African Christians are persecuted

 African Christians are persecuted. Yet the United Nations is silent. This is fueled by Islamic extremists. 

Dying for Following Christ: Almost a Genocide, As Persecution Explodes

While the cross is a source of hope, it also brings persecution.




Joel Kontinen

Jesus predicted that His followers would be hated and persecuted. Even the secular media are noticing that this is exactly what is happening around us.

Christians are confronted with a very disturbing trend: Globally, more of us are facing persecution, discrimination, ostracism and perhaps even death for just one reason – following Jesus.

Recently, The Guardian published a longish article on the plight of Christians. For a Christian, the Middle East is the least safe place. Pope Francis has described the plight of Jesus’ followers in the area near Christianity’s birth “as a form of genocide.”

While ISIS is the main culprit, it is by no means the only one.

The Guardian quotes David Alton as saying that perhaps “as many as 200 million Christians in over 60 countries around the world face some degree of restriction, discrimination or outright persecution.”

He goes on to say:

“Whatever the real figures the scale is enormous. From Syria, Iraq, Iran and Egypt to North Korea, China, Vietnam and Laos, from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, from Cuba, Colombia and Mexico to Eritrea, Nigeria and Sudan, Christians face serious violations of religious freedom.”

In some cases, campaigns by fellow-Christians and human rights organisations have brought relief from persecution and even freedom, for instance, for Sudanese doctor Meriam Yahia Ibrahim and Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

However, thousands of others remain behind bars. Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini and Pakistani mother Asia Bibi have been imprisoned on very spurious charges.

In some places, Bibles are being burnt.

Even in the west, Christians are increasingly being ostracised and discriminated against because of their biblical views on marriage and morals, for instance.


Source:

Lyons, Kate. 2015. Dying for Christianity: millions at risk amid rise in persecution across the globe. The Guardian (27 July).

2000 Years After Herod’s Massacre – The Killings Haven’t Ceased

Herod the Great. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.


Joel Kontinen

Today, we commemorate a sad episode in history instigated by a ruler known as Herod the Great, though there was nothing great in ordering the slaying of innocents in an attempt to kill a new-born King – Jesus, born in Bethlehem.

Historians do not know how many infants were killed through Herod’s degree. However, what is almost certain is that believers are still being ruthlessly slaughtered in our time.

Writing in Christianity Today’s blog, Halee Gray Scott says:

“According to Open Doors, which provides support for Christians around the world, Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world today, with 100 people martyred for their faith each month. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that Christians suffer persecution, discrimination, and harassment in 133 countries—a full two-thirds of all countries worldwide.”

We should not forget them, but pray for protection and do what we can for all believers who are facing persecution and death.


Source:

Scott, Halee Gray. 2013. A Real Cause for Christian Outrage. Christianity Today (27 December).

Iran Keeps on Torturing American Pastor

Pastor Saeed Abedini. Image courtesy of the American Center for Law and Justice.





Joel Kontinen

The Iranian regime is notorious for its dislike of Christians, especially of pastors who preach God’s Word. Iran threatened to execute Rev. Youcef Nadarkhani for attempting to convert Muslims, but an international media campaign persuaded the Iranians to set the pastor free.

However, now the regime is torturing another Christian pastor, who has been imprisoned since last summer. Rev. Saeed Abedini, a former Muslim, is a dual Iranian-American citizen, and he has been involved in the home church movement in Iran.

As Christians, we should definitely pray for Rev. Abedini. We can also support the American Center for Law and Justice’s (ACLJ’s) campaign for his release by signing an online petition.


Source:

Pastor Saeed After Beatings and Torture: “I did not recognize myself”. ACLJ. 22 March 2013.

Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Is Still Alive And Needs Our Support

Joel Kontinen

Illegally imprisoned for 874 days, Christian pastor Youssef (Youcef) Nadarkhani is still alive and needs our support. The human rights organisation American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has initiated a Twitter campaign in order to show the Iranian authorities that pastor Nadarkhani is not alone.

If you have a Twitter account, you can join others in supporting him. See details here.

Help a Christian Lady Facing the Death Sentence

Joel Kontinen

We cannot go to see a Christian woman who is in prison awaiting the death penalty because of her faith in Jesus Christ but but we sign a petition for the release of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian.




You can sign the petition here.

Please Help a Pakistani Christian Lady Evade the Death Sentence

Image courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs.



Joel Kontinen

Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian lady, is facing the death penalty. She is one of the 200 million Christians currently facing persecution. Her crime? She said: “Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins. ... Our Christ is alive.”

Pakistani Muslims interpreted this as blasphemy. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has designed an online petition to free Asia Bibi, a wife and mother with small children.

According to the VOM website, “The Voice of the Martyrs has set the goal of gathering one million signatures from around the world on behalf of our sister Asia. VOM will deliver the petition, along with the list of signers, to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C.”

Over 190, 000 people have already signed the petition. Please add your name to the list here.

China Keeps Christian Lawyer Behind Bars

Freedom of religion is a mere dream in the land of Chairman Mao’s successors. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.





Joel Kontinen



Twenty years after the Tienanmen Square massacre, freedom of religion is still a mere dream in the People’s Republic of China. Christian attorney Gao Zhisheng, who has defended house church Christians, was arrested in early February. He has not been released although there is no legal reason to keep him behind bars.

Chinese authorities have not disclosed where Gao Zhisheng is being kept. He has repeatedly been tortured and imprisoned for defending Christians.

Western Christians have appealed to Chinese authorities to release Gao Zhisheng. However, Chinese officials have been reluctant to comply to international pressure.

You can read more about Gao Zhisheng here and also sign a petition demanding his release.