VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS

Every once in a while something terrible happens that awakens the whole world, and along with it, the slumbering conscience of the fallen human beings. Two such incident recorded in the history are found one in 1572, in France, and the other in 2008, in India. The reason for they being considered for our meditation is that, they both happened on this very date, the 23 of August – except separated by 436 years. Both incidents shook the respective nations, and awakened the people and their conscience. 

On 23 August 1572, late this night, in France, Catholic Church officials conspire and begin the massacring of thousands of Huguenots, another name for French Protestants, under the orders of Catherine de Medici, the mother, and also the official royal advisor to her son, Charles IX, King of France.

On 23 August 2008, a Hindu religious leader is assassinated in Orissa, India, for which Christians are falsely blamed. In response, the enraged majority people begin a targeted rampage against the minority Christians. According to the reports in the newspapers and news channels on TV, angry mobs burnt huge number of homes, churches and schools. It is officially reported that about forty are killed, which is disputed by other independent organisations. It was also reported that women were raped, and dozens sold into sexual slavery. Tens of thousands of Christians had to flee because of violence and out of fear of death.

What can we observe from these two painful and tragic incidents from Church history? 
– Christians will be persecuted both by those who claim to be the followers of the LORD Jesus Christ, and also by those of other religions. History is full of such examples, the above two are a mere sample.
– The dislike or hate for Christians is not because of a single individual, a group of people, a particular nation, or a particular religion or anything of that sort. The hate for Christians stems from the fallen man’s hate for God his Creator.

Now what is the purpose of writing this as part of the meditation for this morning, and what can we learn from such incidents in the Church history? 
1- THE PURPOSE
– It is not to rouse our passions.
– It is not to hate someone or anyone for that matter.
– It is not to call for revenge.
– Such a position is totally wrong, absolutely unbiblical and un-Christ-like.

2- SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THEN?
– Firstly, it is only to remind ourselves as Christians who follow the LORD Jesus Christ, that we will face persecution in this world.
– Therefore, be MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY and PHYSICALLY be PREPARED for persecution, whether people, society and nations stand us or not.
– Secondly, be prepared to walk the path of non-violence despite many voices shouting otherwise.
– Thirdly, to pray for our persecutors and bless them who curse us.
– Fourthly, to forgive unreservedly all those who have hurt and harmed us, are hurting and harming us, and those who will hurt and harm us in the future.
– Lastly, to love unconditionally all those who hated us, are hating us, and will hate us in the future.

Even so, the LORD Jesus help us.