This is a summary largely taken from a book called Faith That Endures. The author has done more than document persecution. He explores the causes of persecution, their manifestations, and how to help rather than aggravate persecution. His book is very important and revealing
2. Martyrdom is not the
norm
Persecution is normal in believers
About 0.8% are martyred
The Bible is written to the persecuted
to strengthen other persecuted
3. What martyrdom does!
It reveals the reality of persecution and
the power and danger of the gospel
It inspires us to see that the gospel is
worth dying for & wakes us up –
Example of Stephen in Acts 6-7
4. Why kill the martyr?
They “rescue their god”
Lies
Sometimes jealousy of the martyr’s
influence
The martyr is often uncompromising
Demonic hatred against Christ
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5. Who kills the martyrs?
Often violent men with a low view of the
value of human life
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6. Martyrs
Inspire a closer walk with God
See the grandeur of the Christian life
However, God sometimes spared the
prophets so that they could continue
their ministry – such as Jeremiah
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7. Persecution comes slowly
Rarely persecution comes like we
expect
Often we don’t see it coming
We are partially responsible for its
appearance. Evil triumphs because
moderates do nothing
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8. Five steps in persecution
Vacuum – Extremists move into the area when
moderates fail
Villain – in India, the Christians. So the BJP
decided on one god, Ram, one book, the
Bhagavad-Gita, and one philosophy – Hindutva
(India only for the Hindus) 70% of Hindus are
lower class, and they worried about them
rejecting caste – so must stay in caste
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9. Five steps in persecution
The lies – the more brazen, the better
Timing is important
A mob – usually carefully orchestrated, not
spontaneous. They accused the Christians of
forced conversions and disturbing community
harmony, and got support of police
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10. Five steps in persecution
The megaphone – make the lie loud enough
and often enough to drowned out any other
voice
Rewriting school books with lies
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11. What is good about
persecution?
The church is doing something right. In
India, they were reaching the lower
castes who were no longer willing to
prop up the Hindu house built on them.
And the church is 70% Dalits
Hinduism is based on purity, and the
lower castes are “impure”. You must
stay in your caste for salvation
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12. What is good about
persecution?
Persecution serves the cause of the
gospel
More acceptable to speak about religion
Some are turned off by the extremists
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13. Types of persecution
Persecution from ideology
Can’t usually hide from it
Claims to be the only truth
When reinforced by government –
totalitarian state
Much less true today than in 1955
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14. Types of persecution
Persecution from government
Fear of loss of power by a totalitarian government
Fear when large groups assemble without
government permission. They cannot stand
independent groups
The state claims to be able to control all
aspects of life – this is where the clash occurs
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15. Types of persecution
Persecution from family
Disownment from the family
Beatings from the family, especially the husband
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16. Types of persecution
Persecution from the culture
Punishment of the local community by evil
spirits because they are ignored by a
Christian
Thus the culture persecutes
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17. Types of persecution
Persecution from the church – often by
jealous individuals who use the state to
get rid of competition
Persecution by corrupt individuals – to
make money from bribes to release
them
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18. Types of persecution
Persecution from over boldness – like
tract bombing
May end up causing problems for the
regular Christians living in the area
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19. Human Rights under article 18
To believe your religion – profess a
religion of your choice or even not
profess a religion
To practice your religion – cannot be
limited to just a state approved religion
To spread your religion
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20. Human Rights under article 18
To believe your religion – profess a
religion of your choice or even not
profess a religion
To practice your religion – cannot be
limited to just a state approved religion
To spread your religion
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21. Human Rights under Article
18
The individual has the right of changing
the religion – no Muslim country has agreed
to this
The individual has the right to transmit
their religion to their family
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22. Problem with human rights
Should be based on Christian
principles, but now becoming secular
and relative
False assumptions
Governments do the persecution
Changing laws will reduce persecution
All forms of persecution can be eradicated
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23. The Christian life involves
Dependence on others
Powerlessness
Uncertain future
Being pursued
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24. Christians pursued
They do not pursue us but Christ
Persecution is universal – world, flesh,
and the devil
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25. Who pursues and persecutes?
Rulers – lots of power
Priests – most likely and jealous of loss
of power
Merchants- interfering with profits
Mobs – to do the work of others
Family – often extended family
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26. Why does persecution occur?
We are identified with Christ
The world is against Christ; thus it is
against us
All Christians can experience some sort
of persecution from at least one of the
five sources listed above
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27. Why the world hates Jesus
Light in darkness reveals the self-centered
worship of self rather than Christ
Light came into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light
They persecute Jesus because they FEAR
the light
Persecution comes when we confess Christ
with our lips or life
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28. Satan causes persecution
It may be direct demonic attack
More often, Satan uses an
intermediary, who may not realize he is
being used – a ruler, priest, family
member, thug, wealthy person
Powers are human institutions which
enslave rather than free
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29. Definition
Persecution is the suffering or pressure ,
mental, moral, or physical which authorities or
individuals or crows inflict on others, especially
for opinions or beliefs, with a view to their
subjection by recantation, silencing, or, as a
last resort, execution.
