When I say the same spiritual stuff, I’m not talking about some alternate way of becoming a Christian. There is only one way for that. I’m talking about our fortitude. In a foreign nation where we are sacrificing the lives of many American troops, a member of the Afghanistan government has called for the public execution of Christian converts from Islam. It is causing concern to the Open Doors ministry.
The country’s constitution states, “No law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of Islam.” The threat of execution followed the video broadcast on Afghan television of Christian men being baptized and praying. Open Doors says, many Afghan believers have gone into hiding, and others have actually fled.
U.S.-based Christian Freedom International, which investigates cases of alleged persecution of Christians, says that one man, who faced the death penalty for “abandoning Islam,” is just one “of at least 10,000″ converts in Afghanistan. The group stressed that many of these “new Christians live in secret,” for fear that they may be killed at a time when tensions are rising.
Whoa! Can you imagine the dedication of these Afghan believers in Christ? What’s the most serious form of persecution for American Christians, and Christians in other non- Muslim nations? Usually, it’s being laughed at, told to buzz off, or occasionally job discrimination or something like that. Do we have the same stuff these Afghan believers do? I think that the grace to face such persecution comes from the Lord; and, I think that He provides it when the persecution comes. What do you think?
This is Carl Ramsey and that’s Another View of the News.
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