by Scott H. Northrup
The Christmas season is fully upon us, with all of its hustle and bustle, with card writing, gift giving, package sending and house decorating. It is easy to forget those for whom this season will not bring a time of joy, of celebration, of pause to wistfully reflect on the old year as it wanes and the new year's dawning. As Americans we rightfully are urged to stop and pray blessings on our military troops deployed in harm's way, far from home and family. But we must not forget the multiplied millions of others who are also in harm's way tonight, living daily in a world filled with violence, hatred, poverty, greed, disease, terrorism, and natural disasters.
Two million Sudanese people have died from starvation, bombings, slavery, and ethnic cleansing, and many more are displaced and starving, yet still clinging to life. Christians have been the primary objects of this cruelty as the world has turned as blind eye.
In Eritrea, three leading pastors (who usually bear the brunt of persecution) have been jailed with no family visitation for seven months without being charged.
Christians in Sri Lanka are among those who are suffering for their faith. Fanatical mobs have vandalized, ransacked and set fire to Christian churches there.
Indonesia once embraced religious tolerance, but no longer. Fanatical religious groups have killed 8,000 Christians and displaced half a million from their homes, schools, and businesses.
In another country a pastor was imprisoned for ten years because he would not renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. For the last two years he was kept in a cage so small he was prevented from either standing up or lying down.
Christians in many other nations face more subtle but nonetheless real discrimination, such as being disowned by relatives, passed over for job promotion or honors, mockery and ridicule by society's media, and the like.
A missionary friend of mine from a riot-torn South American nation called just the other night desperately asking for prayer for strength in the spiritual battle he is fighting. So during this holiday as we pray for "the troops", let's remember to pray for the "troops" in the "big" war, the war waged for the hearts and lives of humankind. These are the men, women, and children who willing give up their lives every day to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
@ copyright 2004 by Scott H. Northrup. All rights reserved.