Persecution update

Here are the most recent reports of persecution against Christians around the world, as compiled by one of the elders at our church:

Pakistan, Feb 25. Christian family's ancestral home was allegedly taken over by a Muslim lawyer who accused the homeowner of blasphemy. Churches have been attacked, homes burned by mobs, and individuals imprisoned or killed following accusations under Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Ukraine, Feb 24. Protestant congregations in Ukraine have been particularly targeted with raids, closures, and intimidation, with Moscow aggressively seeking to reshape the religious landscape to serve its political and military objectives.

Iran, Feb 23. A sharp rise in arrests and mistreatment of Christians in Iran, particularly converts, accusing the Islamic Republic of increasingly using national security laws to suppress religious dissent.

Uganda, Feb 23. A 33-year-old man in eastern Uganda was allegedly killed by his Muslim father after converting to Christianity.

Mexico, Feb 8. Pastor Velasquez was allegedly bound with ropes and detained for five days. He was then brought before a community assembly, where he was formally expelled from the village, for not lighting candles and bowing before a Roman Catholic statue.

India, Feb 6. Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was dragged out from a prayer service, beaten, mocked, and paraded through the streets of Kandarsinga village in India's eastern Odisha state. His Hindi aggressors claim he had led some Hindus to follow Christ. Such persecution continues to increase in India.

Congo, Jan 27. At least 25 people, many believers, were killed early Sunday in a brutal attack by an Islamic State-linked militant group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Nigeria, Jan 21. Muslim attackers came in large numbers, blocked the entrances of the churches, then kidnapped some 170 believers. A dozen have escaped. (Over 50,000 believers have been martyred, and millions displaces since the violence began.)

Turkey, Jan 20. The era of foreign missionaries in Turkey is drawing to a close as authorities increasingly detain, deport, or bar Christian workers from reentering the Muslim-majority nation.

China, Jan 11. Chinese authorities have detained Protestant church leaders and demolished church property as part of a widening crackdown on underground churches.

Laos, Jan 5. Villagers armed with hammers and knives destroyed Christian homes and local authorities tied a pastor to a pole for preaching the Gospel. Authorities did nothing.

Europe, Nov 20. Violence, and arson attacks targeting Christians in Europe grew significantly more severe over the last year, highlighting spread of radical Islam and anti-Christian sentiments across the continent.

Syria, Nov 17. Syria's Christians Face "Ethno-Religious Cleansing," since the installation of the new Islamic government.

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45 ESV)

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3 ESV)

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Prie...

Howard Hendricks on OT books chronology

When I was in seminary, Howard Hendricks (aka "Prof") gave us a little card with the books of the OT chronologically arranged. The scanned copy I have was a bit blurry and I wanted to make something like this available for our church class in OT theology ("Story of Redemption"). A few minor edits and here it is...

sword and trowel

"From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me." (Nehemiah 4:16-18 ESV) The great London preacher, Charles Spurgeon, published a monthly magazine called The Sword and The Trowel; A record of combat with sin and of labour for the Lord. It was published from 1865 to 1892. The cover of the journal had a drawing taken from Nehemiah 4, which included both a trowel (representing the work) and a sword (representing the fight). The sword was necessary to protect what the men with trowels were building. These citizen-soldier-builders would successfully complete the wall aroun...

my burg

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