“Last year we had 86 attacks (on churches).” (Godfrey Yogarajah, Sri Lanka)
The natural way to read the title of this article is in terms of the recent Anzac Day commemorations. It’s an exhortation to never forget the sacrifices made by service personnel on our behalf. Realistically, there is no way that the people of Australia/NZ will ever forget those who suffered in war that our freedom and privileges might be preserved.
The aura surrounding Anzac Day is so potent in Australia that a company exploiting the “Anzac” name without appropriate permission can be fined $50,000 or face up to 12 months imprisonment. The real power behind the unforgettableness of Anzac isn’t legal, it is socially dishonourable not to remember. Far beyond Christmas and Easter, secular Anzac Dayis the holiest day of our year.
Place any slur on the “diggers” and you will be publicly named and shamed from all directions. But the Church has a shame it refuses to openly acknowledge.
Remember Them
About persecuted Christians, we read, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 3). If scripture is authoritative and we neglect this command not to forget we flagrantly disobey God. According to the authoritative Pew Research Centre, 11 believers are martyred each hour across the world.
The recent massacres in Sri Lanka will impress this reality on our consciences for a little while, but what about the slaughters which preceded them – in Nigeria, the Philippines, Egypt, Somalia etc. If you are ignorant about these facts simply go online and check it out for yourself! How often does the congregation of which you are a part, or yourself personally, pray for the persecuted Church?
It is to our open shame that we ignore the cries of our brothers and sisters who daily must suffer dishonour for the sake of the name of Jesus (Acts chapter 5 verse 41).Why do we behave like this when we know it’s wrong?
It’s Painful
We can probably cope with biblical and historical accounts of persecution, because there’s a real sense of distance between us and the sufferers, whose pain is now ended. It’s quite a different situation however when the story of contemporary suffering and injustice means our spiritual family members are in pain now. How can we psychologically manage with knowing that being caught with a Bible in North Korea today can lead to the imprisonment of your whole family, and in some cases torture and execution?
Such conscious knowledge rips apart our easy-going Aussie lifestyle. Its easier to turn a blind eye to these uncomfortable truths than to be distressed. Something much more profound however is at stake.
Fellowship of Sufferings
Paul expresses his goal in life, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians chapter 3 verse10). Sharing in the sufferings of Jesus isn’t limited to participating in the past anguish of the crossbut feeling his pain in the present over his anguished oppressed family. When Christ revealed himself to the Christian hating Saul on the road to Damascus he said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”(Acts chapter 9 verse 3).
Grasped by this profound spiritual truth, Paul went on to teach about the Body of Christ, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…” (1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 26).Suffering with those who suffer for Jesus, and suffering in unity with his suffering for them, is a part of what it means to be Church. This is an essential part of what we signed up for when we accepted Jesus as Lord.
Conclusion
Shortly before his execution, pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave the following as part of his explanation of what it means to be a Christian; “…taking on not just our own sufferings but those of God in the world, watching with Christ in Gethsemane.” If this seems extreme, what of these embarrassing words from scripture, “whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).
As anti-Christian sentiment grows across the West, identification through prayer, pain and practical resourcing for our persecuted brothers and sisters will be found to be essential for the purity of the Church and the key to unlocking resurrection life in our midst. We forget the afflicted Church at our peril and dishonour the name of the Lord.
The Rev. Dr John Yates is an Anglican minister in Perth and has 5 children and 7 grandchildren. He spends time in praying, mentoring and writing.
John Yates’sprevious articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/john-yates.html