Seeking a profundity of common understanding

God is preparing a people for himself.

Persecution calls for joy in hope, patience in affliction and faithfulness in prayer.

Imagine feeling a shot of panic every time you hear a motorbike go past your home. Or waving your spouse off to the shops, or your children off to school, knowing there is a distinct possibility they may be abducted or slaughtered. Or wondering every time you go to a church service whether you and your loved ones will come out alive.

This is the grim reality for Christians in many parts of northern and central Africa, where Islamist militant gangs like Boko Haram and al Shabaab are spreading terror, inspired and supported by better-known groups like Al Qaeda.

This month alone, the Barnabas Fund has reported that Islamist gunmen have been on a killing spree in northern Burkina Faso, storming church services, rounding up congregants and shooting them dead. In predominantly Muslim Niger, a pastor has been shot and a church looted, following a spate of attacks on churches. In mainly Christian Cameroon, two Christian villages have been ransacked.

In Nigeria, one of the deadliest countries in Africa for Christians, 17 church-goers were abducted by Boko Haram last weekend whilst at their choir practice. ISIS-inspired Boko Haram are intent on establishing a caliphate from north-eastern Nigeria to northern Cameroon.

Writing this on a beautifully sunny spring day in England, it’s difficult to imagine what these believers and their families are going through. The long night of Islamist persecution in Africa (particularly in the Sahel region) grows ever darker, with no sign of dawn.

Great is the Darkness

The vast regions of western Africa provide sadly plentiful examples of the persecution of the faithful but, as Open Doors unveils every year with its ‘World Watch List’, Christians are being discriminated against and abused, imprisoned and murdered all around the globe.

The Easter Day attacks in Sri Lanka made shocking headlines, but the fuller list is exhausting: Christians are being targeted by hard-line Islamists in Indonesia and Pakistan, communist state pressure in North Korea, China and Vietnam, radical Hindu attacks in India and Nepal, radical Buddhists in Laos and Myanmar, and Islamic persecution in virtually every country in central Asia, the Middle East (save for Israel) and north Africa.

Christians are being discriminated against and abused, imprisoned and murdered all around the globe.

Such a bleak map spurred the Bishop of Truro to claim in his recent report to the Foreign Secretary that persecution of Christians in some areas is at ‘near genocide’ levels, though political correctness has generally stopped it being reported in the mainstream Western press.

Open Doors' 2019 World Watch List map, showing in colour the 50 worst countries for persecution of Christians.Here in Britain, we may justifiably be concerned about the erosion of free speech, or the gradual encroachment of secularism or Islam, or the threats posed by a Corbyn government. But even with the recent spate of Islamist terror attacks on people and churches in Europe, Christians in the West do not yet face anything like the danger being faced on a daily basis by our brothers and sisters elsewhere around the world.

Refining Fire

In Matthew 24, speaking to his disciples, Jesus said that in addition to deception, wars, famines and earthquakes, one sign of his imminent return would be that “you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matt 24:9). But just because these things ‘must happen’, it does not mean that Christians in the comparatively safe West should turn a blind eye, or fail to speak up on these issues, or withhold their prayers. It may not be long before we are next.

Mark well Jesus’ subsequent words: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (emphasis added).

High levels of persecution lead to a flourishing underground Church; the Gospel has always, paradoxically, produced most life in the fires of hardship. These fires are refining: strengthening faithful believers and removing their impurities through testing.

But they are also refining in another sense, purging the dross from the Body of Christ. As persecution increases, we see the less committed falling away, their attachment to Christ not strong enough to withstand threats to their personal safety or dignity. Still others become ensnared by the smooth words and enticing promises of false prophets, who provide a tempting diversion from harsh reality.

I believe that we are seeing the beginnings of this refining in the Western Church today, where false teachings have already ensnared many and where an increasingly stark division is apparent between Christians who cleave to Scripture and to their Lord (whatever the cost), and those who have accepted a syncretistic or worldly gospel which cannot save.

Just because these things ‘must happen’, it does not mean that Christians in the comparatively safe West should turn a blind eye.

Momentous Drama

It may be that one day soon, believers in the old heartlands of Christianity will face the same long night as our brothers and sisters are currently enduring elsewhere around the world. We must pray that if and when it comes, we will be found faithful.

The wonderful news is that a worldwide surge in persecution will be accompanied by the worldwide spread of the true Gospel and the adding of many more believers to the true Church, who is being prepared as a Bride for her Husband (Matt 24:14).

As this momentous drama unfolds, we are enjoined by the Lord Jesus to guard our hearts and not let our love grow cold – which I take to mean both our love for him, and our love for each other. May this dreadful news from west Africa this month fan the flame of love in our hearts, especially for our persecuted family, in the knowledge that one day soon, our Lord will return and justice will be done (Rev 6:9-11).

Here are several ministries through which you can stand with the persecuted Church. If you know of others, please post them below.

• Barnabas Fund https://barnabasfund.org/en
  
• Open Doors https://www.opendoorsuk.org/
  
• Release International https://releaseinternational.org/
  
• Samaritan’s Purse https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/article/help-persecuted-christians/
  
• Sat-7 (satellite network reaching the Middle East and North Africa with the Gospel) https://www.sat7uk.org/
• Morningstar News (news service focusing exclusively on the persecuted Church) https://morningstarnews.org

The doctrine of baptisms. (Part 1)

In a response to reader comments on her previous article on spiritual gifts, this week Monica Hill looks at the two 'methods' from 1 Peter, which underpin all the other gifts: speaking and serving.

In this series we will be looking at all the gifts in turn, but we will start with the passage that is often ignored in studies – that is the passage in 1 Peter, which we have described as 'methods' applicable to all the gifts rather than specific gifts.

Serving and speaking

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11).

When the above passage in 1 Peter was written, the believers in the early church were already being put under pressure from those Jews who were not believers - and also to a certain extent from the Roman authorities. To speak out at that time, particularly of you did not have a special gifting, could lead to even more persecution, but setting an example in your lives by showing God's unfailing love and living out your faith in service could be of equal value in witnessing. The letters from Peter are two of the latest books to gain a place in our Bible and can have special relevance for believers today - especially when they too are under pressure.

The emphasis in verse 10 is clearly being laid on the serving nature of the gifts. It is recognised that although some of the many gifts being exercised will require the believers to speak out, this is not necessary for every gift. In today's world, being able to express yourself and your feelings in words is an obvious advantage and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, God can put the right words in our mouths when we place our trust in him. However, there are many passages which show that the tongue can be deceptive- and many others that show that deeds can speak louder than words. So if speaking is not your gift, do not despair.

Whether speaking or doing, every gift God gives should be used in a serving capacity- that is, to benefit others and reflect God's amazing grace."

If you can express yourself well, you are to be commended if you use this gift to extol the words of God and to help others understand more of who God is, whilst not thinking of yourself as more important than those who do not find it so easy.

But it IS absolutely necessary for all the gifts to be used in a 'serving' capacity - and they should always reflect God's grace. This grace is described as the free and unmerited favour of God. In fact if we look carefully at the other references to gifts we find that the serving nature is reflected in them all.

Ministry roles

In Ephesians 4:12 we find that the prime purpose of the ministry roles given to individuals is to prepare God's people for works of service. Those who have these ministry gifts are often placed in leadership in our churches and they have a responsibility for equipping and supporting others on the front line. They are in effect a supporting ministry and can be regarded as 'a gift of serving' in themselves.

Manifestations

The manifestations listed in 1 Corinthians 12 each reflect a different spiritual gift. Rightly exercised, they are all different kinds of service and should be exercised for the common good. This is important for building up the body and contributing to the health and unity of the whole church.

Natural gifts

It is easy to see how the seven more 'natural gifts' listed in Romans 12 have a serving capacity – eg 'teaching', 'encouraging', 'contributing to the needs of others', 'showing mercy'. But in verse 7 we find 'serving' is also listed as a specific attribute - if your gift is serving it can have a wide range of applications as the need arises. Those with this gift will also have the ability to discern where the need is greatest and what is needed to be done. They must make a special effort to serve well.

Ministry roles, manifestations and natural gifts are all purposed to serve God's kingdom by building up his people- including the specific gift of serving, which has broad application as the need arises."

Servanthood

We cannot live a fulfilling Christian life without embracing an attitude of servanthood. Jesus gave us the ultimate example of what being a servant to others means - whatever our role in life. When his disciples were debating who would be the greatest, Jesus reminded them that "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27) and he washed his disciples' feet to set an example to us all of the way we should serve one another.

In John 12:26 we read "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me." We are cleansed so that we can "serve the living God" (Heb 9:14). As followers of Jesus, we must follow his example and aim to have a servant heart.

Serving for the right reasons

Serving must be undertaken with willingness and for the right reasons. Elders and leaders are to care for those who have been entrusted to them, "serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve" (1 Pet 5:2)

Slavery was common in those days and also in times nearer our own. Jesus even told us "...and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt 20:27-28).

Whatever our position in life, and however other people treat us, we are encouraged to serve willingly- as it is the Lord we are serving."

We must always remember, when we are serving others, that it is the Lord we are serving (Col 3:24). And in everything we do, it should be done as for the Lord. The slaves in New Testament times, and many of the new believers came from that class of people who could not change their worldly standing. So they were encouraged to respect their masters "so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered" (1 Tim 6:1). If they had believing masters, they were "to serve them even better" (6:2). Paul also said "We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us." (2 Cor 6:8).

What should our attitude be to serving?

Paul's teaching was "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically" (Rom 12:11). In Galatians 5:13 he tells us "to serve one another in love". This is the primary message in John's letters. He continually pleads with the believers to love one another, and he reminds them that in so doing they were reflecting the love and care of the Father. He says "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1).

A final word from Paul

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel" (2 Cor 9:12).