What effect would persecution have on your evangelism?
For the last few days I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with a Christian who lives in one of those countries where Christians are persecuted, and where there is political upheaval and significant unrest. It’s a life so dangerous that very few people know who they are or where they come from.
But what they said is worth being made public.
I asked them how discrimination and the risk of violence affect their mission and ministry. They smiled and said something that will stick with me for years.
“It changes nothing.”
Which is a great challenge to those of us in the West. There is no such thing as being in a situation where it is OK to give up serving. No context is a “get out of mission free” card. If our speaking about Christ produces laughter, derision and scorn; if our living for Christ means we lose out at work, in relationships or with our family; “it changes nothing.”
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2 v 10).
