While reading for a paper on Chinese house churches, I came across this painful story.
Twenty-two people were put in a cell to be re-educated. One man recounts his time in jail.
“We would pray, sing to ourselves, and write sermons in our minds to keep our minds clear. Those who did not know Scripture had a very bad time. Those who could not repeat Scripture back to the Lord often either betrayed the Master and us, went insane, and/or committed suicide. It was the Word of God that kept us from doing any of the three.” (Lawrence 1985, 121)
What struck me the most was the statement that those who could not repeat Scripture often did not last through the ordeal. We live in a place and time in history where the Bible is so common; we can access it through our phones, computers, tablets, audio players, and books. But I am reminded that not even 600 years ago, in England (a Christian country), English Bibles were not only rare, they were illegal and those caught secretly studying it were murdered for heresy.
This is a classic case of “taking things for granted”. God may be merciful as he has been to countless people present and past and not test our faith as he did to these Chinese church members/leaders. But what if we are put through such a trial? Will our faith last? Will we be able to say, as Paul wrote to Timothy, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT)?
This story teaches us that in times of intense persecution, it is our (1) deliberate and accurate knowledge of Scripture, (2) loving worship of God, and (3) heart-filled prayer that will sustain us. Knowing this, maybe our experience of “boring” Sunday church service can be revisited. We’re not there just to worship and learn (as we should!) but to prepare for persecution, the kind where one day we may be required to conduct a one-person Sunday service behind bars.
O Lord have mercy on us, lost sinners found in Christ
May we live on earth with the realities of heaven in mind.
And should it come, to endure hardship as Christ did for us.
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