Review Acts 8 before you continue.
Read Acts 8 online: Acts 8
Listen to Acts 8 online: Acts 8
Today, we'll let everyone else do a little work. Review chapter 8. The persecution of Saul led to the dispersion of the Christians from Jerusalem. The church was then scattered from there and throughout the meditteranean. Yet, it seemed to be a good thing.
Seattle Times writes a compelling article on the Chinese persecution of the church. In China, when the western missionaries were kicked out by the communist regime in 1949, the church had to go underground. They were at 1 million in China. Now, the underground church is estimated to be 50 million. (Seattle Times)
In Acts 8, this is what seems to happen. Do you think this is necessary? What do you think of religious persecution today? And an honest question - how much would you be able to stand by your beliefs?
Respond in the comments section. Take as much time and space as you need.
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I am reminded of a famous quote by a Japenese Admiral after Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant, and fill him with a terrible resolve" In Acts 8, Saul begins persecuting christians, but as you read on you hear great stories of salvation. Did saul wake the sleeping giant? In reference to China, did the Chinese government wake the Christian community in China?
ReplyDeleteFast forward to present day Dallas, TX, What is the sleeping giant that our community is waiting for? We are blessed to live in a country that allows us to express our spirituality, but yet we do not go out and use this freedom of expression. How much would these Chinese christians give for this freedom we take for granted? Yet they are content and continue to be witnesses for christ. Is it because we are waiting for our sleeping giant to awaken? It's as if we need a cause, such as persecution, to motivate us.
Martyrs are seen as people that represent their beliefs and through death provide a "cause" for others to rally around. If you die for your religion, then we are inspired to follow and thus a chain reaction of other martyrs and inspired belivers forms. Yet, the original meaning of the word Martyr is simply translated as "witness". Death is something that we have associated with the term over time. If we translate the direct meaning of this word then it is to say that a Martyr is simple a witness, an example of his faith. So shouldn't we all be martyrs?
I am just as guilty as anyone else at taking my first ammendment rights for granted. What I challenge myself to do today, is not wait for the sleeping giant to wake, but be a Martyr today.
I love that line: "What I challenge myself to do today, is not wait for the sleeping giant to wake, but be a Martyr today."
ReplyDeleteYou are right. There is no reason to wait for the sleeping giant to awake, for some cause to sweep across the Christian landscape. Lay myself down as a sacrifice today. Thanks man.