George
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Over 380 million Christians face persecution; the response is prayer, not hate
The speaker notes that many people are unaware of the scale of Christian persecution today. Over 380 million Christians live in countries with high levels of persecution, and nearly 5,000 were killed in one year, with 3,500 deaths in Nigeria alone. In North Korea, owning a Bible leads to prison camps, while in China thousands are arrested, and in Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria, being Christian can cost your life. Despite this, the world largely ignores the suffering.
Christ warned that his followers would be persecuted as he was, and persecution has continued from the apostles and Roman martyrs to today. The Christian response, passed from the apostles through the martyrs and saints, has never been hatred but love and prayer. Answering persecution with hate makes Christians lose their faith and become like their persecutors; instead, believers should pray for persecutors, worship freely, and draw closer to God, the very thing persecuted Christians are dying to do.
Key moments
- Many people don't know what's happening to Christians worldwide; we are privileged to worship freely.
- Christ warned that his followers would be persecuted as he was, and persecution has continued from the apostles and Roman martyrs to today.
- More than 380 million Christians currently live in countries with high persecution, and 4,900 were killed in one year, 3,500 in Nigeria alone.
- In North Korea owning a Bible sends you to a prison camp; in China thousands are arrested; in Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria being Christian can cost your life.
- The world largely does not care about this suffering.
- From the apostles to the saints, Christians have answered persecution with love and prayer, not hate, focusing on drawing closer to God.
- Answering with hate makes Christians lose their values, faith, and everything Christ taught, becoming like their persecutors and letting evil into their hearts.
- Instead of feeding anger, Christians should pray for persecutors, go to church, practice their faith freely, and come closer to God, what persecuted Christians are dying to do.