Floodgates 101_Issue2_2019_FINAL

Message from Senior Pastor
a part of Jewish metaphor but was in
the context of the Roman occupation.
It brought to mind a condemned man who
is forced to submit to Rome by carrying
his cross to his place of execution. It is to
publicly demonstrate one’s submission and
obedience to the authority against which
one has previously rebelled. This has
tremendous implication.
When we become a Christian (wants, deny
and take up), we are inviting the world to
hate us. “You will be hated by everyone
because of me, but the one who stands firm
to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)
Therefore, Apostle Peter reminded us,
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the
fiery ordeal that has come on you to test
you, as though something strange were
happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) And Jesus
comforted us by saying, “I have told you
these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)
According to Voice of the Martyrs,
70 million have died for their faith since
the time of Jesus. 1 A recent Guardian
report stated that a century ago, Christians
comprised 20% of the population in the
Middle East and North Africa, but since then
the proportion had fallen to less than 4%,
or roughly 15 million people. 2 The research
on Christian martyrdom is extensive on the
internet and it is not within the scope of this
article to highlight this but the point is clear.
There is a price to pay to be a follower of
Jesus Christ and this has been the pattern
of Church history from day one.
And having considered all that, Jesus finally
said, “and follow me”. The Greek grammar
of this verb is one of a present imperative,
which if contextually translated would
mean “keep on following me”. The path
of discipleship is an ongoing narrow path
(Matthew 7:13-14). That call of discipleship
remains the same as the Great Commission
(Matthew 28:18-20), to make disciples
and to teach them to obey all that He
had commanded. Apostle Paul summed
up succinctly in Philippians 3:10, “I want
to know Christ—yes, to know the power
of his resurrection and participation in
his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, …”
The call to discipleship demands that we
choose to want to deny ourselves, take up
our cross and follow Him, meaning we are to
give our all and our best. We need to repent
from calling believers into a nice and cushy
Christian life, into convenience rather than
convictions, wanting only blessings but not
paying the price of sufferings. I do not mean
that we are to ask for sufferings, but when
it happens, we are not caught by surprise.
How often we cry in pain due to a paper cut
when we have not yet been called to give
up our life for His sake. We thank God that
we live in a relatively peaceful nation with a
freedom to gather and worship. Maybe we
do not fully understand what it means to
suffer for His Name. But there are believers
in our nation who are asked the following
questions before they are permitted to be
baptised and I am encouraged by their faith.
• Are you willing to die for your faith?
• Are you willing to go to jail for your faith?
• Are you willing to lose your job for your faith?
• Are you willing to be kicked out by your
family for your faith?
• Are you willing to go to rehabilitation camp
for your faith?
May this give us a biblical reference when
we assess our response to the current
security risk and all future demands. When
Christians are persecuted and killed, their
responses have been similar through all the
centuries. They forgave their aggressors.
Such response can only come from a firm
theological conviction in the minds of the
Christians. “Lord, give us courage to be
followers of Jesus. Maranatha! Amen!”
1 https://www.christiantoday.com/article/70-million-christiansmartyred-faith-since-jesus-walked-earth/38403.htm
2 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/02/
persecution-driving-christians-out-of-middle-east-report
3