Volu 100 Issue 15

Rev. Carl Haak, minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches, Michigan and member of Georgetown PRC, Hudsonvile, Michigan Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:3 Imprisonment, torture, beatings, death threats, bombings of churches, burning of homes, looting of property—to these things most of us are strangers. Yet, for millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide these things are a daily reality. In North Korea, Somalia, Myanmar, India, Nige-ria, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, China, and other nations, Christians are being killed, sentenced to prison,...

In this special issue we seek to draw attention to the persecuted church worldwide. Our initial plan involved a variety of articles from a biblical, theological, historical, and practical viewpoint. However, we decided that our readers would benefit most from a wide variety of first-hand accounts of developing hostility toward Christianity around the globe. The issue you hold in your hands, therefore, bears a strong international flavor. We heartily thank each brother who contributed to this issue, and we assure them all that our greater knowledge of the persecuted church will stir us all to watch and pray. You will...

Prof. Brian Huizinga, professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of Grandville PRC in Grandville, Michigan What comes to mind when you hear the word martyr or martyrdom? Perhaps some of the following, in no order: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Stephen. Nero. Inquisition. John Hus. Torture. Justin Martyr. Bloody Mary. Gottschalk of Orbais. The Book of Revelation. Stake. The Papacy. Peter Martyr Vermigli. William Tyndale. Diocletian. Guillotine. Fear. The Roman Colosseum. The Voice of the Martyrs. Tertullian’s famous line. Catacombs. Polycarp. “How long, O Lord?” Duke of Alba. Hugh Latimer’s words while tied...

Prof. Barrett Gritters, professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of Hudsonville PRC Persecution is approaching and no one should expect to handle it well without good preparation (training). We must be prepared for persecution. The importance of being prepared for persecution is like the importance of being prepared for running a marathon or fighting in war—both of which are biblical illustrations of what the child of God will face, and soon. Persecution, as the rest of this issue shows, is real. When it progresses, as the Bible prophesies it will, it will be severe,...

Dr. Jürgen-Burkhard Klautke is an elder in the Bekennend Evangelisch Reformiert Gemeinde (BERG) and professor emeritus in the Akademie fur Reformatische Theologie (ART) both in Giessen, Germany Introduction When we talk about the persecution of Christians in Germany, it certainly cannot be compared with the events in which Christian families are torn apart and Christians are captured, tortured, and slaughtered. In comparison to this, we are doing well in Germany. However, that does not mean that Christians in Germany do not experience hardship. Four aspects are highlighted below. Discrimination and persecution of Christian asylum seekers Christians from the Middle East...

Rev. J. Y. Paulraj, pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Vellore, India Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:9 “Pastor, can you help bury my church believer here in Vellore? The parents do not wish to take their deceased daughter back to their native village because the Hindu relatives would not let her be buried in peace. The girl wished to be buried with Christian prayers and songs.” Pastor Joshua asked me if we could assist with the burial of Mempidas, a 22-year-old Christian who led her parents and brother to the Christian faith even...

Rev. Emmanuel Singh, missionary pastor in Kolkata, Northern India I thank God for this opportunity to share something on the topic of persecution in India. Since 2014, under the rule of BJP government, perse­cuting Christians has become a target act of this present government. All key leaders of the present government are trained under the RSS, which is a type of Hindu extremist group. Even our prime minister was trained by RSS Hindu militant group. What this government promised to the rest of Hindus as an agenda he keeps that promise, such as demolishing the five-hundred-year-old mosque. On that ground,...

Dr. Sungho Lee is professor of historical theology in the Korean Theological Seminary (KTS), South Korea Religious persecution may have become an unfamiliar term in Korea. Religious freedom is fully protected by laws and thus Christians have no fear of being persecuted for their faith. Although the church is said to be in decline, there are still so many churches and over 8 million Christians in Korea according to a recent poll. However, it is almost impossible to talk about the Korean church without mentioning its history of persecution. Persecution has always been present throughout the history of the church,...

Rev. Titus Sanceuluai, pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Myanmar The name of our country is Myanmar (formerly called Burma). This country is for most people unknown, obscure, not important in geopolitics, world economy, and world peace. But, not to our heavenly Father. Even in this unimportant, obscure country He has His covenant people, elected from eternity in Christ by grace only. For Him this obscure country also included in His creation, as well as in His eternal decrees that He works out throughout history. The country’s size is the same as the state of Texas, and borders with...

Rev. Marcus Wee, co-pastor of Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore Singapore is a busy city-state with a population of about 5.92 million people, packed into a land area of approximately 720 square kilometers (278 square miles, about a quarter the size of Rhode Island). A multi-racial and multi-religious nation, Singapore has the following religious demographics: 26% Buddhist, 18% Muslim, 17% Christian, 8% Hindu, 6% followers of Chinese traditional religions like Taoism or Confucianism, and 4% other religions. Another 22% do not identify with any religion.1 About 7% of those identifying as “Chris­tian” are Roman Catholics, which brings the percentage...