Lay It Down

Our world is scary and a mess. When we are faced with the fear, confusion, and chaos, our temptation is to cling to the systems of the world that have served us in the past. But we must lay down all things that are not of God's Kingdom, so we can follow Christ without the baggage and burden of earthly identities and hinderances. 

Lay down our national identity. To follow the Lamb of God, we must turn from our national agenda. The paths of Christ and the United States have diverged a long time ago. We cannot follow both. Who will we follow and serve? 

We choose to place our identity in the Kingdom of Heaven, not the country we were born in. 

Lay down our political identity. The Lamb of God is not aligned with the Donkey or the Elephant. 

We choose to place our identity in God's Kingdom, where the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, those hungering & thirsting after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted are blessed.

Lay down our familial ties. The Family of God supersedes the ties of the families we were born into. 

We choose to view all Christians as mother, brother, and sister, instead of the family we were born into.

Lay down our desire for power and control. God is King, not us. We were not commanded to legislate our morality and punish those who break our religious laws.

We choose to speak for the powerless without seeking power ourselves.

Lay down our desire for comfort and convenience. To follow Christ is to go where we are uncomfortable, to learn uncomfortable truths, and face the dark side of our history.

We choose to learn about the history (and modern story) of racism, white supremacy, nationalism in the church, and other uncomfortable truths. 

Lay down our desire for convenience. When we follow Christ, we are often inconvenienced, as we are called to serve others, love those who hate us, and follow Him instead of our plan. 

We choose to be inconvenienced as Christ asks us to feed His sheep, care for those on the margins of society, and follow where His Spirit guides us. 

Lay down our desire for safety. Christ commanded us to put away our swords, turn the other cheek, and live in peace with others. 

We choose to lay down our weapons and defenses. We choose to respond peaceably in the face of violence.

Lay down our compulsion to defend God. Listen to the pain of those hurt by the church without rationalizing the actions of those who hurt them. Listen to their anger without getting defensive or hurt yourself. God is big enough to take all of the pain, anger, frustration, and confusion a person brings. God does not need us to defend HIM. 

We choose to offer compassion instead of judgment to those who are hurting.

Lay down our need to save face and refuse to admit when we're wrong. Seek forgiveness and reconciliation when we have hurt others instead of doubling down on our position or explaining how we are not to blame.

We choose to forgive and seek forgiveness. We choose to reconcile and seek reconciliation.

Lay down our pride. In our national identity, political identity, and righteousness. We remember that pride is a sin and God opposes the proud. When we are prideful, we aren't teachable.

We choose to humble ourselves and walk in humility.

Lay down our persecution complex. We have a mindset that we are so persecuted in the United States, when really people are pushing back against our unloving and judgmental words and actions. Learn about the persecution that the persecuted church is facing: the destruction of homes & businesses, the physical beatings and executions, and so on. 

We choose to pray for the persecuted and their persecutors. We choose to remember those in prison for their faith.

Lay down our judgments. We were not called to judge the world, but we find ourselves judging those with different political affiliations, lifestyles, and religions.

We choose to humble ourselves before the seat of judgment instead of sitting in judgment of others.

Once we have laid all of these things down, we find that our hands are free to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Christ. 

Praying with Those Suffering

I once told my small group, when people were hesitant to pray out loud, "It's alright! There's no bad prayers!" My group purposely started praying prayers that proved my statement wrong. We can pray selfish prayers, materialistic prayers, hateful prayers, and so on. We can pray poor, unbiblical prayers.

Yet, just because a prayer is in the Bible doesn't mean that it is a good prayer to pray. There are examples of poor prayers in the Bible. It is possible to find "unbiblical" or "un-Christ-like" prayers within the pages of our Bibles.

The Bible does contain positive examples we would be benefited by emulating and commands that we are to obey. Other parts of the Bible have negative examples of things that happened, but should not have happened. There are lessons to be learned in what NOT to do.

