Perseverance during the End Times

Preached at Christ Church, Billericay 17 November 2019 @ 8:00 Holy Communion

Planet is Burning

Fifty years ago, when I was at school, we were taught that the Earth was due another Ice Age any time in the next 100,000 years or so. How would humanity survive as the ice sheets once again covered Britain? Would we all have to migrate south and live in southern Europe or northern Africa? At least it wouldn’t affect my generation, even when the process started it would take thousands of years get this far south.

How different it is today. Over the last fifty years we have detected that the Earth has changed from getting very slowly colder, to getting very quickly hotter. Wild fires in various places, and other fires deliberately set to clear forest mean that the quote I heard on the radio “the planet is on fire” really sound like the truth.

Malachi

Then I read the Malachi reading. In the day of the Lord “All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire”

In a fire, stubble burns in seconds and is gone.

The arrogant and the evil doers I can easily see as those who have encouraged us to get where we are, who have put profit ahead of care for the environment. We all must take some responsibility though, because we have not been determined to do things the right way, but have gone along with the ease and convenience that the modern world provides.

Verse 2

Using that interpretation, though, meant that the first part of verse 2 that was read bothered me a little. “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings”

It sounds like we should be somehow exempt from the effects that we are suffering. That can’t be the case, if the planet burns we all suffer.

Luke

So let’s turn to Luke to see if the gospel reading can help us understand what is going on.

The Temple

The Temple was an incredible building intended to show off the glory of God. It was the centre of the Jewish world, not just an important building. The disciple remarking about its beauty was quite a natural thing to do. So when Jesus says that a time will come when the temple will just be rubble you can imagine their reaction.

St Pauls

To help us get a sense of the shock Jesus’ statement must have caused, think about St Paul’s in WWII. The cathedral suffered some damage, but became a symbol of our nation standing against all that the German air force could through at it. There were teams of people dedicated to removing incendiary devices from it’s roof, and put out any fires that occurred before serious damage could be caused. If it had been destroyed, there’s a chance that morale would have plummeted and the war lost.

Temple Destroyed

The temple was more, much more, important than that. We know that it was finally destroyed in 70AD, but for now the disciples want to know when it will happen.

Jesus doesn’t give them a date, or tell them that a cosmic event will mark its end, instead he gives them some indicators, and with them some instructions on the attitude they should have.

Many claim to be Jesus

There will be many who claim that they are Jesus returned. They will say that the final end is near, they are wrong. Jesus’ coming will be obvious to all, Jesus has already told the disciples this in Luke 17:30-31:

“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.

Everyone will know.

Wars, Revolutions, Natural Disasters

Wars and revolutions will also occur. These don’t imply that the end is coming either, they are simply events that must happen before the end can come. Natural disasters, earthquakes, famines, epidemics, and cosmic events are also in the same category. They are things that must happen.

What happens next

Before any of this, though, a worse fate will befall you Jesus tells His disciples. “they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”

Don’t worry, though, because this gives you a chance to tell your story, don’t lose any sleep preparing it, because I will give you words and wisdom at the right time.

Family & friends & everyone

Even family and friends cannot be counted upon in those times, and everyone will hate you because you follow me. Some of you will even be put to death.

But ..

But not a hair on your head will perish and by standing firm you will gain life. So, this life that Jesus is referring to is clearly eternal life, and that must be what Malachi is getting at when he says ““But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings”.

The future

While the teaching here seems to be specifically for the period between the resurrection and the destruction of the Temple, especially because the following verse talks about armies surrounding Jerusalem, we know that we are still living in the same times as the disciples were being warned about.

The Teaching

The teaching in this passages offers us 4 points as we try to remain faithful to God during difficult times:

v18 Watch out for false leaders, do not follow them.

Vv9-11 Do not be frightened by the events that you know have to happen in the end times.

Vv12-16 Do not worry about your defence when you are taken to court, Jesus will provide you with the words to say and the wisdom to deliver them. You will be a witness for Christ

vv17-19 When everyone turns against you, and hates you, stand firm in your beliefs, and by doing so you WILL gain Eternal Life

Our Experience

We don’t see much persecution in this country, but we are starting to see the beginnings of it, so far it is mainly inconvenience – people losing job, being de-selected as candidates in the general election. It is getting slowly more serious, but that is to be expected in the current times – the end times.

