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I am currently reading several books, one of which is “Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places” by Nik Ripken.  The whole book is very provoking and makes you re-evaluate your dedication to the Lord.

However, this phrase has stuck with me, even as I have moved on significantly in the book.  I thought I would share it with  you.

When we witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we identify with those in chains.
When we refuse to witness,
we identify with those who place the chains on followers of Jesus. 

Wow.  That really hit home.  How many times have we given money, sent a card, prayed, etc for the persecuted church?  I know I have many times.  And that is a very good thing.

But I have NEVER associated the command to witness to the ends of the earth with supporting the persecuted church.  Yet, it should be.

Ripken posits that persecutors try to hinder Jesus in two ways: by limiting access to Jesus, and by limiting the opportunity to witness.  Because of this, choosing to follow Jesus and then sharing about His love and grace with others is the best way to oppose evil and stand against Satan.

He goes on to explain that the persecutor’s use of violence and the believer’s refusal to speak openly of Jesus result in the exact same thing.  People are being denied access to Jesus.

Many in the West thank God that they are “free to worship.”  However, rarely are prayers uttered thanking God that we are “free to witness.”  MANY in the persecuted areas of the world are witnessing, and dying for it. Yet we in the West have a hard time witnessing, and we suffer no physical persecution for it.  It is apparent that political freedom has little to do with the Christian’s ability to witness.  The obedience level of the Christian is the hindering block.

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Another thing that really stuck with me was the idea that it is not always the right thing to extract someone out of their persecution. I know, that seems wrong and right all at the same time.  We know that Jesus works in all circumstances. Yet, we also know that we don’t want people to be stuck in Iranian prison, being tortured. How do you reconcile that?  Sometimes, you don’t. 
God does use extraction methods.  God commanded Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt to escape death. He instructed the Magi to take a different route home.  Jesus told His followers, at times, to flee.  And there are more.  
But there are many more instances where God has allowed His people to be imprisoned, persecuted, etc in an effort to win over more souls. Just look at Paul and how many times he landed himself in jail.  All but one disciple was martyred.  The one that wasn’t was exiled to an island (a not very nice one, by the way) so that he could receive the Revelation. 
But our human condition wants the persecution to stop.  Our compassion for others wants all the hurting to end.  
But have you ever considered this:

Jesus clearly told us that persecution is normal and expected. The only way to stop persecution, in fact, is to be disobedient to His call.  How can we pray that persecution will stop when the only way to stop persecution is by refusing to share Jesus and keeping people from coming to Jesus as their Lord and Savior? How can we pray for persecution to stop when Jesus has told us that it is an inevitable and unavoidable result of obedient witness?  Working to stop something that Jesus told us would happen – or praying for it not to happen – puts us in a strange place!

In addition, how would the persecutors ever be saved if the persecution never happened? Or if the persecuted were always removed from the situation?

I look at Pastor Saeed Abedini, in Iran.  That man has endured horrific torture in the Iranian prisons, along with some other pastors. He has been in prison over 2 years.  His family yearns for his return.  My heart breaks every time I read a report on his condition.  His mother has had to flee for her life.

Yet in all of his sufferings, he is reaching people for Christ.  He is reaching MUSLIMS for Christ while in prison!  Men are seeing his unwavering faith and the light of Jesus showing through him.  They are curious. They ask questions. And some come to know Jesus.  And these men that he is reaching are reaching out to their wives, telling them to call Saeed’s wife.  And then the wives find Jesus!  What a ministry! Those people would never know Jesus without Saeed being in prison.

As much as I yearn for Pastor Saeed Abedini to be returned to his family, I can see how God is fulfilling His purposes through Saeed.

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I also have to say, that the way I look at martyrdom is different now as well.  I won’t go into incredible detail, but there is a difference between being killed and being Christian and with being killed because you are a Christian. 
For instance, a terror group may target a Christian village and kill everyone.  Yet they aren’t martyrs.  
A martyr is someone who dies because they refuse to renounce Jesus, or because of their direct witness.  
Something to ponder….
I am not enjoying reading this book.  It is challenging much in my spiritual walk.  But it is a good book.  My spiritual walk needs some challenging.  I need to be broken so I can be built up.  I have already seen an incredible amount of spiritual growth in myself.  Some of that growth can be attributed to this book.  
I recommend the book (even though I’m not done!).  Don’t expect to read it quickly.  It is a book that will weigh on you and is best read slowly.  
If you read it, please comment and let me know what has impacted you. 

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