In the Church, we sometimes hear prayers that should bother us. One such example, is to praise/thank God that we aren't suffering/persecuted like others mentioned in other prayer requests. A related prayer on a similar theme is to say, "I watch the news and I thank God that I live here."
Now, these kinds of prayers are technically in the Bible, but they are given as an example of what not to do. I'm talking about the Pharisee's prayer in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee stood before God thanking Him that he wasn't like other people; whereas the tax collector asked for mercy, because he knew that he was a sinner.

These prayers break my heart, because in the moment I hear someone praying them, I do not see Christ's reflection in them. This is not to say that I'm doubting if someone is a Christian, but rather, that specific prayer is not Christ-like.

When we thank God that we were spared from a disaster and cite that sparing as evidence of His love for us, we need to ask ourselves what our prayers are indirectly implying about those who are suffering through the disaster. Maybe, we were spared from a disaster, so we could be SERVING and HELPING those who are suffering. That is living out Christ-like compassion.

You can be thankful you are happy with the nation in which you were born, but as soon as you connect your birthplace with a sign of God's favor, what does that imply about people living under corrupt regimes or in the midst of war? It implies that they are out of God's favor, which the Bible does not support.

If our prayers end with us just being thankful that we live in <place> or aren't suffering through <disaster>, than our prayers are too small. We SHOULD be praying for those who are suffering, as though we ourselves are suffering alongside them. We SHOULD find ways to serve and help those in the midst of disasters, because that is one of the main reasons we exist on this earth:
Reason 1. Glorify God.
Reason 2. Spread the Good News.
Reason 3. Help those who are suffering on the margins of society

We are clearly told throughout the New Testament to remember those in prison as though we were suffering with them. (see Hebrews 10:34 and Hebrews 13:3).

We are told to thank God for the good in our lives, but we are not told to thank Him that we aren't the ones suffering. We, as Christ-followers, are to expect to suffer. (see the book of Acts, Romans 5, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 1, Philippians 1, 2 Timothy 1-2, 1 Peter 2-4 for starters).

So let us pray for those who are suffering. Let us pray that we show compassion and mercy to those who are suffering. When we stretch our prayers in this way, we may discover that God uses these kinds of prayer to grow us and to draw us closer to Him.

When Our Priorities Grieve the Holy Spirit

I remember being floored back in April this year (2019). That was when the famous Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire in Paris, France. This came back to my mind recently as I read an update on how repairs to the cathedral were progressing.

People were grieved, crushed, and devastated by this unfortunate event, but the things that we weren't bothered by are events that probably grieved the Holy Spirit. Honestly, I think that the Holy Spirit was grieved by the response of the Church. We were so upset over a *building* that people were posting about it, donating to fix it, and raising awareness of this tragedy. Yet, we were largely silent regarding the world refugee crisis. We weren't donating to help asylum seekers at our door. We weren't raising awareness over human rights violations & violence happening in parts of Asia & Africa that were happening at the same time.

When we care more about buildings than lives being lost, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we care more about our safety & comfort than helping those trying to survive, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we aren't bothered by those who are fleeing violence & persecution, the Holy Spirit is grieved.

This should bother us, but we don't seem to be losing sleep over the children still detained in for-profit prisons within our borders. We don't seem impacted over the plight of the refugees or asylum-seekers. We aren't broken over those enslaved around the world & even in our own countries today.

So what needs to happen?
We need to change. We need to ask God to shift the priorities in our heart until our hearts match His. We should ask the Spirit to help us let go of the things that aren't important and focus our time, energy, and money on God's kingdom priorities.

May we be filled with a passion and a boldness for actually telling other people the Good News.
May we use the variety of news sources, not just to catch up on local or national news, but to pray over world events.
May we find ways to simplify our lives so we can give our time, talents, and money to help those on the margins of society.

May we be grieved and broken over the things that grieve the Spirit. And may we be moved to get involved to work towards righting injustices and interceding those who can't speak for themselves.

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Will you join me in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world?