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31. Broad definition
Christian persecution is any hostility
experienced from the world, as a result
of one’s identification with Christ. This
can include hostile feelings, attitudes,
words, and actions
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32. Principles
The New Testament calls a wide range
of actions persecutions
Persecution should be the universal
experience of all Christians
Persecution is a consequence of a
spiritual battle
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33. Principles
The history of the church has
considered persecution universal
Still people under severe persecution
need our help
We need a broad definition to be able to
address some of the causes of
persecution.
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34. Major sources of persecution
Religious nationalism
Governments us religion to establish
identity and legitimacy
Often priests will join in – Hinduism in
India, Buddhism in Sri Lanka, etc.
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35. Islamic extremism
Saudi money & Wahabism
Boost from Western training & weapons
to fight against Russia
Disgust with secularism
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36. Islamic extremism
Governmental persecution as policy –
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Maldives
Communal violence flamed by Islamic
clerics
Direct attack by militants
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37. Islam – no theology of defeat
The victory of the west is an affront to the
glory of Allah and must be stopped and
Allah vindicated
In Islam, defeat = disgrace. Thus Jesus
could not have died on the cross
But more Muslims are persecuted by
Muslim extremists than by Christians
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38. Totalitarian governments
Actually FEAR Christians because they
will not be dominated
All who will not be dominated are
enemies of the state
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39. Secular intolerance
The idea that all religions are basically
equal is really the imposition of secular
humanistic philosophy on the believer.
It is intellectual arrogance, and
unwillingness to accept the FACTS of
Christianity – but look at them as
prejudices
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40. Secular intolerance
Religion is private, and not to come into
the public sphere, which is to be run on
secular values
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41. Latin America – sources of
persecution
Caciques – local thugs
Revolutionaries
Religious extremists
Paramilitary groups (often under drug
lords)
Governments
Witches & Satanists
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42. Middle East
Dramatic drop from 15% to 4%
Christian due to
Population pyramid
Exodus from persecution
Islam was shamed by losses during
World War I
Now they want to capture the glory
again
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43. Persecution middle east
Where Shari’a law reigns – no
churches, Christians are
persecuted/hunted
Liberalism –
Still illegal to convert from Islam
Some toleration, but conversions may
trigger violent reactions
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44. Persecution middle east
Extremism
Honor killings
Blasphemy laws – imprisoned by simply a report
of it occurring mandating death for apostacy
Frequent mob violence
Secular states – most tolerant – Turkey &
Indonesia. Usually ostracism rather than
killing for conversion
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45. Pakistan
Extremists use blasphemy law, and
even trying to change it is dangerous
Christians persecuted as an excuse
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46. Saudi Arabia
Extreme Wahabism
No worship of any type except Islam in
Arabia
They export these by building mosques
and staffing them with extremist leaders
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47. Africa
War – especially between the Islamic
north and Christian south
Some Islamic nations feel compelled to
make them an Islamic state
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48. Nigeria
Although Shari’a law has been declared
unconstitutional, it has been
implemented in the north, with great
problems
More martyrs than virtually any other
country in the world
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49. Eritria
More pastors than virtually any other country
Held in metal containers without charges
Many have died
Marxist government – originally allowed
Orthodox, Lutheran & Catholics but not
evangelicals
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50. Asia – Hindu zone (India &
Nepal)
Much persecution – Hindus fear that
many Dalits and Sudras will convert
and undermine their system
Some atrocities – more like refusing
them to use wells – some starved
because they could not work & get
water too
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51. Asia – Communists – China,
Vietnam, Laos, North Korea
North Korea – like a Stalinist state with
draconian punishment
China – some dissidents punished, but
not as much as formerly
Vietnam – Christian community
growing; 4x Catholics vs. protestants
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52. China
Most house churches 50-70 members;
otherwise forced to join the state church
Government suspicious of anything that is not
registered and under control
Vietnam – more persecution for the
evangelicals
Laos – mostly Khmu tribe are believers and
are persecuted
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53. Muslim zone- Indonesia,
Bangladesh, Malaysia
Indonesia has problems but is officially
not a Muslim-only country. Some
violence has been experienced
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54. Crises in China with the
church
Political legitimacy – Communists parrot
communism but push economic reforms
Social instability – jobs making many migrants
Discipleship crisis – not enough to properly
disciple new converts
Social needs will increase with pressure on
the churches to help
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55. Sri Lanka
Radical Buddhist monks organized –
they were losing power and money
They used lies, intimidation, mobs,
media, and even murder
Many church buildings were destroyed,
but the church continues to grow
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56. Europe
Secularization is partially a result of
reacting against the religious wars
between Catholics and Protestants, and
also some with Orthodox
Some escaped to the USA – Pilgrims
also did some persecution. Two did not
