This December, Christians are most likely doing one of two things: preparing for a holiday season full of family, food, and celebration, or preparing to be taken from their families, undergo starvation, and suffer extreme persecution at the hands of hateful men for the name of Christ. This stark contrast may not be an immediate reality for many Western Christians in their comfortable homes, but it is a reality nonetheless.
Last year, Engage Magazine was inspired by the martyrdom of 21 Egyptian Christians on a Libyan beach to launch the Orange Letter Campaign – an effort to extend comfort and love to the families of these 21 brave Christians in a time of heartbreaking trial. The response was overwhelming. Over 2,000 letters from Christians were hand delivered to these brothers and sisters through Engage’s partnership with e3 Partners. These letters reached people living in remote villages in areas intensely hostile to the gospel of Christ. It was a simple but loving effort to bless these families who had sacrificed so much for the glory of their Lord.
But for many who live in the Western world, enjoying the benefits of liberty and freedom, such suffering is unimaginable.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).
It is one of the most well-known passages in the New Testament, and often one of the most confusing. Are the persecuted truly “blessed?” How do we as Christians process this statement?
When we hear the stories of persecution, we usually think of earthly and immediate issues. But pain and suffering are temporary. We must maintain a perspective of eternity. Christ Himself said to those who endured suffering, “Great is your reward in heaven.” And who can forget the apostle Paul’s grand declaration:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us … For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (Romans 8:18-22).
When we hear about our brothers and sisters in places filled with darkness, under harsh persecution from those who would snuff out the light of the gospel, the Word of God must be the lens through which we understand it. As terrible as suffering can be, the reward for the persevering saint will be all the greater. Tribulation and persecution will be nothing but a moment compared to the immeasurable eternity of glory unimaginable that awaits all His children.
This year, Engage Magazine and e3 Partners offer you the chance to reach out to the persecuted Christians in Syria by writing letters of love and encouragement. This is a wonderful yet weighty opportunity to remember that the Church is not limited to our comfortable borders, and to encourage your brothers and sisters in the darkness to walk in the light of eternity with their eyes firmly set on the hope that is ours in Christ.
