Saturday 18 February 2023

Some shoes to put ourselves in

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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