As we wait for His return, we must be prepared for this and worse, if we expect it, and persevere we too will gain Life.

Amen

Keep Calm and Carry On - a sermon for Remembrance Sunday 2010

“Keep Calm and Carry On” This poster was initially produced by the Ministry of Information in 1939. It was intended to strengthen morale in the event of a wartime disaster – an invasion. Two-and-a-half million copies were printed, although the poster was distributed only in limited numbers. Quite what the reaction to it was in 1939 I have no idea. It was rediscovered in Barter Books, a second-hand bookshop in Alnwick, Northumberland in 2000. While never intended for this age it seems to have captured the imagination of the British people. Perhaps they have recognised something in their character.
[Slide 5 – Keep Calm and Carry On Products]
There are T-Shirts, mugs and posters and much more. I don't believe this is all marketing, after all if you make these things and don't sell them they soon disappear.
Its pretty much the same message that Jesus is giving his disciples as he talks about the End Times. He is saying that nothing much has changed in the world as we moved from BC to AD. There are still going to be Wars and revolutions, just as there had been in the past. Nations will fight and try to destroy each other. It was not new then and it is not new now. There are still going to be earthquakes. There are still going to be famines, There are still going to be epidemics or even pandemics.
[Slide 6 – Shoemakerlevy hits Jupiter]
There are still going to be great signs in the heavens. This picture shows the comet Shoemakerlevy as it collides with Jupiter. In Jesus time the interpretation of comets and other events in the night sky was very different from the interpretations we have now. Something like this would have been seen as a sign of something important happening on earth. Just like the star (whatever it was) that led the wise men to the new king of the earth shortly after his birth. In the mind set of the people of the time you could not have such an important person born without there being a sign in the sky.
All these things must happen before the end comes. Jesus' disciples are not to be frightened by any of this, but are to accept it calmly as inevitable and part of the process that God is going through in order to complete His redemption plan.
Perhaps we could put it another way:
[Video – Corporal Jones – Don't Panic]
Jones, of course is talking to himself as much as those around him. The message remains the same from popular culture whether you are in the seventies or the eighties.
[Slide 7 – Hitchhikers Guide – Don't Panic]
“Don't Panic”
Its an important message for for people to receive in times of disaster. When a bomb lands on the bank during the war, or when your world is being destroyed panic will only cause things to get worse.
I'm sure there have been many times throughout your life when it has looked as though your world is falling apart. Sometimes that has been at a personal level – when you loose someone important and don't know how you can continue to cope without them. Sometimes that will have been at a national level, when you see a threat to your whole nation.
Some of you here will remember and have been involved in WWII. You will have been through the times when it looked like the Germans might bomb London to a pile of rubble.
[Slide 8 – St Pauls, Blitz]
You will remember the heroic efforts to keep St Pauls from being burnt down. You will remember the famine that resulted from the war, rationing and the fears that you might starve to death. You will remember friends and family who gave their lives in the fight, or who were killed by enemy action over our heads. These were no doubt some of the low points of the war for you.
I've recently finished a book called 'Bomber Boys' about the young men who volunteered to fly in the RAF bombers that bombed Germany. The statistics are appalling:
2/3 of Allied bomber crews were lost for each plane destroyed, it was higher for the RAF, who flew the more dangerous missions.
6 bomber crewmen were killed for each one wounded
Tour Of Duty% KIA or MIA
Fighters (300 combat hours) 24%
Medium bombers (50 missions) 48%
Heavy bombers (30 missions) 71%
Many of them, whose writings are recorded, believed in what they were doing, and believed in the ultimate success of the whole venture.
There have been other wars since, of course. Most notably for me the Falklands war. I remember thinking at the time that it was nothing more than a skirmish and would be over in a few days. How could a country like Argentina defeat Britain – with its professional, well trained and equipped military services. So imagine my shock when I heard on the radio of the sinking of the HNS Sheffield by an Exocet missile.
[Slide 9 – HMS Sheffield, burning]
It took me a while after that to regain my composure, to calm down and to carry on. There was a real chance that the task force could be defeated and I had to come to terms with that.
It was the low point of the conflict for me.
There have been other wars since, and I know that I am very fortunate. I have not been involved in a war in my life time. I sincerely hope that I never am, and the same goes for my children.
[Slide 10 – Black]
We must remember though that although we are not involved in a physical war, we are most definitely involved in a spiritual one. When Jesus is talking about the end times He did not start by saying that war is a normal state of affairs on the earth. He started by warning us not to be deceived by the many who will come in his name claiming to be the Messiah. Many have come, here just a few that are recent:
David Koresh - Born Vernon Wayne Howell, was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect, proclaimed that he was "the Son of God, the Lamb."
Ariffin Mohamed – Also known as "Ayah Pin", the founder of the banned Sky Kingdom in Malaysia. He claims to be the incarnation of Jesus, as well as Muhammad, Shiva, and Buddha.[1]
Laszlo Toth – Hungarian-born Australian who vandalised Michelangelo's Pietà in 1972.
Arnold Potter - Schismatic Latter Day Saint leader; called himself "Potter Christ".
