Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 133 | Wed 09 Nov 2011
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (IDOP) FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Also NIGERIA
By Elizabeth Kendal
The security of Christians is deteriorating. In countries where Christians
have long suffered discrimination and persecution, violence is escalating.
Anti- Christian forces have been advancing for decades, gaining momentum
through the radicalisation of the masses. Christians who were once at risk
from militants are increasingly at risk from their own neighbours. As
religious hardliners gain political influence, hateful and criminal
elements discover that they can persecute, kill and loot Christians with
impunity. In Egypt, Pakistan and parts of India the situation is
absolutely critical.
Furthermore, terrorism is increasing. In Iraq and Somalia, al-Qaeda
affiliates are training jihadists for local and international jihad.
Amidst this, the Assyrian-Chaldean Christians indigenous to Iraq are
facing genocide while the Church in Somalia is being systematically
eradicated. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Margreb (AQIM) will doubtless benefit
greatly from the so-called ‘Arab Spring’: in particular the rise of Islam,
the decline in security and the looting of Libya’s arms caches.
Unfortunately, as the West discards its biblical foundations to facilitate
‘culture change’ — the transition from ‘Judeo-Christian’ to ‘post-
Christian’ (non-Christian) — it becomes just like the rest of the world:
harsh, with less respect for human life and hostile towards the Gospel. A
civilisation that ceases to respect religious liberty at home is not going
to defend it abroad. Already, supposedly rights-affirming Western
governments have demonstrated that they are quite prepared to sacrifice
principles — even whole Christian people groups — in exchange for geo-
strategic gains or lucrative contracts. Severely persecuted Christians in
highly strategic or resource-rich states routinely find themselves
abandoned. This is the sad reality for example for the Kachin in Burma
(Myanmar), the Papuans in eastern Indonesia, the minority Protestants in
Central Asia, and the Assyrian- Chaldeans of Iraq. So whilst the West has
long been a powerful advocate of religious liberty, increasingly as
culture changes and influence wanes (through loss of economic leverage)
this is less the case.
It is imperative that as the security situation for Christians
deteriorates, we come to terms with the reality that the West cannot save
the Church; neither can the UN (which is now dominated by non-free states)
or the EU (which is cursed with confusion just like the original tower of
Babel) or NATO (which has done more to advance Islam than Islam itself) or
‘democracy’ (which is doing a wonderful job of empowering anti-Christian
forces throughout the world) or any other creation of arrogant,
independent humanity.
PRAISE GOD there is another reality: the LORD of hosts is for us and able
to save! But he ‘waits’ (stands by expectantly) for us, so that we will
‘wait’ (stand by expectantly) for him (Isaiah 30:18). What he seeks is
faith — that we would look to HIM and pray — that he might answer our
prayers and reveal to all that he alone is the LORD (Isaiah 37:20). Such
prayers are not desperate wishful thinking but expressions of expectant
faith anchored in the promises of God.
Prayer is thus the highest form of advocacy. On her knees, the Church is
the most powerful body on earth, for through her petitions, the hosts of
the Lord of hosts are unleashed to change the course of history. Please
join with us on 13 November to pray for the Persecuted Church.
A Prayer for IDOP —
http://rlprayerbulletin.
of-prayer.html
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PRAYING FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
The security of Christians is deteriorating. Violent persecution is
escalating, as is terrorism. As the West discards its biblical foundations
to undergo ‘culture change’, religious freedom loses its reason to exist
and disappears with the ‘old order’, traded away for ‘peace’. Strategic
agreements, lucrative contracts and access to resources are paramount. As
persecution escalates globally, we must come to terms with the reality
that the world cannot save the Church. Prayer is thus the best and highest
form of advocacy. On her knees, the Church is the most powerful body on
earth for, through her petitions, the hosts of the Lord of hosts are
unleashed to change the course of history. Please join in the
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on 13 November 2011.
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ALSO —
* NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM HITS NINE CHURCHES
On Friday 4 November al-Qaeda affiliate Boko Haram launched attacks in
Damaturu and Potiskum (Yobe State) and in Maiduguri (Borno State). The
death toll from the co-ordinated bombings (including suicide bombings) and
gun battles presently stands at 150 and is expected to rise. Nine churches
were targeted, along with mosques, a bank, an anti-terrorist court, police
stations and army posts. In Damaturu’s mostly Christian New Jerusalem
district, six churches were bombed. According to one resident, ‘The whole
city is traumatised.’ Nigeria’s The Nation reported on 7 November, ‘In
spite [of] their churches being burnt, Christians in Damaturu yesterday
defied the security panic and held their Sunday service in [the] open air
at the premises of their burnt churches.’ According to Boko Haram
spokesman Abul-Qaqa, ‘More attacks are on the way.’ Please pray for the
Church in Nigeria.
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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points 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.
Previous RLPBs may be viewed at <http://rlprayerbulletin.
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.
If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly
issues direct by sending a blank email to <[email protected]>.
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