The Open Door USA releases an annual World Watch List each year.

This list have the top 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution worldwide.

You can download fact sheets about each country, a global map of persecution, and a report highlighting the top three countries here.

You can even sign up for weekly prayer prompts country by country and monthly prayer calendars. For general prayer requests of persecuted Christians, check out Persecution.

Will you join me in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world?

Will you suggest that your church participate in the international day of prayer for the persecuted church? 

Will you commit to praying for one of the top 50 countries each week this year? Will you encourage others to join you?

A Prayer Challenge for the Persecuted Church

As the International Day of Prayer approaches (November 10, 2013), I challenge you to pray. The global church and its persecuted churches can seem like such a big prayer request and so I drew up a list of prayer prompts for your convenience.

-Pray for Liberty in North Korea. (I challenge you to pray faithfully each week, each day until this prayer is a reality)
-Pray for the 50 countries where persecution is the most severe. (I challenge you to pray for a country a day for the rest of the year & for the first 50 days of 2014)
-Pray for the pastors in persecuted countries.
-Pray for the missionaries in persecuted countries.
-Pray for the believers in persecuted countries.
-Pray against the works of the evil one in these countries. Ask for God to bind the hands of satan and protect His children.
-Pray for the persecutors. Pray that they will encounter Jesus and their encounter will leave them changed like Saul-Paul.
-Pray for the persecuted to have courage, strength, and endurance to withstand the persecution and to be Christ to their persecutors.
-Pray for God to move through governments, organizations, and people to protect His people.

Commit to pray. For a day. For a week. For a month. For a year.
Pray with your words. Pray with the words of others.
Pray alone. Pray with your family. Pray with your small group. Pray with your church.
Pray in the morning. Pray in the afternoon. Pray in the evening.
Pray with fasting. Pray with food.
Pray standing. Pray kneeling. Pray prostrate on the ground. Pray sitting. Pray while driving (but don't close your eyes).
Pray silently. Pray aloud. Pray with words. Pray with songs. Pray with groans & tears.

Pray for the persecuted church.

Persecution in the American Church (An Apology to the American Church)

I hear through word-of-mouth in the States how persecuted the Christians are there. Typically I silently scoff, because I have been exposed to sources that teach about persecution in the wider world, persecution that includes physical harm, property damage, threats, and death.

America is home of freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Christianity isn't very popular in America right now, but in my mind, that was nowhere near the same as persecution. In my mind, to make that claim was to dishonor the real persecuted church in the world.

As I researched the persecuted church and gathered resources for prayer & knowledge, I came across this quote in the IDOP Resources for Churches.

"DOES PERSECUTION HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES?
ANSWER: Persecution in the United States is not full-fledged when compared to the horrific physical violence in other countries. However, persecution exists as Christian’s rights are constricted by the government institutions, such as public schools and work places. The culture of political correctness severely restricts speech. Christians can be easily labeled as bigots and haters when people rise up to speak the truth. The Pew Forum reports that government restrictions on religious freedom (such as zoning permits for churches) and social hostility for religious groups in the United States have increased in the past four years." -Created by the International Christian Concern at Persecution.org (no copyright infringement intended)

So...I was wrong, there is mild persecution in the American church. It is not the persecution seen in the 50 countries with the most persecution, but it still exists. I apologize for scoffing at the persecution I thought was in your minds.

Now the question remains to be asked...What should the American church do about this persecution?

1. Pray...thanking God for that we can suffer for His name (Acts 5:17-42). 

2. Pray...thanking God that we will have a reward in heaven & that Jesus says the persecuted are blessed (Matthew 5:10-12). 

