Politics and Christian Persecution

Politics and Christian Persecution

[My Offline Bible] Acts 12
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Christianity has thrived till date under the most fierce and vilifying persecutions. Persecution can sometimes be fire that drives commitment towards the faith.

It is arguable that politicians would use soft targets to shore up their popularity. It is normal for people wanting acceptance and popularity to do things to please people even if it'll hurt the common public enemy... In certain civilizations, the Christians become the cheap target. Particularly in those climes where Christianity or its religious side is in minority.

Even the religious side when in power does same against Christians like in the days of inquisition. Many of those who stood against the unscriptural doctrines and practices of the religious establishment were either made to recant or burned at stake. History records that explicitly.

Politics is a game of numbers and you must do what's needful to keep the number on your side. Herod saw that what he did in killing James pleased the Jewish establishment so he felt to keep killing the Christian leaders would continue to shore up his popularity amongst them. Since the doctrines of Christ is a threat to the Jewish religious leaders in their corruption and error.

Pursuit of popularity is the easiest way to go against conscience.

It took divine intervention for Peter to be delivered and that's because God had need of him, ordinarily dying is gain to a Christian...

A similar scenario had played out in the killing of John, the Baptist, whose head was used as compensation in a dancing competition for telling the truth, to the pleasure of a powerful woman. That's what politicians can do!

The proposed law to control religious activities in Kaduna can arguably be seen in same light. We have gotten to a point in Nigeria where Christianity has become the common enemy of the people. I wouldn't put all the blame on those who see Christianity as enemy because many people in the name of Christianity have done heinous things and ignorant people hardly can tell the difference between what Christianity is and what people practice as Christianity. Look at the case of Rev King who is today awaiting execution, he did what he did as a minister of Christ and there are many others like him in child abuse, modern day slavery, abuse of all sorts that are waiting to be arrested and tried...

So when a governor proposes a law that'll control public preaching and preachers, people may find it difficult to see it as a law that infringes on fundamental human rights of people but a popular expected law to deal with the common enemy because of the excesses suffered.

Laws that will control hate speech, slanders, public incitement, and other abuses that hide under religious practices are of course welcome. The scriptures say we should do all things decently and in order. And that part of the Kaduna religious law is welcome.

But those sections that would make simply quoting a scripture in public speaking without a permit from government will do no good. They are simply a politician's trick to play to the gallery not minding those that feel the hurt. If the governor will deal with those sections that may be abused in future, particularly sections 5&6 that demands preachers to receive a permit to preach renewable annually, the bill will do well to a large extent barring the bad blood and distrust this had already created.

I doubt if the law will pass as it is but even if it passes, true Christianity would only become stronger for it as usual. More commitment will be recorded while those who aren't from start convinced of Christ might be the ones to fall away unfortunately...

The reality however is that Christianity in its original and pure state can run its course parallel to any government without trouble. Christianity is primarily a personal thing with minimal non formal organisation that's open to everyone who believes in Christ as Savior and has submitted to Him as Lord meeting from house to house.

When we consider that the first building attached to Christianity came almost 250 years after Christ, we'll see that most of the organisation and officialdom we attach to today's Christianity may have been distractions causing us more harm than good.

Not that without the organisation we'll be less susceptible to persecutions but that with less organisation we can become stronger, more focused and more effective spiritually and in our work and walk with God. The truth is that we are technically organising Christ and His Spirit out of the leadership of the church... No wonder Christ was standing at the door of the heart of one of the seven churches addressed in the book of revelation, knocking and asking to be let in into the same church He bought with His own blood...

It is time however to revisit what we do that causes disaffection among the people, not as having to dance to the pleasure of the world but to expunge evil out of our systems and do what's right which is compatible with the nature of God within us. This may still not  please or help the ignorant and the unbelieving but it'll sure please God.

Because if we suffer doing what's right, happy are we but we must not suffer as evil doers.

[My Offline Bible] 1 Peter 3
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

[My Offline Bible] 1 Peter 4
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?