Blessed is he who mourns with the oppressed

It is not uncommon for a Christian to be persecuted. Even the captain of our salvation was murdered by the slaves of darkness. In Bible, we see the righteous facing death for the sake of their holiness from Abel to the first century Christians. By the grace of God, in our era, God has given some countries (or parts of countries) which are relatively free from persecution. When I say free from persecution, what I mean is brutal death and severe physical abuse for the sake of believing in Christ. But not all Christians are free from persecution. 

Even now, Christians are brutally murdered hanged in public, put in concentration camps etc. Recent examples being the abduction of Christian girls in Sudan, capital punishment for a Christian pregnant woman in Nigeria, blasphemy laws of Pakistan and the concentration camps of North Korea. For the Christians in these parts of the world, day to day living in these countries would be a fight between life and death.

Yet, for those who are living in the comfortable parts of the world, including some professing Christians, they not only are ignorant of the suffering of their brethren, but also so indifferent for the same. When I was talking to some of my Christian friends about the recent political changes in my country and my concern for the safety of the Christians, most of them gave a reply saying only ‘those’ Christians in the hostile parts of my nation would be ‘affected’ by them. They not only realise that they are also in the same boat as those brethren but what bothered me the most was their total indifference and the lack of concern for the suffering Christians but also their selfishness and their pride. They would have no problem if the Christians are butchered in those areas provided they are comfortable and promised ‘development’ and good governance.

Let us see the biblical way of how to react when our brethren are suffering for their faith:

1) Christians are parts of the same body of Christ:

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1Co 12:26-27)

We are all saved by one God, the Man Jesus Christ. We are all partaking with Him in the same body. Whether we are in China or in the U.S, if one Christian in a third world suffers for the sake of his faith, a professing Christian will definitely understand the pain and will also mourn. If your tooth is paining, would your hands be indifferent of it or would not bother, thinking my hands are more important than tooth? Then why you Christians don’t want to come out of your comfort zones?

2) Mourn  for those who are suffering:

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Rom 12:15)

We are to mourn and cry unto the Lord for our brethren who are dying for their faith. If you see in Psa 79:1-4, there he cries for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Israelites who have been taken as captives. Likewise we should also cry for the Spiritual Israel, the church who are getting persecuted for the sake of Christ.

3) Prayer:

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Col 4:3-4)

Though God knew from the past the things of the future, and His plans can’t be thwarted, it is pleasing for Him to listen to us and hear our pleas in such a way, He uses our prayers as a means towards the execution of His Sovereign plan. So let us pray for our brethren’s safety and also for the sake of their faith in the times of trouble.

So let us not be selfish and self centred, thinking only about us, but rather remember our brethren all over the world suffering for the sake of Christ.

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mat 25:32-46)

Let us rather be a sheep and help our brethren suffering for Christ.

If you have liked this, you can also read Are you afraid of Persecution?

Ethics and the World

²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. – Mat 7:24-25

Our society is rapidly changing. The things and values which we considered as abnormal and taboo are now considered to be the new normality. In the above verse, Jesus says that whoever obeys His commands and lives according to His words would be like a person who has built his house on a solid foundation. The ethics which the Bible teaches would withstand the troubles and dangers of our life and will be a blessing for us.

Bible says in Psalm19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul”. A law can be ethical only if it is given by an infinitely Holy and Righteous being, who is only God. But instead if we follow the world and its way of ethics, then it would be a snare for us, not only in our Spiritual life, but also in our daily living. Any other ethics which is not from God, is from a finite, fallible being, which would be fallacious. I will show the fallacies of some of the worldly ethics.

Abortion and Holocaust:

Many say that abortion is a rightful ‘choice’ which every woman can make. If a woman feels she doesn't need a child, then she can do Medical Termination of Pregnancy. People supporting abortion argue saying it would bring economic burden to the poor families. But Hitler also argued that Jews are the reason for the economic burden of Nazi Germany, and murdered them in concentration camps. He followed the same principle of abortion.

