By Elizabeth Kendal 

'In whom do you now trust?' (Isaiah 36:5b ESV)

Religious liberty is in decline globally. Consequently persecution of
Christians and repression of Christian humanitarianism and proclamation
are on the increase globally.

In the non-West, persecution of Christians continued to escalate through
2010. The draining wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, combined with the 'global
financial collapse' of August 2008, have left America without the economic
leverage to convince leaders of non-free states to rein in persecution.
This comes at a time when intolerant, fundamentalist Islam is in revival
and intolerant, religious nationalism is emerging as a dominant political
force in the world. Meanwhile, Iran is ascendant in the Middle East and
exerting influence across the Muslim world. Likewise, China is ascendant
in Asia and exerting influence in Africa and other places where it has
established a presence. To counter domestic tensions, both Iran and China
are escalating persecution against anything that could threaten 'harmony',
i.e. the political status quo. As persecution escalates neither the US nor
the EU (European Union) nor the UN nor any NGO (non-government
organisation) can do anything about it.  

Not only is the West increasingly powerless to help the persecuted in the
non-West, but due to 'culture change', the West itself is becoming
increasingly hostile to Christianity. The more the West 'evolves' from a
Judeo-Christian to a post-Christian culture, the more it becomes just like
other non-Judeo-Christian cultures: intolerant, authoritarian, repressive
and hostile towards Christ. For many decades now the West has been
forgetting God (Deuteronomy 8: 11-20) and in pride and arrogance has been
pursuing independence and self-sufficiency. Across much of the West, once
dominant Christian values have become minority values increasingly deemed
to be in violation of human rights. As the West lurches towards 'culture
collapse', Western leaders are similarly becoming increasingly desperate
for 'harmony' at any price. Consequently, belligerent forces are being
appeased while Christians are starting to lose their jobs, their places at
university, their right to free speech and witness, and even their right
to serve in a humanitarian and charitable capacity. Unless there is
widespread revival -- for this is a spiritual issue before it is a
political one -- the situation will only get worse.  

Over recent decades persecuted Christians and their advocates have
increasingly invested their hopes, trust and faith in governments and
NGOs, especially in the US and the UN. Persecuted Christians and their
advocates should be starting to realise that politics, the projects of
men, powerful alliances and military might are all failing to bring
security. As the devil mockingly asks, 'In whom do you now trust?' let us
pray that the crisis serves to awaken and revive the Church. Might we like
King Hezekiah remember our gracious, faithful LORD and turn to HIM (Isaiah
36,37).   

PRAYER

Gracious Lord,

We ask you to bless your Church with a great awakening of faith. May
imminently imperilled Christians in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Iraq and Egypt put their faith in you alone. May increasingly subjugated
and threatened Christians throughout the Muslim world -- including
Indonesia (especially Papua and West Java), Malaysia, Bangladesh, Lebanon,
Iran, the North Caucasus -- put their faith in you alone. May repressed
and persecuted believers throughout Asia -- including China, North Korea,
Vietnam, Laos, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka --
put their faith in you alone. May Western Christians experiencing the
consequences of 'culture change' put their faith in you alone. May those
who advocate for religious liberty, for the persecuted and for justice and
righteousness put their faith in you alone. May those who work to raise
awareness and relieve suffering put their faith in you alone. For 'without
faith it is impossible to please' the Lord (Hebrews 11: 6) We ask this so
that 'all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD'
(Isaiah 37:20b).

AMEN.  

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY TRENDS IN 2010

As religious liberty declines globally, persecution and repression are
growing. The situation for Christians in the non-West deteriorated in 2010
as US influence declined and Iranian and Chinese influence rose.
Christians in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt,
Indonesia, North Korea and elsewhere are imperilled and neither the US nor
the UN can do anything about it. In the West, Christians are facing
increased hostility due to 'culture change'. Persecuted Christians and
their advocates should be realising that politics, powerful alliances and
military might are failing to bring security. The devil mockingly asks,
'In whom do you now trust?' (Isaiah 36:5b). Revival is the only answer --
let us pray that the crisis serves to awaken the Church. Our gracious God
alone is sovereign, faithful and worthy of trust.  

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might

  also provide a copy of the prayer to be used in their worship by people

who are leading in prayer.   

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal's
blog 'Religious Liberty Monitoring' <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
Previous bulletins may be viewed at  <http://www.ea.org.au/ea-
family/Religious-Liberty/Prayer-Postings.aspx>.