On April 15th 2018, two days ago Muslims attacked Christian colony in Isa Nagri Pakistan. They gunned down young Christian men and women sitting in their homes. Today, there is a protest in Karachi for Christians who are currently in prison and tortured by police. They were falsely accused under blasphemy law. It is heartbreaking to see this evil. I feel very sad in my heart seeing the pictures of these young men and women laying lifeless in their homes. The question of 'why God allowed this evil and continue to allow it' surfaced yesterday during our discussion, once again. I had no answer but to say that 'God is in control even though it might not seem like it right now."I asked my church 4 years ago when we received emails from a Christian refugee family living in Thailand. I told my church it is not enough to ask questions where is God and why He is not doing anything? He put us here. We are in Canada and we can do something about it. So our church decided to look into sponsoring a Christian refugee family. We sponsored this family who fled their country due to persecution. They are now living in Canada freely enjoying their life. Sometimes, our little church have no money for rent or bills but God miraculously provided for this family to come to Canada. He did this because He saw our hearts.
This year we are working to sponsor another family, a mother and a daughter. They were working as maids in one Muslims household. Their master was sexually and physically assaulting them, forcing them to convert to Islam. When they refused, he threatened to send them to jail on false accusations under blasphemy or theft. It is when their church decided to intervene and helped them flee to Thailand. I am asking churches and Christian community to get involve in refugee ministry. I know there are millions of refugees in the world and we cannot help everyone but we can help some. I have over 100 emails from Christian refugees living in Thailand, Jordan and Sri Lanka. I know I cannot sponsor each and every one of them but I believe if every church in US and Canada will sponsor one or two Christian refugee families, we will help relieve some suffering from this world.
The questions like, what should be a Christian's as an individual or church community's response in times like these? Is praying enough or the only way to show we support you? often comes to my mind. Aren't we called to do more as in James 2:18 says? Obviously, when our own bodies hurt we do not rely on prayers alone, we go to doctor, we take medicine or we do everything we can in our power to relieve the pain. Shouldn't we do the same if the Body of Christ is hurting somewhere in the world or at our doorsteps and we come to know about it?
I was told that I shouldn't let my feelings come in the way because we cannot help everyone. I agree, we cannot, but cant we help some or just one? I believe people do not find God in the suffering because many Christians and churches have turned their eyes away from the suffering Christian community and suffering humanity in general. Most churches don't know why do they exist in this world anymore? They are too focused on what is not important like music, bands, programs and ministries.
God created His church so, the church will become a place of hope for the hurting and bring peace for the weary. Church was never meant to be an entertainment center for "Christians".The reason we are unable to understand suffering today is because Jesus Christ is seen as some glorified Guru who brings you fame, wealth and good health. Not very often you will hear that He suffered and called you to the way of suffering. Jesus teaching, deny yourself, carry your cross, leave the dead to bury the dead- they were very rarely spoken of from the pulpits.
Today, the world is hurting, people everywhere are asking questions- if the church will not be able to answer these questions who will? Church you need to come out of your profound complacency and do something more than prayers. This might be the last hour for you to prove to the world that "God is good and He is all powerful and evil exists but Jesus Christ has victory over him."
