Some Hard Questions

Summer is ending and children are going back to school. Definitely an occasion for prayer.  For my grandsons.  For my son and daughters-in-love as they resume their responsibilities as teachers.  For friends who are sending their children off to school. For educators and students all across this great land.

For some, this back-to-school season is the last first day of school before their children graduate.  For others, the journey is just beginning.  In every case, the back-to-school season is time for some serious praying.  Because it's a hard world out there.

Yet even as our children venture out into this hard world with their new clothes and new lunchboxes and new book bags, across the world there are children and parents facing a different set of circumstances.  And they could only wish for a beautiful late summer day with a new lunchbox and new book bag, and for the opportunity to innocently begin another year of school.  Across our world, for many, life is a much harder reality
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I've been reading Anne Graham Lotz's new book The Daniel Prayer, and along with that, I've been doing some reading in the Old Testament book of Daniel.  As I think about everything going on in our country and our world, Daniel's story becomes so much more than just a Bible story I remember from childhood.  Daniel's story is very much the story of many men and women and boys and girls around the world.

In Daniel's day, King Darius had signed a decree that no one could worship or pray to any god or man except himself.  The penalty for violating this decree was to be cast into the lion's den.  And that, of course, is equivalent to a death penalty, since we all know what would happen if a person were to be cast into a den of hungry lions.

How did Daniel respond?  He knew the decree had been signed.  He knew what would happen if he continued to pray to his God.  Even so, "when Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously."      (Daniel 6:10 ESV, emphasis mine)

In spite of what it might cost him, Daniel continued to pray, just as he had always done.  If we bring Daniel's story into the 21st century, Daniel is very much like men and women and children in the Middle East and elsewhere today whose lives are on the line because of their faith in Jesus.  For Daniel, the command was to renounce his faith or face the lion's den.  Men and women and children in the Middle East today, and in other parts of the world as well, are faced with a similar threat:  renounce your faith, convert to Islam, or die.

The question is often asked, why doesn't God put a stop to this?  Why doesn't He protect these people from this kind of persecution?

My question is a bit different. Why do they have to suffer like this and I don't?  Why am I protected from this kind of suffering? Why is there this level of persecution and suffering in some parts of the world, and not in others? No one stands at the door of my church to prevent me from entering. No one is knocking on my door this morning and holding a gun to my head to prevent me from praying or reading my Bible. And for that, I am very thankful indeed.

But what if they were? Would I be strong enough in my faith to stand firm? When that kind of persecution comes to this country, and it may at some point, will I be strong enough in my faith to do as Daniel did? Will I be strong enough in my faith to continue doing as [I] have been doing previously?

If it were difficult to go to church, if there were men with guns blocking my way, would I go anyway? If I were commanded not to pray, would I pray anyway? When persecution comes, will I stand firm?

Why are believers in other parts of the world suffering such profound persecution? Why do some suffer and not others? Why them and not me? 

Hard questions.

But things we need to be thinking about.

I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary.
I believe whatever the cost.
And when time has surrendered
And earth is no more,
I'll still cling to the old rugged cross.

(Gaither/Oldham)

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed."  (1 Peter 4:12-14a ESV)

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."                (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)