“"And this commandment have we from him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also."
1 John 4:21

Christian, what are you doing for your
persecuted brothers and sisters?

I had a dream last night and heard the distinctive voice of admonishment and encouragement urging me to make peace with my sister because Jesus is Coming soon. The fact being, I did not want to be in a state of unlovingness or hate towards her (as she is to me) as such is sufficient to send to hell. 

I am a western Christian in that I live my life in relative ease and count it the blessings of Christ. I have not literally suffered major persecutions of stonings, captivities, beatings, loss of home, land, loved ones, employment, life, or fleeing for it for calling myself, "a Christian".

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:

but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Mark 13:13

Recently, Glenn Beck, a Mormon, has been seeking to raise the plight and sufferings of the Coptic Christians in Egypt, especially before western Christians -- his campaign is entitled, "I am Coptic." From 08.24.13 to 09.07.13 (2-weeks), Glenn Beck only received: 522 Tweets and 211 Favorites on his earnest call to Support the Coptic Christians.

I tweeted support requests for the Coptic Christians to approx. 5 publicly professing Christian celebrities and ministry leaders and a few top philanthropists – I received: NO RESPONSE and my account was deactivated for spam. But after reviewing my Tweets, Twitter reinstated it stating my requests for Coptic Christian support was being tagged as “Spam” by these professing Christians and great world philanthropists.

"For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia,

that we were pressed out of measure, above strength,
insomuch that we despaired even of life:"
2 Corinthians 1:7-9  

These persecutions are the realities of the minority Christians in the muslim Middle East such as Iran and Iraq, the Coptic Christians of Egypt, African Christians, the Christians in atheist Communist lands N. Korea, Cuba, etc.; it's the Christians in Hindu, Buddhist, and Indian lands who are suffering. These are the Christians being stoned and persecuted beyond measure and grief -- beyond endurance.  And it's rising here in America, doubtless due to Christian disunity, silence, and sin.

 

If not for their faith and comfort in Christ these true Christians could not endure and would surely renounce Him to submit to their atheist and profane torturers -- but they do not. They give all, leave all, endure all for Christ.

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

2 Timothy 3:12  

The same cannot be said of most Western Christians, though Christian persecution is rising in the west. Still, we get fat as they hunger, delight in our daily indulgences as they pine in cells unknown beseeching help and strength to endure from the Lord.

“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.

Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!

for so did their fathers to the false prophets."

Luke 6:24-26 

“False Prophets” is another name for “False Professors” meaning liars. Many profess to love Christ and to be Christian, but if they truly were, they would especially love those who suffer for Christ. They would have an inherent love for them as if they were suffering with them – they would seek however possible to alleviate and stop their suffering, and they would not stop until Christ Returns! That's Christian love.

"But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy,

and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

Genesis 39:21

Christ identifies with His people, their sufferings are His sufferings. He reminded Paul on the road to Damascus that persecuting His people was persecuting Him (Acts 9:3-5). Likewise, in Matthew 25:34-46 Jesus unequivocally says kindness to His people is kindness to Him, and unloving indifference to His people is unloving indifference to Him – with both having their clear reward.

"For he shall have judgment without mercy,

that hath shewed no mercy;

and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."

James 2:13
 

We flock by the millions to read and watch "feel good" Christianity, spending billions for it. When the rare petition is circulated on the Persecuted Church's behalf by some well-intended Christian ministry, we either sign and forget it, or ignore it; rarely taking the next vital step to activism, advocacy, prayer, funding, labors, and fastings on their behalf.   It all sounds so inconvenient and impossible for us -- the people who profess to believe in the impossible Christ.
 

To their persecutors, we Western Christians, whose unity on their behalf they greatly fear, are now used to mock the hopelessness of their resistance -- to painfully remind them their so-called Western Christian brethren do not care for them.

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,

that they also may be one in us:

that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

John 17:21

 

Complacency in the face of your brothers' unjust persecution is sin among the lowest of crimes as it represents selfishness and hypocrisy beyond enduring, lies without measure, self delusion to eventual destruction, and measureless indifference to love by a people called to love above and beyond comprehension.

American and western Christians, it is time to love past understanding in the grace, power, and love of Christ -- now is the time to be blessed, not cursed – put your money, time, labor, prayers and fastings where your mouth is – support the Persecuted Church and those who support them today.