Some say if the child conceived is deformed or ill, we can abort. By what criteria, would you define the illness of a child which requires for abortion or not? For some, a child with Down’s syndrome can be a candidate of abortion. For others even short fingers can be a deformity. Who defines it? If deformed babies can be killed, then why not kill deformed and old aged people, so that the ‘burden’ of the society can be reduced? Hitler also killed people who are old, people with Down’s syndrome etc. in concentration camps quoting the same reason.

So you can see that the reasons for abortion are based on a flimsy ground which is self-contradictory. Scripture says, in Gen 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” 

Since man is made in the image of God, no human being has a right to take the life of any other man even if he is deformed. Since life starts at conception (Psa 51:5), each and every embryo conceived is a human being made in the image of God. So to do abortion is to murder that person.

Religious freedom Vs Tyranny:

Many atheists would proudly say that most of the wars of this world are fought due to religion. They say that religious people (especially Christians) are the most intolerant people of all times. If that is the case, why are all the communistic countries of the world like North Korea, Soviet Union, Cuba, China etc, based on atheistic principles, committing human rights violations much more than the countries founded by Christian principles? What made countries whose constitution founded by Christian values like the U.S, Britain and even India, striving for religious freedom?

It is because right to freedom of religion is based on Christian principle. A person can believe in Christ only if God enables him to know the truth and gives him the power to believe. A sinful man is spiritually dead (Eph 2:1).  And Christianity is a religion not based on external changes but based on change in heart (Eze36:25-27). And only God can change a person’s heart (2Cor 10:4). So instead of following the worldly way of intimidation and fear, we preach Christ crucified with grace and peace and wait on the Lord to bring the changes in people’s hearts.  

Jesus says, in Mat 7, ^“26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Whoever bases his ethics on a Non-Biblical worldview, is like the guy who builds his house on sinking sand. His ethics will crumble by self-contradiction.

Christian, what is your worldview based on? Is it based on Scripture, the solid rock or the world, the sinking sand?

Here is a video by Dr. Ken Ham who describes how biblical worldview based on Genesis to Revelation can be a blessing for humanity:

If you have liked this, you may also read Can a Christian practice Yoga?

Christ in the midst of Poverty

About one third of the people in this world are poor. Many people are suffering and are finding it difficult to even to meet their most basic needs of their lives. Even many Christians are poor especially in the developing nations. There are many preachers who say that Christians are meant to be rich because Christ has died for them and removed all the curses. So they say if a person is poor, then it means that he is still under the curse. For example, look at the quote of a famous prosperity preacher, Benny Hinn on poverty:

“Poverty is from the devil and that God wants all Christians to be prosperous” - Benny Hinn

It is true that poverty can be due to our own sinfulness. Bible says in Pro 10:4, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” also in Pro 13:18, “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” It is clear that out of our own sinfulness and laziness we can become poor. Sometimes it can be due to punishment of God for our past sinfulness (Deu 28:36-44).  But that is not the only cause of poverty. Bible shows that even righteous people were poor for the sake of their righteousness. Job became poor because of his righteousness. If Benny Hinn and his friends are right, then the captain of our salvation, Lord Jesus Christ would be the most cursed being in this universe. He suffered so much that he did not even have a place to sleep (John 8:1). If the ultimate aim of a Christian is to become a billionaire, then we should be following Steve Jobs rather than Jesus Christ since Christ is a very bad example.

Christ did not come to this world to make us rich, wealthy and prosperous. Jesus said in John 18:36, “My Kingdom is not of this world”. Christ came to save us from our sinfulness and redeem us from our eternal condemnation and Hell. He bought us salvation from the punishment we rightly deserved for our sins. Christ promised that, ‘In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."(Joh 16:33). And He also promised for eternal happiness and riches in the new heavens and the earth.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4)

Though Christ prophesised that we will be suffering in this world, yet He has also given this wonderful promises too:

God will provide us for our basic needs:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (Mat 6:31-32)

God has promised us to provide us the basic food and clothing to live in this world. He has not promised us food from Taj Hotel, accommodation in a Castle or drive a Ferrari, but He did promise us that we would get our daily food and clothing till we die.

