Stepping Out In Faith - Do We Really Understand What That Means?
I read an article today about three Christian women in Indonesia who are being tried for violating the “child protection” laws because they are leading Sunday School classes in their local church. As reported by the Christian Wire Service, “a mob of radical Islamists arrived by the truckload at the court where the proceedings continued. The mob gathered just outside the courthouse; and as the three women arrived for their trial, police forces had to hold back the assembled mob from attacking the women, as they shouted "Allahu akbar! (God is great!) Dr. Rebekah is evil, hang them...Shoot her!" (Click here) to read the article.
Death threats for teaching children the word of God in Sunday school? I was brought out of my safe little Christian world immediately after reading this article. How ridiculous I am for feeling satisfied when I stand up for Christ in a social setting. How small and insignificant I am when I “step out in faith” and tell a stranger in my safe little community about the Lord.
Our Pastors exhort us week after week to go out and tell the world about the love and salvation of Christ and we let opportunity after opportunity slip by because we don’t want to make waves at church, don’t want to mess with the separation of church and state, don’t feel that “religion” is a good topic of dinner conversation, don’t want him/her to think we are some kind of weird “Jesus Freak”…yadda, yadda, yadda.
I suggest we all take a moment to reflect on how obedient and brave we have truly been in bringing the Gospel message to others and then repent of our disobedience. Then let’s get down on our knees and pray for these women and all the other people who know that “living their faith out loud” may mean dying for their faith. Oh, to have such passion.
“Father forgive me for every time I did not speak of Your love and salvation to someone. Help me to never miss an opportunity again and Lord, I pray for Your protection and strength for all of those who are so brave and faithful to do in dangerous circumstances, what I fear to do in complete safety.
"When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don't. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? `A servant is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me.
John 15:18-21 (NLT)
