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PRAYING FOR THE NATIONS
This past week was hard to watch as terrorists killed at least 129 people in the attack on Paris, terrorists killed at least 44 in Lebanon and 21 killed in the attack in Mali. That is what everyone is talking about on television, when you go out to eat, or go grocery shopping. This is something that has touched our lives as it should. We wonder, not IF but WHEN, we will be attacked again. We wonder WHERE we will be attacked. We wonder if we will be near it or worse in it.
But let’s not forget that as Christians we have been persecuted through the ages up to and still today. According to ex-Pope Benedict XVI, Christians are the most persecuted group in the contemporary world. The Holy See has reported that over 100,000 Christians are violently killed annually because of some relation to their faith. According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith. Of the 100-200 million Christians under assault, the majority are persecuted in Muslim-dominated nations. Christians suffer numerically more than any other faith groups or groups without faith in the world. Of the world’s three largest religions Christians are the most allegedly persecuted with 80% of all acts of religious discrimination being directed at Christians[ who only make up 33% of the world’s population ( Wikipedia)
Let us pray for countries like North Korea, Syria, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, India, and others like the bible commands us to. ” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matt. 5:44 ESV
Join us as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted, but let us pray for those that are doing the persecution.
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