Responding to Persecution

Chinese Police Kidnap Pastor. Missionaries’ and Christians’ Homes Burned in Bangladesh. Iraq: 2,000 Christians killed since 2003. Indian Bishops Arrested for Preaching Against Persecution of Christians.

These are just a few recent headlines from the 10/40 window that illustrate the prevalence of religious persecution in countries where Access Partners operates. What is the Christian response to such a situation?

On one level, Christians should call and work for liberty in the public sphere. We should support religious liberty for all people, including Buddhists, Muslims, and Jews. Becoming a Christian cannot be compulsory since it is God alone who chooses those who will repent and believe in Christ.

Yet on another level, we recognize that the biggest hurdle in missions is not big government, but rather sinful hearts. Sure, it would be great if all governments supported religious freedom. But the gospel compels us to spread our good news—even when sharing it is prohibited. The demands of the gospel supersede any law; there are no barriers that can prevent its expansion or disqualify us from missions.

Ultimately, it’s important to consider why we do missions. We do missions because God is worthy to be proclaimed for Who He is; He deserves to receive worship from all peoples of the earth. In other words, it is impossible to divorce Christianity from missions.  God is a missionary God and we are commanded to call others to the knowledge and worship of Him.

All Christians, thus, are in a sense missionaries. We should look to share the gospel wherever we are, regardless of whether we are a bank teller in Wichita or a teacher in China.  Sharing the gospel overseas is essentially the same as sharing the gospel in the States: the goal is to make God known.

Of course, we must express our zeal with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16). As much as possible, we should abide by cultural and governmental standards. The examples of Christ and of Paul are helpful in this regard.

Second Corinthians 8:9 states: “Though he [Christ] was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Paul notes his own example: “For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (1 Thess. 2:9).

How do these verses affect how Access Partners approaches projects in countries with religious persecution?

Following these Biblical principles means we should respect, as far as it is possible, the customs of locals and avoid actions that will offend them.  For instance, it would be appropriate to consider others’ cultures by following dress codes and valuing the elders in the community.

Church planters should also follow, to the best of their ability, the laws of the country in which they live. Certainly, the businesses that we operate need to conform to local laws and regulations.  Of course, we ultimately serve God and not men (Acts 4). Yet human laws should be obeyed as much as possible, even if they seem pedantic. For example, in many former Soviet Republics, every purchase that a business makes, even from a grocery store, needs a contract. Writing up contracts for mundane purchases takes a lot of time yet Paul calls us in Romans 13 to submit to such authorities.

Doing what you say you do is another important part of work overseas.  If church planters say they are doing business, they should do such work—and do it well. Sometimes, the question of dual identity causes church planters a great deal of thought and stress. People ask, “Is it OK to call myself a businessperson if I’m really doing church planting? Am I putting up a deceptive front?”

We believe that these mental gymnastics are the wrong way to look at the issue.  Church planters shouldn’t feel like they are using a cover in order to share the gospel.  Instead, they should focus on doing their work honorably and well. Doing so glorifies God and provides a helpful model to locals who seek to combine vocation and faith.

Finally, we as Christians believe that God is sovereign—He can use persecution to further His kingdom. When believers suffer for Christ, they effectively demonstrate His worth to others.

In the book of Acts, it was the persecution launched after the death of Stephen that caused the gospel to go to new cities and regions, bringing Gentiles into the church.  Similarly, the church in China was estimated to be around 700,000 before the communists took over in 1949. Missionaries were expelled and many thought the church would wither away. But now it is estimated that there are 60-80 million Christians in China—a 10,000% increase in just over 50 years!

So yes, we should advocate for religious liberty and support those who do so.  However, even if there is no official freedom, Christians do not need to be discouraged. God is faithful and He will accomplish the salvation of His people.