Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3
In February 2012 Pastor Reutilio Columbie was
beaten so violently that he suffered brain damage. It’s believed that this
attack was a direct result of his challenge to the authorities over their
arbitrary confiscation of his church’s truck. He was found unconscious in the
street… and now struggles with his speech and with memory loss.
This sad story is found in a magazine produced by Christian
Solidarity Worldwide, a charity which exists to highlight injustices and
persecution in many parts of the world and to prompt prayer. As its name
implies, it focusses mainly, but not exclusively, on Christians.
I think, having used the magazine for several years, that I
have known about Pastor Reutilio’s situation for quite a long time; the entry
on him has not changed at all month after month and, as you will see, the
attack which had such a tragic effect on him took place, in Cuba, more than ten
years ago. That’s a long, long time. The entry is just a few short sentences,
but the more you read it the more outraged you feel. How wrong it is that such
a thing can happen!
Why am I writing this today? Because news has been received
that Pastor Reutilio has been marvellously healed and is now free to exercise
his ministry unhindered? How I wish that was so! But no, I’m afraid it isn’t.
Nothing ever seems to change at all, with the result that one’s regular prayers
can become rather mechanical and repetitive.
So the question arises in one’s mind: which is better, to
pray in a mechanical and repetitive way, or not to pray at all? I don’t think I
need to spell out the only possible answer a Christian can give to that
question…
And if sometimes persevering in prayer seems a bit of a
trudge (let’s be honest!), well, isn’t that where Bible verses like Hebrews 13:3
play a vital part? The Jewish Christians to whom this letter is addressed have,
apparently, been praying for people in prison for their faith, and in fact for
all who are “ill-treated”. That’s good, of course; but the writer of the letter
seems to sense that they need a prod: continue to remember them, he
says. And he makes a practical suggestion which may very well be useful to us
today: use your imaginations to put yourselves in the shoes of those suffering
– “as if you were together with them”. It could, after all, be you…
Indeed it could. Those of us who live in the so-called
“free world” – blessed by democratic systems of government – probably find that
hard to imagine; I certainly do. True, we see in our various countries forms of
what you might call low-grade prejudice which can be extremely unfair or
irritating. But real “suffering”? Being battered about the head and left lying
in the street for simply daring to protest against a perceived injustice?
Surely not!
Let’s not be too sure. The Bible makes it clear that Christians
who know little of serious persecution are the exception rather than the rule.
Cast your prayer-net anywhere around the world – North Korea, China, Nigeria,
Cuba, Iran, Eritrea, to take a few random examples - and you will quickly
discover that we are in a small minority. Or, putting it another way, that for
very many Christians, suffering for Jesus’ sake is simply the norm.
Jesus hated the idea of winning disciples under false
pretences: to follow me is to shoulder your cross, he said – and he
meant that as no mere metaphor. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it
hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…” (John
15:18-20). Beware the “now-I-am-happy-all-the day” brand of Christian! Beware
the peddlars of the so-called “prosperity gospel”!
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in north Africa (354-430),
wrote: “The martyrs were bound, imprisoned, scourged, racked, burnt, rent,
butchered – and they multiplied”. (Whatever you do, don’t miss those last three
words!). And another early African church leader, Tertullian (c160-c225), faced
down his opponents with these brave words: “We multiply whenever we are mown
down by you. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”.
Reading writers like these, reading the story of Pastor
Reutilio, reading the clear warnings of Jesus (and plenty of other Bible
passages, both Old Testament and New) almost makes you feel guilty that we,
most of us in countries like the UK, are not persecuted; is there
something wrong with us? is it a sign of spiritual deadness?
Only God can judge us; but it’s hard not to ask the
question…
Here’s another quote, from Ignatius of Antioch (that’s the
Antakya that has just been destroyed in the earthquake), whose life overlapped
with Paul’s (he died some time around 107): “Fire and cross and battling with
wild beasts, their clawing and tearing, the breaking of bones and mangling of
members, the grinding of my whole body, the wicked torments of the devil – let
them assail me, so long as I get to Jesus Christ”.
Gulp! I fear Ignatius was made of far sterner stuff than
me! But very likely so would poor Pastor Reutilio. I invite all of us to
remember him today in prayer – and also the many, many thousands of other
brothers and sisters in Christ who are in similar situations.
Father in heaven, thank you for making your
people a vast world-wide family. Thank you that Pastor Reutilio is our brother
in Christ. Please look in mercy upon him, his family and the whole church in Cuba,
and deliver them from their suffering. Amen.
Why not explore Christian Solidarity Worldwide as a
ministry you might feel able to support?
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