Let Freedom Ring – Responsibly

June 8, 2018

Dear Prayer Partners,

Just a reminder to pray for religious freedom for those who lack it, and praise God for the religious freedom that we have, and to pray for those who suffer persecution for their faith. Our freedoms are infringed on or marginalized in some ways, in some places, at some times in the US, but we indeed have religious freedom.

Russia has curtailed or ‘contained’ religious freedom since 2015. Since there is still a great degree of freedom, the significance of the limitations may be unknown or unconcerned by those not affected by it.

As I wrote some time ago, Jehovah Witnesses are now illegal in Russia. Their property has been confiscated by the government. Raids on their homes continue.

6 June 2018
RUSSIA: FURTHER RAIDS, ARRESTS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2385
Law enforcement agencies launched multiple armed raids on Jehovah’s
Witnesses’ homes in four further regions. Long interrogations followed,
including of an 83-year-old woman. Courts put another five people in
pre-trial custody as they face criminal investigation. Twelve Jehovah’s
Witnesses are now behind bars, with at least 30 facing criminal cases.

We who are not Jehovah Witnesses may not readily sympathize with them in their persecution in Russia, until we realize that the issue is not their particular beliefs but their freedom to believe and to share their beliefs and to meet with others who share their beliefs.

Thus, we have a stake in freedom of religion, no matter what religion is at risk.

Restrictions in Russia on sharing one’s beliefs outside one’s church continues to be implemented randomly (that is, locally and not nationally). As I have written before, some leaders of Protestant churches are not even aware of the ban, while others were charged, fined and even deported because of the ban. Some look the other way or even support the ban, as long as they enjoy their freedom of religion (locally).

We would do well to be reminded about a well-known quote attributed to Dietrich Bonhoffer:

First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

I lifted these statistics from one of my seminary fellows who serves in Australia:

Save the Persecuted Christians Coalition reveals that 215 million Christians worldwide are persecuted for their faith. Open Doors reports that every month

255 Christians are killed,

104 abducted,

180 women raped, sexually assaulted, or forced into marriage,

160 detained or imprisoned without trial, and

66 churches attacked.

(See also Barnabas Fund and Samaritans Purse for prayer guides or to help.)

Lots to pray about and for!

We recently thoughtfully celebrated Memorial Day and D-Day. We joyfully celebrate life and our freedoms. Let us do so responsibly – in the spirit of Christ.

So often when the persecuted gain power, they in turn become persecutors. It is not to be so with Christ and his loyal followers.

Unlike what I am able to book in the past, my flights in July to The House on the Hill are multiple and most are not part of a single booking. This means that I could be in trouble if any one of the eight flights is missed due to weather or whatever. Prayers appreciated.

I am working on my flights to Ukraine for September now. Fares are up. To wait for them to go down, or not, that is the question. I am looking at September 3-17, which would include a brief visit to Lviv to visit some of our graduates and former colleagues (and maybe to preach), teaching a modular course at the seminary near Kiev, and preaching in Kiev.

Thank you for your prayers and joining me in praises,

Georges