I Failed My Persecuted Christian Brothers and Sisters
I have to confess that today I failed my persecuted Christian Brothers and Sisters. At today’s service there were more cues for me to speak up about the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) than I could even begin to count. And yet, when the opportunity came, I remained silent.
Today’s sermon was on apathy, and how we (American) Christians tend to sit back with our million excuses and not even try to do anything. With every word, the more I thought, “Yes, I’m going to speak up. I must speak up.” And then, the time for prayer requests came. And almost went, but a hand was seen and a request heard. And then another. And another. And another. And yet another. My pastor’s eyes turned my way one last time, before the time was gone for good. And my hand remained paralyzed in my lap.
And so I failed my persecuted Brothers and Sisters. I failed the very people who, in the midst of forced poverty, jail, torture, and even martyrdom, pray that my American Christian Brothers and Sisters would be less apathetic about their faith. The very same people who pray for me to be less apathetic about my faith.
My padded pew was not quite as comfortable after that. All I could do was pray a feeble prayer of forgiveness.
Later in the day, I turned on the radio and caught the middle of a rebroadcast interview of someone from Voice of the Martyrs. A minute later, the topic turned to what the persecuted Church wants from American Christians. More than anything, they just want our prayers. And meanwhile, in the midst of forced poverty, jail, torture, and even martyrdom, they pray that American Christians would be less apathetic about their faith. They pray that I will be less apathetic about my faith.
And so this evening, I did the very least I could do. I sent an e-mail to my pastor, saying, among other things, that next Sunday is a second-chance IDOP.
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