Thomas Harrison Provenzano[4] – convicted murderer who possibly was mentally ill. Provenzano compared his execution with Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Georges-Ernest Roux – Founder of the Universal Alliance, claimed to be Jesus, then God, called the "Christ of Montfavet" or "Georges-Christ".
Ahn Sahng-hong – South Korean man worshipped by World Mission Society Church of God
John Nichols Thom - Cornish-man who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and his body temple of the Holy Ghost. He was killed by British soldiers at the Battle of Bossenden Wood, on May 31, 1838 in Kent, England.
Sergei Torop – a Russian who claims to be "reborn" as Vissarion, the returned Jesus Christ. He founded the Church of the Last Testament and the spiritual community Ecopolis Tiberkul in Southern Siberia.
Ernest Norman, founder of the Unarius Academy of Science, was allegedly Jesus in a past life.
And that takes no account of the Moonies and other such sects. People are easily deceived and there are plenty of people ready to deceive them. Jesus tells his disciples not to be one of them. Whatever they say, Jesus' instructions are “Do not follow them”.
How not to be deceived?
That's the first and perhaps the most important thing. Then at the end of today's reading is a section where Jesus talks to his followers about what their life will be like. He starts in v12 with “But before all this”. Before there are wars, natural disasters, pandemics and famines there are more immediate problems that you will have to overcome.
Persecution.
Persecution can be very minor, like the rather ridiculous attack on Ian Duncan Smith for using the word 'sin' in a speech. Mostly though it is far from minor, and as Jesus says here it often involves the courts. In many countries courts are not involved at all, the targets of persecution are beaten up, and their churches or houses burned. None of the persecutors cares if some of them die as a result – there is no justice.
How many Christian Martyrs do you think there are in a year?
[Slide 11 – The Christian Martyrs last prayer]
[get some answers]
Perhaps your view of Christian martyrs is shaped by stories from Nero's Rome, and that leaves you with the impression that it doesn't happen today.
According to one estimate it is about 171,000 per year world wide.
[Slide 12 – Christian Martyrs of the 20th century]
In 1998, 10 Statues were added to Westminster Abbey. (Yes, I know there are only six in the picture!) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/129587.stm)They commemorate 10 Christian Martyrs from the 20th century. You may recognise some of the names and know their stories. Some you may not have heard of – neither had I. Each lost their life because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They are only 10. There are thousands that we will never know anything about who have made the same sacrifice. Jesus predicted as much in His words to the disciples (v 16).
Today, as we remember those who have given their lives to fight for our country, let us also remember those who have given their lives to fight for our faith. They died so that we may live our lives in peace and in freedom.
Perhaps the most shocking persecution of Christians that is happening today is causing Christians to leave the middle eastern countries in droves. It is being described as a new exodus. Christians in the past few years have left Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and The Lebanon. In the case of The Lebanon they were not that long ago the majority population, now they are down to under a third. Islamic fundamentalism often gets the blame but the causes of this are unclear. The disruption and hardship caused to the thousands of families forced to leave their homes is obvious.
Will you or I end our lives as martyrs? - It's possible. I have no idea where Jesus will take me next, and I doubt that you do either.
If we do have to face the ultimate sacrifice, or any kind of persecution Jesus says that we should not worry about what we will say beforehand. His promise is that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words when the time comes. Verse 15 “For I will give you words of wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict”.
Keep Calm and Cary On.
We know that many awful things must happen before the end comes. We are not allowed to know when that will be, but we are given some clues and told to watch for signs. Jesus warned his disciples to leave Jerusalem and head for the hills when they saw the armies advancing. In AD 66 Titus Flavius Vespasianus led the Roman army against Jerusalem. By AD 70 the seige of Jerusalem was broken and the vast majority of it's inhabitants slaughtered by angry Roman soldiers. Josephus estimates that 1.1 million were killed, while only 97,000 survived. If only they had followed Jesus' advice and fled. Instead they followed the common wisdom of the time – that it was safer inside the walls of the city than outside.
Keep calm and Carry on does not mean that you ignore the signs that are so carefully put there as a warning for you.
Peter, one of Jesus' three closest disciples says in chapter 4 of his first letter “7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” and in Chapter 5 “8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Our reading today ends with the line “but not a hair on your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life”. He says this immediately after telling the disciples that some of them will be put to death. This ONLY makes sense if you are expecting another life after this one. Jesus had not demonstrated Eternal Life when he said this. Now he has!
Now we have so much more than the disciples had, but like the people Peter is writing to we must be alert to the signs and stand firm in the faith.
[Slide 13 – Keep Calm and Carry On]
Keep Calm and Carry On
Carry On deepening your faith, be alert look carefully for signs, be sure you know how to read them. Some of them will be awful and may disrupt life as we know it. Some of us may end our lives as martyrs. We cannot correctly interpret and respond to signs – even if they are as clear as an unexploded bomb, if we are in a state of panic.
Carry On standing firm and you will gain life.

