Christian Response - Persecution for Sharing

In 1968 only Russia and Turkey had shameful laws on the books against propagation of the faith of Christianity. That number of governments and organizations has been growing each decade since.

How should a genuine follower of Jesus respond to demands not to share their faith with others?

Believers cannot ever promise to fulfill a law or rule that forbids them to talk happily about the one true God or forbids parents to bring up their children in the faith. They would rather stand before the courts or go through whatever suffering may come than in effect deny the faith.

Christ said we are to preach the gospel to every creature, talking about salvation and what the Lord has done in their lives while teaching new babies in the faith. Even if not a missionary or preacher, even if not capable of preaching a sermon, it makes no difference. He will never submit to such a directive, for even one unable to preach a sermon will at times have an opportunity to tell someone else about salvation wherever they are. Therefore without being belligerent a believer will never promise to carry out such a directive, despite all their respect for authority.

No, for the Christian there can be only one course. They can be nothing other than respectfully confrontational -- boldly but in love -- when commanded in effect to act counter to the written commands of Christ, and if necessary paying a price for their civil disobedience. They can do nothing else. They can do nothing less.

I love freedoms and the benefits thereof. Yet I could never act against conscience. What good is it if I cannot joyfully talk about Jesus wherever I am at least as much as I talk about my delight in my wife and physical family? This life is but a puff of smoke in the wind, whereas I will be facing the Lord and my fellow believers forever without end. We are in this world, but not of this world. Indeed, we are ambassadors representing the King of Kings to the world.

It was a delight to me that as long as I got my job done in excellent fashion, continually boosting sales and did not in any way slow down operations I was free to share in a caring, gentle manner with coworkers and customers of one store where I worked. Total strangers at times would ask me whether I was a believer. Some asked for counsel, some even for prayer. Our store had the reputation of being the best in terms of quality, service, cleanliness, customer relations and character for the district.

This is a matter that should be settled in the heart long before pressure is ever brought to bear.