Seth Udinski, FISM News
On Saturday, hundreds of Christians descended upon the National Mall to raise awareness for the persecuted Church worldwide in the third annual “March for the Martyrs,” organized by persecution watchdog For the Martyrs.
The event is meant to encourage and empower Christians to remember and support their brothers and sisters overseas who face death every day for their faith in Christ. Additionally, Christians are reminded to show the same courage and sacrificial spirit in America, as Christianity is quickly being pushed to the margins in this country as well.
The event began Saturday afternoon with a kickoff rally, followed by a mile-long march to the Museum of the Bible stage. The speakers at the event included Gia Chacon, founder of For the Martyrs, and Enes Kanter Freedom, NBA center and religious freedom advocate who has become one of the most vocal proponents of international religious freedom in sports.
Enes Kanter Freedom speaking on religious freedom at @forthemartyrs ! 👀🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/fanBfMiL83
— Kangmin Lee ✞ (@kangminjlee) September 24, 2022
The event was multi-denominational and multicultural, with representatives throughout the nation and the world.
Chacon highlighted the story of Iraqi Catholic priest Ragheed Ganni, who was murdered in 2007 by radical Islamists for refusing to close his church. She told the audience that just before the terrorists killed him, he shared these final words: “How could I close the house of God?”
Evangelist Shane Winnings summarized the Christian call to follow Christ no matter what with these words:
Everyone here might not be called in your lifetime to die a martyr’s death, but you are called to live a martyr’s life. … Let it not be said of me that I considered my own life. We must die to ourselves to overcome the enemy.
Author’s Biblical Analysis:
Central to the Christian identity is the understanding that we will be persecuted for our faith. Those who follow Christ will be persecuted.
I would go so far as to say that if a person claims the name of Christ but experiences no persecution for their faith whatsoever, they must take a deep look at the validity of their faith. The Lord Jesus Christ promised the world would hate us. If you are loved by the world, do you really belong to Christ?
Certainly, not all of us will die for our faith. But we will all face opposition. And we must be ready, as Jesus has asked of us, to deny our very lives for the sake of His name.
Therefore, I would submit to you, believer, several thoughts to encourage you as you are guaranteed hatred from the world.
First – Do not assume persecution is a sign of God’s wrath towards you. Very often, it is a sign of His love for you.
How could I say that hatred from the world is a sign of God’s love for us? It is simple: if you belong to Jesus, you will be persecuted.
That means, when you are persecuted for the sake of Christ, it is evidence of the fact that you belong to Him. You have a share in His suffering. Do not be discouraged by this! This is a source of great joy for the believer, that when we are hated for Christ, it is a sign that we belong to Him.
Consider the words of our Lord to His disciples on the night He was betrayed, from John 15:18-20:
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Do not be discouraged, believer, when you are despised for the sake of Christ. Let it remind you of your eternal union with Him.
Second – Make sure your conduct is worthy of the gospel.
Some, who believe they are doing service to Christ, will profane His name with their conduct and words, face opposition for it, and then cry “I’m being persecuted!”
The scripture is clear, and the Lord Jesus is clear. We must not betray our testimony and we must not give the world any reason to hate us other than our union with Christ. If we speak the truth in love and live for Christ every day, it will be a sure testimony to a lost world.
To put it simply, do not become a person who is “persecuted” just for acting cruel. Make sure your conduct and your words are worthy of your calling.
Last – Take heart. There is no option where you can lose.
For the Christian, this life is the ultimate example of a “win-win situation.” We are familiar with Paul’s words in Philippians 1, his great struggle between living on and making much of the name of Christ, or departing from this world and being in His perfect presence:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
No matter what happens, believer, we cannot lose. Let me explain why.
If you are persecuted for your faith and you live, you partake in the sufferings of Christ. This brings you into closer union with Him and makes you continually sanctified. Furthermore, it is a testament to the gospel. Who knows the kind of impact your faithfulness to Christ will have on those who witness it? Sinners will hear the Gospel, and they may even respond to it, because of your faithfulness to Christ under fire.
If you are persecuted for your faith and you die, it is also a testament to the gospel. It will bring great glory to God. But even more so, you will be in the perfect presence of your Lord! The trouble and sorrows and suffering and hardship of this world will be no more. You will be with your Maker, and there is no place better than in the presence of God.
So we press on, ready to share the Gospel with all boldness and love until the day the Lord brings us home. May you walk in the victory of Christ as you share the good news, no matter the cost.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… (Philippians 1:29)