Around the world, in many lands, our brethren suffer and die, At the hands of those who hate the Lord, but do we hear their cry? For Christ, they suffer willingly, a martyrs mantle, wear; But in the west, in our comfort zone, do we really care?

Do we care when pain and torture, and starvation make them cry? Do we care when they’re persecuted and if not, then we must ask, Why? For the Church is the body of Christ, joined together in Him as one. So when we neglect its suffering are we not rejecting God’s own Son?

It’s time to repent, O Church; to forsake our selfish ways, For our sin – a lack of compassion, may bring us judgment in our days! For the tide of evil is rising and the blood-letting has begun; The wicked are raging against the Almighty and against His chosen ones.

If we turn our eyes and stop our ears it will not change the fact, Each one of us is responsible to pray and then to act. An account of our life will be demanded when we stand before the Lord, And caring for our brethren in trouble is commanded by His Word.

So, what will you do, O Christian? Will you intercede and pray? Or when confronted with this awful news will you simply turn away?

Conrad J. Beattie 4 March 1997