huge challenge, while they pray that Christians will remain and establish themselves while continuing to live out the Great Commission.
Today in Iran, all church buildings are closed. Christian’s illegally meet in private homes, in separate parks or some other hidden locations. Underground church leaders are soon arrested, threatened through interrogation and imprisoned, all the while, the Church thrives. Some estimate that perhaps a million or more Iranians faithfully follow Jesus Christ because of persecution.
Years ago, while in Russia training underground Pastors, I met a Pastor who had been severely beaten resulting in a broken back, then thrown roughly into prison without any medical aide, for preaching Christ. He was released after many years of incarceration and warned to never speak the name of Jesus again. When I met him, he was pastor of a non-registered church somewhere in the vastness of Russia. A place of which I will never speak. This faithful man of God stood severely stooped over because of his untreated back injury.
Later while prayerwalking through the nation of China, I attended an underground house church in Guangzhou Pastored by a man by the name of Samuel Lamb. What an honor it was to be with a man so committed to his call of God to preach the Gospel in a land extremely resistant to Christianity, that after spending 20 years at hard labor for preaching Jesus and not knowing that his wife had died until he was released, then under the threat of death, he went back to preaching.
I was blessed to have spent an hour in his church speaking with him before his mid-week service. His then house church was running over a thousand in an obscure three-story apartment. He preached on the lower floor, and it was then televised to the other floors where more members sat. I have a large living room where I am living and it amazes me that the rooms they used were about the same size, and he would be able to pack 200 in each of those rooms for a Wednesday night gathering.
This was THE CHURCH WITHOUT A NAME. They functioned without a registration and without any membership roll. It had no board of directors, no couples’ group, men’s fellowships, women’s study or craft groups, membership drives, or fundraising activities. It held no yearly business meetings.
Their total function and purpose were to pray together, sing together, and listen three times a week to ninety minutes and more of conservative, evangelical preaching and teaching. As God continued to enlarge their attendance, they added more shanty space under the government’s nose.
I asked several members how I could pray for them as a church. Every answer was the same, “Do not pray that persecution ends! The church grows rapidly in persecution.”
Did you get that American church? They are thankful for what persecution is doing for Kingdom growth! They walk miles out of the way to not reveal the location of the place where they meet for Worship. They never walk the same way if possible, because of the the risk they face – prison or death. Under persecution, the Chinese church grows an average of 20,000 new believers per day. Many of these Christians do not have Bibles. They love teachings and preaching, studies and worship. They are willing to sacrifice everything to serve and please Him. They are thankful that He receives their humble sacrifices. They were satisfied with the struggle life in Christ had given.
I am blessed to be able to teach and preach in many, many churches. I am thankful that God has broadened my voice for His Gospel here in the land that I love, and far beyond. I am honored that many opportunities are open to me; thankful for the churches and associations which invite me to serve them. But the American church is different, isn’t she? We are thankful for our names, our properties, our buildings, our programs, our extra church functions, our potlucks, twenty-thirty-minute sermons after our musical performing, and our non-profit tax status. We are thankful that we are living without being persecuted for our faith. Without persecution. No persecution.
What was our LORD’S teaching on persecution? “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). He also said that Christians should not be surprised by persecution, and that it is normal and expected.
Jesus said that God uses persecution for His glory and the good of His Church. He also said that persecution would grow the Church and make it stronger.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Those who are persecuted for His sake will receive a great reward in heaven. This means suffering for doing right, which is called persecution.
Yes, beloved, God allowed that the American Church be birthed in many wonderful freedoms and the Church expanded across this vast nation, and we developed under Him the ability to expand our mission work across the world. We were blessed and protected when we were simple and mission minded.
Something has happened. This writer wonders, and even believes, we have become internally proud of what we have become. We have organized ourselves beyond what is useful for Kingdom of God expansion. We seek first the kingdom of self in our own names. We must have a full-blown Church revival of the Holy Spirit, which will involve brokenness, repentance, humility, and laying aside anything that hinders the Spirit of God. The fear of God must return and capture our hearts.
Some will disagree with my position. That simply adds evidence to what is needed. Happy Thanksgiving my fellow Americans. Come on, Church. Let’s get right before our God.
