Bound Together Ministries
Debbie W. Wilson
author and speaker.
E-mail: boundtogether@coolsky.com
Christian Persecution
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Remember them that are in bonds,
as bound with them;
and them which suffer adversity,
as being yourselves in the body.
Hebrews 13:3
Christianity was born in persecution when Herod slaughtered the infants in search of Jesus. Herod feared losing his power to the real King of the Jews. Years later, fearful of losing their power, resentful of Jesus's rebukes, and dreading Caesar's response, Jesus's enemies nailed Him to the cross. Jesus's followers, too, suffered persecution. The Jews stoned Stephen. James was beheaded. The Romans crucified Peter and Paul and plunged John into boiling oil.
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Christians around the world still suffer persecution. Many of the same attitudes prevail—loss of power, loss of money or prestige, hatred of righteousness, envy, resentment, fear. Believers face torture, rape, murder, loss of their homes and belongings, estrangement from family, and loss of economic opportunities for Christ. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom lists Burma, China, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan among the worst violators of religious freedom.
HOTSPOT FOCUS: Eritrea
Eritrea is a small country slightly larger than Pennsylvania that borders the Red Sea in Africa. Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia border Eritrea on the north, west, and south. Eritrea fought for and won its independence from Ethiopia in 1991. A border dispute with Ethiopia ended in 2000 with UN peacekeepers maintaining the border. With less than 5% arable land, Eritrea depends on subsistence farming and herding (80% of the population), gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, and fish to maintain its economy. Eritrea recognizes Islam, Coptic Christianity, and Roman Catholicism as legal religions. A transitional government is in power run by the People's Front for Democracy and Justice.
Evangelical Christians face torture, including sexual torture and other diabolical forms of torture. Currently around 400 evangelical Christians are imprisoned for possessing a Bible, for attending services, and for maintaining their faith. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom lists Eritrea among its top countries of concern.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Sunday, November 2007
IDEAS on observing the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Background: Coreggio's “Ecce Homo” www.artchive.com/artchive/ftptoc/leonardo_ext.html
Symbols: check www.timoart.com