Luke 21:5-19 How should we pray for the persecuted?

Introduction

The disciples must have been stunned when Jesus said that the Temple would one day lay in ruins. They had been standing around admiring the fantastic building with its amazing decoration. The picture is of a model. Jesus was right, so there is little evidence of Temple left in the real world. The wailing wall is all that remains today of the temple footings.

Understandably the disciples wanted to know the details. When is it going to happen? How will we know its about to happen? Jesus of course does not say to them “In 70 years from now, the occupying force will get so fed up with the unrest and squabbling in Jerusalem that they will finally loose patience, and destroy the Temple”, rather he chose to teach them about some of the other things they were going to have to face.

Peter echo these things in his letters:

^{1Pe 4:12-19}

So it is clear that we are to face the same thing that Jesus was talking about in the discussion with his disciples. After telling them about the end times he says 'but before all this' and goes on to describe the the persecutions they will suffer, and we know from early church history that many of them did indeed suffer significant persecutions. So did the early Christians that followed them.

Signs of the End Times

So what are the signs of the end of the age that Jesus mentions, and how many of them can we see.

v8 Many will come in my name.

The other night I had a long conversation with my daughter Karen about Jehovah's Witnesses. [The table History of Eschatological Doctrine] She has a couple of old ladies at her door trying to explain to her the truth as they see it. Jehovah's Witnesses I told her do not believe that Christ is divine, but while researching them a bit more I also found out that they have made some very specific claims about when Jesus will return. As you can see from the chart they have claimed that Christ will return in both 1871 and 1914. Clearly He has not yet returned. I'm using the Jehovah's Witnesses as a specific example, I know there are others, but the point is they have been proven wrong – in this case twice. We should ensure people that (and be sure of it ourselves) that the time of Christ's return will NOT be revealed to man ahead of schedule. That's because as Christians we are to live by faith.