3. Pray...thanking God nothing can separate us from His love (and nothing includes persecution) (Romans 8:35-39).

4. Pray...thanking God that while man persecutes us, He doesn't abandon us (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

5. Pray...for our persecutors (Matthew 5:43-45)

6. Expect hate & persecution from the world, especially in the end times. (Matthew 24:1-14 and Luke 21:5-19 and John 15:18-25 and Acts 8:1 and 1 Thessalonians 3:4)

7. Bless our persecutors (Romans 12:14)

8. Endure persecution. Give blessings in response to cursing. Answer kindly in the face of slandering. (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)

 9. Accept persecution as a fact of following God's way (2 Timothy 3:12 )

10. Pray...for believers to have the "roots" to withstand persecution and not fall away from the faith (Matthew 13:1-23 and Mark 4:1-20)

11. Pray...for believers who left their homes & families and receive persecution for their faith (Mark 10:29-31)

12. Pray...for those who face worse persecution, persecution involving threats, violence, and death. Pray with a newly found sympathy and empathy for your brothers & sisters around the world who face the same thing (persecution), at times much more severely than we can imagine. Pray for God to protect & comfort His children in the persecuted church.

 Persecution exists in the world. As Christians, what will be the response we choose?

What the New Testament says about Persecution

What does the New Testament say about Persecution?
Did Jesus tell us we would never face it? No.
Did Jesus tell us we were to hate & complain against our persecutors? No.

What did Jesus, and his apostles, tell us about persecution?

The persecuted are blessed. They are to rejoice for they will have a great reward in heaven. Matthew 5:10-12

We are to love our enemies & pray for our persecutors so we may be called children of God. Matthew 5:43-45

Some will come to faith in Christ, but will not have the "roots" to stay the course when trouble or persecution strikes. Matthew 13:1-23 and Mark 4:1-20

In the end times, there will be persecution, death, and hate for believers. Many will leave the faith. There will be arrests & persecution. Matthew 24:1-14 and Luke 21:5-19

Those who leave family & homes will receive families, homes, and also persecutions. Mark 10:29-31

The world persecuted and hated Jesus. Because we follow Jesus, we can expect hate and persecution as well. John 15:18-25

The early church was persecuted. Acts 8:1
The early church rejoiced that they could suffer beatings & disgrace for Jesus. Acts 5:17-42
When Paul, Silas, & Timothy were persecuted, they said "told-ya-so" (give or take) 1 Thessalonians 3:4

Nothing, not even persecution, can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:35-39

We are to bless, not curse, our persecutors. Romans 12:14

When cursed, bless. When persecuted, endure it. When slandered, answer kindly. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13

We are persecuted (by man) but not abandoned (by God) 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

So this is a snapshot of what the New Testament has to say about persecution.

In summary:
-it will happen.
-rejoice in our reward in heaven
-pray for our persecutors.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

The first Sunday in November (for the UK & Ireland) and the second Sunday in November (internationally) is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). The official website is here. It has a lot of resources here from Biblical theology, liturgy, hymns, Bible readings, devotionals, videos, children's materials, and more.

Who are the persecuted? World Watch List creates a list each year of the top 50 countries with persecution. It has the 5-5-5 challenge of 5 minutes of prayer a week, 5 friends invited to join the challenge, and $5 a month to help suffering persecuted Christians. The watch list shows what countries need prayers for their persecuted Christians.

The Nazarene Church is joining in this movement, raising their voices with other denominations to pray for the persecuted.

Elizabeth Kendal has many resources on her site. She has the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin, the Religious Liberty Monitoring, and Critical Prayer Request blogs. This post from the CPR is about the IDOP.

Open Doors can connect you with prayer updates, prayer calenders, daily devotionals, and more for the persecuted church.

Persecution.com has news, newsletters, information for getting involved, and more to help the persecuted church.

Those in America (where I'm from) have freedom to meet in official churches, practice our religion, and tell others about Christ. Dear Brothers & Sisters in America, not everyone in the world has the same freedom we do. Learn about the persecuted church. Commit to pray for them, to fast for them, to sacrificially give to them. Thank God for our freedoms instead of protesting the changing times. That will catch the notice of those around you.

I encourage you to study what the Bible says about persecution. There will be a follow up post on what the Bible says about persecution.