(Editor's Note: Today's Guest Writer for Engage is Parker Kathleen May.)
From October 24 - 28, Engage and Global Outreach International are partnering together to present the Orange Letter Campaign. This is your opportunity to reach out to Christians all around the world in a tangible way.
Many of these Christians are missionaries in cultures that persecute them for their faith and are facing trials that Christians in the United States have never experienced.
We are asking you to write short letters of encouragement and prayer that are full of scripture. Remind these Christians that they are not alone in their trials and that the Church around the world is lifting them in prayer.
To send your letter, visit www.engagemagazine.net.
When looking back at the persecution that Christians have faced throughout the years, a repeating question that many come across is “why?” Why must we go through this? Why is God not helping us? Why should I put my belief in a faith that is causing me to suffer? If God is all-powerful and can take away our suffering, why does He allow us to go through torment while on this earth?
First, we need to focus on what we know. We know that according to John 15:20 we will be persecuted because of our affiliation with the Lord. There will always be someone who will be offended because of our beliefs and want to make us suffer. And while God is all-powerful, He is also all-knowing and has a reason for everything that He allows to happen or not happen. Even though we might not understand His decision, we must keep our faith in Him and strive to follow Him no matter what we face. Still, we wish to know the reason we are persecuted.
Looking back at history, there are two reasons why Christians go through trials.
One reason can be seen in the book of Job. In the story, Job was a godly man that was blessed with all manner of riches. One day, Satan came unto the Lord and stated that Job would not be faithful if he faced affliction. Therefore, God allowed Satan to put Job through trial after trial. Not only did Job lose his wealth and family, but he was also covered with boils and sores. Job's wife and so-called friends were of little help or comfort to him during his suffering. Thankfully, Job stayed by God, and because of his faithfulness, he was blessed twice as much as the first time.
Although this is not a story of persecution, the lesson still stands. 2 Corinthians 12:10 states, “Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Although we might not like it, persecution makes us stronger in our faith. After what Job went through, his faith was as strong as ever. It’s when we are tested that we know how much resolve we have in our God.
Another reason God allows persecution is because it can inspire people. After thousands of years of being under attack from the world, Christianity is still one of the most widely held faiths in the world, and the Bible is still the world’s best seller. People have tried to intimidate us out of our faith or wipe our faith out, but we still stand today. Instead of scaring us away, the world has given us more of a reason to fight for what we believe in.
After reading stories such as the stoning of the first martyr Stephen, the beheading of Paul, the upside-down crucifixion of Peter, and the many other gory ways that Christians have been persecuted throughout history, there is no doubt that a Christian’s life could end in a less than pleasant way. But these stories cause people to wonder why they went through what they did. Why would they die for their faith unless they were certain that they are in the right, and the Lord has saved them and taken them home?
Although it might seem terrible to face some form of persecution, it is good to remember that Christians do not do it in vain. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We only have a short time here on earth to suffer, but we have the rest of eternity to live without pain and suffering.
It is important to realize that God does not forget about us and has a purpose for what we face on this earth. Romans 8:28 tells us that it will work out for those who follow God, even if it is not on this side of eternity.
