The persecuted Church: Iraq October 15, 2008

In America we wonder what to wear to church on Sunday and what we will eat for lunch afterwards. In Iraq, particularly in Mosul, the Christians wonder if they or their kin will be killed because they love their Savior and refuse to stop meeting together. Thirteen Christians in this Iraqi town have been killed in the last few weeks because of their devotion to Christ. When I have shared the gospel with people I get a “thanks, but no thanks” or I lose friends. When they share the gospel they risk their very lives. Over 3000 Christians have fled Mosul because of the persecution there. Let us pray for them as they have lost precious family members, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us empathize with them using the best of our imagination to think about what it might be like for them that we might fulfill the commandment to “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3.

From the little bit of reading I have done online I have learned that the church is quite active in Iraq and particularly Mosul. Since the American Invasion of Iraq, for whatever reason persecution of Christians has increased – first starting with abductions of Christians to more recently the killing of Christians. The good news is many of these Christians are not abandoning their faith but they are instead abandoning their homes. They are remaining faithful to Christ. Here are some scripture to consider as you pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq.

>”Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

>”Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:12)

>”Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”(John 15:20)

>”And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;” (1 Corinthians 4:12)

>”We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”* we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-18)

>”Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

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I encourage you to look up the context for these verses as you pray. If you want to be more intimately acquainted with the persecuted church in other parts of the world look here and here. The first link is especially valuable as you can get to know more personally the actual people who the Black’s minister to who are persecuted.