Bearing True Faith and Allegiance 11-15-09
Last month a high school student in China was expelled from school (which would mean being barred from college admissions) because he refused to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. Although seventeen-year-old Chen Le was readmitted nine days later, it was not because he changed his mind; in fact, Chen Le readily signed statements confessing his Christian faith. The Chinese authorities backed down due to international pressure and allowed the student to return to school.
This past summer twelve Christians were murdered in Nigeria by members of an Islamic extremist group because they refused to renounce Christ. Numerous other stories exist (mostly outside the mainstream media) of Christians around the world being persecuted for their faith, but refusing to give up Christ. Organizations such as Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com) broadcast these stories that do not seem to interest the Associated Press and others in the mainstream media; ironically, the AP did feature a story about the concern voiced by Human Rights Watch (a New York City-based organization) that the leader of the Nigerian group above (the one that beheaded Christians for not renouncing their faith) had been unlawfully murdered and not “shot while trying to escape” as the police claimed. Human Rights Watch seemed unconcerned about the twelve beheaded Christians.
Christians around the world are called upon to make the choice between life and death, liberty and freedom, and their decision is centered on whether or not they will remain true to their faith in Jesus. In America, we are rarely called upon to make such drastic decisions. Most of the time, our tests come in seemingly innocuous packages such as keeping quiet about our faith or accepting as true the equivalence of different religions. But the test is no less important just because the Earthly stakes are different!
So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:26-33 NIV)
Why did Jesus speak this strongly about apostasy? After all, if Chen Le had simply kept his religious views to himself, what would the effect have been on China? Or if the twelve Christians had pretended to renounce Christ and later recanted, would that have been better than them dying? This is how worldly people think. But there is more going on than what we can see!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV)
We are at war, but not with a foe that we can see nor is the battle one that we can sense. We fight with unseen forces, and we may never know that an engagement has even happened; but the outcome of the battle is terribly important! Look at the story of Job. There is no indication that he ever is told why the terrible events in chapters one and two happen. But there is no doubt that God triumphed over Satan in the life of Job.
We cannot be faithless in our dealings with the faithful God! We must remain true to the calling, trusting that the forces arrayed against us will fail if we trust and obey Jesus. People who enlist in the US military take an oath in which they pledge to “bear true faith and allegiance to the [Constitution of the United States]”. How much more should Christians bear true faith and allegiance to the Word of God?
-Charles Peterson