In one of our training lessons for VOM we watched a video
with several testimonies of people helped by Voice of the Martyrs. One
particular video that grabbed me was on Vietnam. The Hmong Christians are a
small village in Vietnam where Christianity seems strong and spreads rapidly.
Many of the villagers are often arrested, beaten, and threatened. The
authorities constantly hound them and try in vain to stop the spread of
Christianity. The police will try to force them to worship pagan gods but the
Christians refuse. They cling to their faith in Christ. Some are killed. The authorities’
only reason for persecuting the Hmong is because Christianity is considered a “foreign”
religion. I asked myself, “Why are they so afraid of Christians”? Then the
answer came. The rulers are afraid of the Christians because of their deep
unity. If they continue to spread Christianity and unity they could become a
real threat to the government. But the Christians want only to worship God in
peace.
It hit me. We in America and other parts of the “free” world
are so divided. We segregate ourselves by any division imaginable. And what is
really sad is that as Christians we do no better. We divide denominationally
within the body of Christ. This church doesn’t believe in Liturgy. That church says Baptism is supposed to be
poured. These churches disagree over the Trinity; is it one in three or three
in one? And too many churches resent other denominations to the point that we
don’t work together for the good of the community or the body. That is not how
Christ intended it to be. And it gets worse. Within a given church we too often
find the congregation divided from within. This group sits on this side and
they want this style of worship. That group sits to the back and they want this
translation. Another group sits in the front corner and their concern is
whether they should sing the Doxology or just stand as the music plays.
This is not the New Testament Church. We are called to unity
as ONE body of believers. The TRUE Christians Stand together with their brothers
and sisters regardless of denominational affiliation (this means Christian
denominations and not religious sects). And one must also realize that the True
Body of Christ exists world-wide. So Australian Christians are my brothers and
sisters. German Christians are my brothers and sisters. Vietnamese Christians
are my brothers and sisters. And American Christians are my brothers and
sisters.
Check out some Scriptures:
Psalm 133:1 “Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”
Ephesians 4:1-3 “Therefore
I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the
calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Galatians 3:28 “There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
And remember the theme verse of Voice of the Martyrs, Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who
are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.”
Oh how beautiful a place this would be if those who proclaim
the Name of Jesus would truly love their brothers and sisters as Jesus Himself
commanded. “By this all men will know
that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
May you be blessed as you reflect on these things.
Here is a link to the video of the Hmong Christians, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQVeaFVOUbY
