Sunday

August 31, 2006

Joe,

Struck today at what Sunday worship looks like in certain places around the world:

INDIA (VOM sources)
Official sources reported that on August 20th, one person was killed and five others injured when unidentified persons fired at a congregation in Churachandpur district of Manipu. Evening services were being held in the Evangelical Baptist Church in Vengnuom area when some armed persons in combat dress came in a vehicle and started firing in the direction of the church. The incident happened when armed persons in a van were challenged by armed miscreants near the church. Immediately after they were challenged, the occupants of the van, whom local residents suspect to be security forces in mufti, emerged from the vehicle and started indiscriminate firing towards the church which was filled with people. One believer died at the spot, while another succumbed to his injuries at the district hospital. Four others were injured. In addition, one man was hurt when he was knocked down by someone evacuating the injured on a scooter.That same day, Pastor Jwala was conducting a morning worship service in Sheopur near Jhalsy when a group of radicals with a local leader entered the meeting with hockey sticks and mercilessly attacked Pastor Jwala and members of the congregation. After the brutal attacks, they were taken to the police station where pastor Jwala was booked under the Anti Conversion Law. Bail was not granted to the victims.

Jesus says, “10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12).

Oh to have a heart that sought this kind of reward! Lord willing, I will preach this Sunday morning, doing the very thing that got a man in India beaten with hockey sticks. And yet will I be afraid of what others think of my preaching? Free me, Father, from self-absorption. Grant me a heart that would endure hardship of any kind if only the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ might be displayed in me.

Only in the right-side up world of Jesus does reviling mean blessing and popularity indicate woe: “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26). We are in a scary place when we can find no one who will say a bad word about us. Of course, we shouldn’t go out seeking to alienate people and act like a jerk in order to get people to hate us. But if we faithfully declare the whole counsel of God and are imitators of Jesus, people will hate us. They hated Him, and they will hate us (John 15:18-21). What an indictment against me, that in three years of teaching students how to drive, there has not been one complaint to the boss about me preaching the gospel to my students.

Pray for me, brother (and anyone else who reads this), that I would seek the path of blessing, not woe. Do not allow me to seek hostility for its own sake, but exhort me to make much of Christ in all situations and to all people.

Larry

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Random Musings 

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