v9/10 Wars and revolutions

We have heard of many wars, and we probably know a few that are going on. There are of course places in the world where there is just unrest – some times it is very violent. For example the troubles in Northern Ireland were never officially described as a war. I have tried to make a list of current conflicts, but it is not easy so take a look at these and see how many you know:

Burma
Pakistan
Iran
Iraq
Turkey
North Korea
Darfur, Sudan
Waziristan, FATA (Pakistan)
Balochistan, Pakistan
Chad
Lebanon
Gaza Strip
Southern Somalia
Northern Niger and Mali
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Afghanistan

are there any to add?

v11 Earthquakes, Famines and Pestilences

I have included volcanoes in this section. There are four in Indonesia, either erupting or threatening to erupt Kelut, Karangetang, Soputan, Anak Krakatau, we could also include Tsunamis – the result of earthquakes. For pestilences we could include influenza epidemics, and potential epidemics, because fear is generated not only by the event but also by the expectation of the event.

“But before all this”, Jesus say, in verse12, there will be persecution, and there was, in one way or another almost from the day of the resurrection onwards. The disciples, were already in hiding when Jesus first appeared to them , In Acts they were in fear of the authorities. We are now in the times that Jesus was talking about. Over the last 2000ish years there have been countless war, disasters and plagues. Through out that time there has not been a time when Christians have not been the subject of some sort of persecution, just as Jesus, and a little later, Peter said. I'm now going to look at three stories of persecutions and ask whether there are things this passage teaches us about our response.

INDIA Five Nuns Beaten; Militants Attack Church Service - VOM Sources

MADHYA PRADESH - On October 25, five nuns were beaten by 20 Hindu militants in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The militants surrounded the house of a local believer, where the nuns were attending a prayer meeting, and accused the nuns of forcibly converting local Hindus to Christianity. When the meeting was over, the militants attacked and beat them until the police arrived and took the nuns to safety. All five nuns were injured, and one is in serious condition due to head injuries she sustained in the attack. Pray God encourages them as they heal from their injuries.

Psalm 107:20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

SUDAN Suicide Bomber Kills Youth, Wounds Others in Sudanese Church – VOM Sources
On September 27, a suicide bomber in military clothing detonated a grenade, killing five youth and critically wounding four others, in Sudan's Upper Nile state. According to The Voice of the Martyrs' contacts in Sudan, "A pastor was having an overnight service in Khorfullus town, when an unidentified man walked into the service and detonated a grenade, killing himself, five children and critically wounding four others, including the pastor and his wife." VOM contacts added that the bomber was dressed in full military clothing, normally worn by government officials. VOM is assisting families affected by this tragedy during this difficult time. Pray God comforts and encourages the families of those killed. Pray for a speedy recovery for those injured.

Psalm 118: 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Isaiah 40:31 those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

CHINA Prominent House Church Leader Repeatedly Beaten by Police – China Aid Association
On October 11, prominent house church leader, Hua Huiqi, was repeatedly attacked by police at his home. According to China Aid Association, "Hua was reading his Bible at his home despite police surrounding his house. He was sent to Beijing Tiantan Hospital, because he lost consciousness after repeated beatings from the police." China's Public Security Bureau (PSB) recently put Hua under house arrest. PSB officers had been surrounding his house when they attacked him. Pastor Hua's 77-year-old mother, Shuang Shuying, remains very ill in prison, serving a two-year sentence. VOM contacts say she is being held hostage by police in order to put pressure on Pastor Hua to reveal names and information of believers. Pray for Hua's speedy recovery and for God to encourage him. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict his attackers and draw them into the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Psalm 107:20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

I admit that I have prayed these prayers blindly – without considering what God requires of us. On reading this passage, I realised that there is much more we should be praying for. We should be seeking the advancement of the kingdom, while most of these prayers appear to be only for the well being of those at the sharp end of the fight. Jesus says in this passage that those who are persecuted, and brought in front of the authorities are to be witnesses for Him, and are to be given the words to speak that His persecutors will not “be able to resist or contradict”. I believe that this is one of the prayers we should be praying, after all, God knows our needs, but Jesus still tells us to pray for 'our daily bread'.. VOM, though, does not come close to making such bold prayers (they have to have an 'acceptable public face'. Lets look again at what they ask us to pray for, and see what else we might include based on Luke 23.

