The Persecuted Church Today

Major world events are unfolding in our time.  When we dig beneath the obsession with US politics that plagues so much media coverage, big global issues appear—like:  Venezuela unrest; North Korea’s nuclear arms prog­ram; ISIS retreat/reconfiguration; India-Pakistan ten­sions; air and water pollution; Brexit angst; US-China trade wars.

But one global human rights crisis often ignored in the media is the persecution of Christians.  With the exception of a few high-profile cases (especially Andrew Brunson and Asia Bibi), the fact of religious oppression and violence against followers of Jesus gets little notice.

To be sure, the persecution of any religious (or non-religious) group is deserving of media attention.  What’s more, as Christians who love their neighbors, we should care about and pursue safety not just for Christians but also for Muslims, Hindus, Jews, atheists, etc.

Open Doors publishes a “World Watch List,” and their 2019 edition has just come out.  It’s a call to prayer for the fifty countries where it is most dangerous to follow Jesus.

North Korea ranks #1.  “The primary driver of persecution in North Korea is the state.  For three generations, everything in the country has focused on idolizing the Kim family.  Christians are seen as hostiles to be eradicated.”  The estimated 300,000 North Korean Christians face extreme persecution.  Pray for their protection and the sustaining of their faith; pray also for radical changes in govern­ment that would allow for religious freedom.

Of the fifteen countries ranked from #2 to #16 on the list, thirteen have “Islamic oppression” as the source of persecution—including Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria.  In some nations, Sharia Law is enshrined in the constitution (e.g., Afghanistan and Somalia).  Thus, “to convert to a faith outside Islam is tantamount to treason because it is seen as a betrayal of family, tribe and country.”  Pray for the millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ living in these countries:  they are our family in Jesus!

Today 245 million Christians experience high levels of persecution.  Remember:  “The least you can do is the most you can do:  pray.”