So how should a Christian respond to riches and poverty?

1) Christians should help their poor brethren:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1Ti 6:17-19)

It is our duty as a Christian that we should help our poor brethren. Bible has examples of so many faithful Christian saints, who have helped poor brethren in Christ to the point that they have lost all their wealth (2Cor 8:2). Bible says, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Co 9:6-7)”.  Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Mat 25:40).  So we need to cheerfully give our wealth for our poor brethren.

2) Love of money – Root of all evil:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
(1Ti 6:10)

Anyone can be tempted to become rich, since rich and poor people are all depraved. But this temptation is very high with rich people. There were so many people who lost their faith due to their love of money. Remember the young man who was not willing to follow Christ for the sake of his wealth (Mat 19:16-24)

3) Godliness with contentment:

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1Ti 6:6-8)

Our treasure is Christ. To be content does not mean that we should be living in a cave or a monastery without anything but to be satisfied only in Christ. The reason why people crave to become rich and wealthy including preachers like Paul Dinakaran, Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Sam P Chelladurai etc., is because they think that they can be satisfied by money. But they fail to realise that only an infinite being can satisfy and bring true happiness to man, which is only God (Pro 27:20).  We are not going to be living in this earth forever. So why spend our entire life thinking about becoming rich? Therefore let us rest upon Christ and not upon our wealth so that we would be using the God given blessings of this world for His glory.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Heb 11:13)

Blessed are those persecuted for Christ

It is been consistent throughout the history that Christians are the most persecuted people groups of all times. Even in an open society like the U.S, Christians are targeted by all other faith groups. The way of persecution ranges from trivial discrimination to death in most of the time. In my country, we are now at the junction of political instability and the rise of anti-christian groups. A Christian should always be ready to glorify God during the time of persecution. Let us remember few points from Scripture regarding this:

1) God is Sovereign over persecution:

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
(Pro 21:1)

If we are ruled by a tyrant who despises God and persecutes Christians, we should remember that even he is under the control of God. There is not one neutron of an atom of this universe which is not under the control of our heavenly Master. God can use even the worst persecutors of Christians for the furtherance of His kingdom. When our Saviour was about to face the most terrible persecution ever faced by any human being, look at His reply for Pilate’s question: "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. (Joh 19:11)”. It was Satan’s plan to destroy the Son of God through persecuting Him but God used that event for His glory and redeemed us thus advancing His kingdom. If you look at Acts 8, when persecution started in Jerusalem, the disciples went to the regions of gentile and started preaching the gospel to advance the kingdom of God. Thus God can use even the darkest hour of Christianity for His glory. Let us remember this verse and trust in His providence during persecution:

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
(Dan 4:35)

2. No servant is greater than the master:

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (Mat 10:24)

If this wicked world did not spare the God’s only Son, the Holy one of Israel, how would it leave us alone? Rather, we should remember that it is because of Christ, we are suffering (Mat 10:22). Even our own parents can hate us. But let us remember that Christ is with us when we are persecuted. Let us remember the blessed promise of our Saviour:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Mat 10:29-33)

3.Bless those who curse you:

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (Luk 6:27-28)

As Christians, we are called to bless and pray for those who persecute us.  Bible says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Rom 12:19) . Our God is mighty to save us. He will punish the evil doers for each and every tear which they made us shed for the sake of His name. So we should do good to those who do bad to us, “for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (Rom 12:20)

4. Blessed are those who are persecuted:

"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
(Luk 6:22)

It is a blessed state to be hated by the prince of this world, because if God promises something to pass, it will happen. And he would bless us abundantly if we are suffering for the sake of God.

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
(2Co 4:17)

So as Christians, we should be ready to face persecution for the sake of Christ. This affliction is going to be temporary. No matter how hard it is, no matter how bad the afflicters are, they are all mortal and they are all going to die one day. Let us therefore share with the afflictions of Christ (1The 1:6) and strive through the narrow path so that we would be satisfied infinitely from the infinite blessings of God.