William Penn, Quacker
Roger Williams, Baptist
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57. Two problems in the West
Religion is privatized and thus
excluded from the public sphere
Religion is relativized – a matter
of taste – as part of the human
rights revolution
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58. Persecution in the west
Anti-minority churches
Anti-Christian elites
Anti-absolutes culture
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59. Anti-minority churches
Primarily Roman Catholic and Orthodox
churches
Russia – no church which is less than 15
years in Russia can continue
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60. Anti-Christian elites
Secular elites against Christians
Avid “gay” activists
We see attacks against various small
businesses -
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61. Anti-absolute culture lies to
challenge
We have the freedom of choice to be
who we want and to do what we want
Marriage can be between ANY two
people, and lasts only as long as they
are happy
We’ll live in harmony if we tolerate the
beliefs of others
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62. Anti-absolute culture lies to
challenge
Art should break traditional norms and
challenge outworn beliefs
Christian beliefs are a private matter
Entertainment is a way to fulfill personal
desires
God accepts us as we are, and there
are many ways to God
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63. USA
Job pressure to be politically correct
They want to replace religious values with
secular values
Educational pressures to accept liberal
agenda
Constitutional attempts to drive religion
from public life
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64. Things to avoid when helping
Overheaded rhetoric and publicity
We succeed with truth, not exaggeration
Tactical polarization – saying that my
approach is the best or only approach
to the problem
Propaganda parroting – repeating what
information you have been fed
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65. What to do? PRAY
Prayer makes us closer to God ourselves
Prayer makes us part of the body of Christ
Prayer actually changes things during the
persecution
True prayer is costly
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66. Telling the truth publically
Get permission first from the individual
or his family
Talk with the local church leaders and
get their agreement
Last resort, because it may compromise
further ministry
Don’t give intelligence to the authorities
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67. Problems getting publicity
Secular press under-estimates
importance of religion
Difficult to document
Political correctness, which views
Christians as persecutors
Many are afraid to tell the truth because
of reactions
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68. Private representation
Not official, but quiet representation
Trust – avoid publicly giving shame
Personal letters
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69. Legal intervention
Even when unsuccessful, it may give
ammunition for political pressure from
the outside
Embarrassment effect against
authorities
Empowering effect
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70. Illegal intervention
Occasionally demanded when obeying God
rather than man – e.g. Bible smuggling
Often the illegal may stimulate the legal;
they make new laws to allow what should be
happening
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72. Positive engagement with
Christians helping build
society
Business men can do this
Others can work together
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73. Principles for donors
Personal contact with the persecuted
Get real information
The persecuted want us to get the
message more than get our money
Prayer should be an absolute priority
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74. Principles for donors
Integrity
Morally straight
Not pushing the founder or his family
Board is independent and sound – diverse,
not just elderly lawyers
Internal & external audit?
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75. Principles for donors
Integrity
Morally straight
Not pushing the founder or his family
Board is independent and sound – diverse,
not just elderly lawyers
Internal & external audit?
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76. Principles for donors
Teamwork with other groups, because
of the complexity of persecution
Address the long-term causes of
persecution
Aware of the complexities of the
situation
Is there experience over the long haul
without constant turnover?
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77. Principles to donors
Expect effective organizations to have
some scars and controversies
But are they defensive, or confident
Do they cut down other groups using other
tactics?
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78. Lessons from the persecuted
Faith model – am I walking the way of
the cross?
Faith warning – Am I in enough trouble
for Jesus?
Faith boost – Is my God big enough?
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79. The way of the cell – Wang
Mingdao
You need time to simplify and take time
to know God
We don’t know how God will use us, but
we are always in His care, even when
things don’t make sense
The persecuted are aware of those
idols (persons/ideas) demanding
worship, which we don’t recognize in
the USA11/26/15 Les 1 Santa Jejej 79
80. God works through the yielded
life
God builds his kingdom not on our
achievements, but on our sacrifices
God takes the yielded life, not the
fulfilled life. Those who try to save their
lives lose them, but those who lose their
lives for His sake find them…
We must die first to receive resurrection
power
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81. Persecution empties us
We can be filled with Christ because we
have been emptied of self
The persecuted model dying to self for
Christ, but also being filled with His joy
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82. Am I in enough trouble for
Jesus?
Idols – anything replacing God being in
first place
Our culture is hostile to Christ
A radical life in Christ will be persecuted
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83. We struggle against
Our reluctant hearts
The blinding allure of the world system
The lies of the devil
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84. The persecuted have a BIG
God
Their crises force them to rely on God
Two ways
Deliverance
Endurance
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