Through every era, men and women of the Christian faith have withstood persecution, being beacons with the Light of Christ shining through them. Whether one reads larger tomes like The Martyr’s Mirror, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, By Their Blood, A Cloud of Witnesses, or smaller volumes like Faith Cook’s Singing in the fire, Jock Purves Sweet Believing and Fair Sunshine, or you inform yourself of modern-day persecution through apps and websites like VOM (Voice of the Martyrs), Open Doors, and Global Christian Relief, one can find great encouragement in the fact that we have “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
These historical and contemporary accounts make me shiver to think of the tortures their bodies and minds endured, and to think of the way in which Jesus stood with them, keeping them to the very end. Though I stand in amazement to witness man’s inhumanity to man, I revel in the encouragement that Jesus keeps His Light shining in men, women, and children, regardless what they face. I am also astounded when I read of others who are drawn to Christ through the faithfulness of a believer who endures persecution to its trusting end.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Take encouragement and warning from our first Decency Minute; though that Light grows dim within a nation as fewer and fewer stand for Christ – who is the way the truth and the life – it is not extinguished. That Light which shines through us and is passed on to others, by God’s grace, is not our own; it is the Light of Jesus. It’s the same Jesus who promised in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As you listen to Bill Johnson narrate these Decency Minutes or read them below, be reminded of a few ways in which we can stand for Light, and pass the torch of Truth on to others.
The Lesson American Christians Must Learn from Great Britain
As Christian martyrs, Latimer and Ridley, burned at the stake in 1555, Latimer shouted to Ridley amid the flames: “We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
Indeed, their influence led to England becoming a beacon of Christianity in the centuries that followed. However, that light is nearly out in Great Britain where it’s illegal to pray silently near an abortion facility and proposed legislation would sentence Christians to prison for praying for people without their consent, handing out Bibles, or preaching in public.
However, what has all but quenched Christianity in England is not legislation, but a failure to follow Christ and His Word – and passing the torch to future generations. American Christians must learn from England or we, too, will see the light of the gospel extinguished in our land.
America Needs Congress to Step Up
There’s a lot of overstepping going on.
Federal and state officials take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America; they don’t take an oath to uphold the unconstitutional opinions of rogue judges, tyrannical presidents, or a Congress which doesn’t do its job, including its duty regarding checks and balances.
The people who occupy these positions have a duty to use the powers afforded them by our Constitution in order to keep our government running smoothly and safely.
Rogue judges or presidents should be tried for impeachment and we have a duty at the ballot box to remove congressional members who aren’t performing their duty for We the People of the United States of America.
As Gov. Ron DeSantis stated, “I see the president doing things that are really, really transformative, but I don’t see the same energy from Congress. So much of the modern Congress is…just political theater.”
DEI Killed Snow White; is Aslan Next?
Disney’s woke changes to their remake of Snow White have made it a laughing stock. Set to lose over $100 million thanks to their waffling on whether it was ok to have the dwarves played by real actors, rather than CGI, and their decision to cast Snow White – so named because of her complexion – as a Cuban actress, we can only hope that this film serves as a parable to other studios of what not to do.
Personally, I especially hope that Netflix sits up and takes notice with their upcoming production of the Christian work of art, the Chronicles of Narnia, as rumors are already swirling that the Christ-figure in the story – Aslan – could be played by actress Meryl Streep. If Netflix chooses to alienate the fans of this story, they can be sure they’ll get the Snow White treatment too.
Below are a number of quotes from faithful men who walked before us. I pray that you’ll be encouraged by them, but, first, may the words of William Tyndale be our prayer as we are called to stand for Christ in whatever capacity He deems us worthy of: “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.” (or from whatever quarter our persecution comes.)
“Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.” ~ John Calvin
“If we suffer persecution and affliction in a right manner, we attain a larger measure of conformity to Christ, by a due improvement of one of these occasions, than we could have done merely by imitating his mercy, in abundance of good works.” ~ John Wesley
“Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own.” ~ John Foxe
“Therefore, I bind these lies and slanderous accusations to my person as an ornament; it belongs to my Christian profession to be vilified, slandered, reproached and reviled, and since all this is nothing but that, as God and my conscience testify, I rejoice in being reproached for Christ’s sake.” ~ John Bunyan
“The apostles went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ, that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for the name of Christ!” ~ Thomas Watson
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