[review 'pray' statements above.].

INDIA – Do the nuns have no contact with the outside world, clearly not, they were in someone's house at a prayer meeting. What should we pray for here? That they get the opportunity to witness to the authorities. That they are given the words to speak, when the time comes, and that God's words will be effective and irresistible. For courage for them to continue with their prayer meetings in people houses, even if this will lead to further incidents.

SUDAN – Certainly pray for the comfort of the families, certainly pray for healing for those who are injured. What about praying for the on-going work of the church, that it's mission and it's outreach does not suffer, that the witness of the congregation is strengthened, that the attack is a spur to the church to be even more open about their beliefs.

CHINA – At least here we have prayer for the attackers, that they would hear the word of God, and come to know Jesus Christ. This attack is one of a series, and Pastor Hua has featured in a number of recent e-mails. So we should start to pray for the longer term situation, as well as courage and determination for the Pastor to continue his work. We should pray that his attackers hear God speak to them through the Pastors words and actions, and take note of what they hear.

What about the persecution in our own country. It is considerably more subtle than the persecution in many parts of the world. We do not find that extremists from other faiths beat up nuns, we do not have suicide bombers (whether with tacit approval from the authorities or not) targeting our churches, we do not have our clergy beaten up by the police. None of this occurs at all in our country, not yet anyway. There is persecution though.

The persecution that occurs in our country results from the (apparently) best possible motives. Take the case of the Mathericks – Vince and Pauline – from Chard in Somerset. They had been foster parents for at least 6 years, and had looked after 28 children. Social services threatened to take their current foster son away because they were not prepared to teach him that same sex relationships are as valid as marriage. This is a type of persecution, it says “You must accept our belief system, or we will not allow you to take your place in society”. Christians tend to be singled out for this because they are not militant, or an obvious minority, indeed much of the country would claim to be Christian at some level. What really surprised me was the response in the press. I had naively thought that there would be a degree of sympathy for this couple. People who have been trying to help out in society, and are now up against it because of a new law. Quite the reverse. Some attacked their Christianity “What kind of Christianity is this? To abandon a child because of something that hasn't even happened? “, and the more extreme were along the lines of “what right do they have to push their view on innocent children?” and “These people should not be allowed to care for children – Its a form of abuse” Happily the couple have now reached a compromise with the council and the local social services, and will continue to foster children. One response to this agreement was:

“This is harmful and wrong. Displays no common sense or care for the children. It propagandises them. What if a child is gay in this house? How will they get the care and support they need by being told their very existence is a sin. When in truth it clearly isn't.”

John Pace, United States

How should we pray to support this couple? During the crisis, which only lasted a few days, but I'm sure took a toll on them, I would have prayed that their witness, their standing up for their views, and their refusing to cross lines would lead to them being a witness to the council and to the social services managers, and that many would have been brought to a point where they have to think about Jesus. Well I would have, if I'd read this passage, but I hadn't so I didn't.

How should we pray for this couple now? We should pray that they will continue to foster children, and that they will continue to be open about their beliefs. We should pray that their determination to have a Christian attitude in the face of whatever is thrown at them is not diminished. We should pray for the children that go through their care, that they will come to accept Christ as their saviour. We should pray that the regular social services contacts that they have (because fostering can be relatively short term) come to value them for the work they do, and themselves get to hear the word of God through the words an actions of this couple.

These people provide an example to us – The nuns in India, The church in the Sudan, Pastor Hua in China, and the Mathericks in England. They know where they have to take a stand. What are our lines that we will not allow to be crossed? Where do we say “so far and no further”? There has to be a point at which obedience and love for Christ will bring us into conflict with some form of secular authority somewhere. While we are not in that position, lets try to pray intelligently for those who are, remembering that they are on the same mission as us – to make Christ known throughout the world.

Peter says “if you suffer as a Christian do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name”

Jesus says “by standing firm you will gain life”.