Christian Perfection Today?

Biblical Foundations

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

We already read this text at the beginning. The New Testament was written in Greek. “Witnesses” means also “martyr.” What is a martyr? Let’s take the definition from the Christian Encyclopedia: A martyr is a person who voluntarily gives his life as penalty for his testimony, or refuses to deny his faith or adherent dogma, nor swerves from his principles or conduct.” – World Christian Encyclopedia.

Martyrs in History “Christian persecutions and martyrdom are not merely a theme of the early church, but is a constant companion throughout church history.” Schirrmacher, p. 9. They were present in every century. When we look in the Bible, martyrs began with Abel.

“Abel – 85 priests of Nob (1.Sam.22)- prophets through Jezebel a lord of king Jehoram trampled to death (2.Kgs. 7:17)- prophet Zachariah – prophet Uriah – John the Baptist – Stephen – James (Acts 12:2)- Peter – Paul – all apostles.

The history of the church is also the history of her persecution, starting with the early church, in the Dark Ages, and in the French Revolution (Bartholemenight). The persecutions of Christians in the Islamic world and the masses of martyrs in Asia, here especially in Japan (1587-1635), China ?1617, 1665, 1723, 1724, 1736, 1811, 1857,1900) and Korea (1784,1791, 1801, 1815, 1827, 1839, 1846, 1866, 1881, 1887), are in our hemisphere practically unknown. The almost total extermination (others call it massacring) of the Christians in Armenia by the Turks in 1877-1939 took a toll of about two million. Until today about two millions (Mordecai, p.9) have been killed for their faith. Here it speaks of adherents to Christian creeds who had to die before the eyes of an enlightened, public world. Over there in Karthum, Sudan, is also the largest slave market. Slavery in today’s Sudan is so widespread, that women and children are being sold for less than US$ 15, and exported to Libya and other Islamic countries. – Mordecai, p.48.

“Gaddafi (Libya) is today the biggest importer of black children from the slave market of Karthum.” – Ibid, p.69.

Christianity was in some countries already suppressed and outlawed before the 20th century (in Japan 1635-1854, in Madagascar from 1835 and in Saudi Arabia until today).

Chiefly small groups have been persecuted. The bigger denominations were mostly passed by Ethelbert Staufer concludes in his book: “Martyrertheologie und Tauferbewegung'” “The 1rue church was at all times a church of martyrs.” – Schirrmacher, p. 10

Persecution in the Bible.

It began in the Old Testament. The first person murdered was according to the words of Jesus, the martyr Abel (Matt.23:35). Besides, Stephen was asking: “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? …” Acts, 7:52, “..and slew thy prophets…” Neh. 9:26.

In the New Testament Stephen (Acts 6:8 – 8:3) and James (Acts 12:2) are called martyrs. Only John was an exception. By Stephen needs to be mentioned that the persecution did not come from the state, but from the misled people of God, even from the very top of leadership, the clergy.

Large portions of the Bible are not understandable without the background of a past and future martyrdom. Otto Michel writes in his book “Prophets and Martyrs”: “The Letter to the Hebrews, the first epistle of Peter and the Revelation (are) in the actual sense martyr- scripts, because they serve the means to prepare churches for martyrdom, or to be comforted by them.”

“Only three books in the New Testament do not mention persecution. Four books have especially been written to encourage Christians when persecution comes. Persecution was one of the main topics of the Lord Jesus, Paul, Peter and John. Whole books were written for persecuted believers… In Acts only two chapters do not speak of persecution. The entire missionary work – experience theology of Paul is permeated with the theme of persecution… Paul could not see himself as anything else but as a martyr.” – Schirrmacher, p.1.1…

“The martyr-theology must not keep silence of the fact, proven by history many times, that Christians in the name of the Christian faith were spreading persecution and death.” – Ibid, p.16. Thus, “All of the prominent creeds have to recognize that there are martyrs, as well as that martyrs were produced by Christians who believe differently.” –Ibid,p.17.

All persecutions really mean persecuting Christ.

Here I want to remind us of the thoughts of my previously given lecture about the new tolerance (printed last year in the “Messenger”). Which organization is being persecuted? Everyone is saying: “My church to which I belong, I support.” But this is a fallacy. We read in Revelation 12:11: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed.”
The enemy of Christ, Satan, fights only against the remnant of God’s people. It does not say here that Satan wars against a church or a congregation, also not against the people of God. He works solely against the remnant…

“The true reason of the suffering of Christians is Jesus. Christ is the actual trigger… “The clearer an understanding, knowledge and witness the church experiences, the more certain will she have to count on the opposition and hostility of the antichrist.” Because of that, every suffering in persecution happens for “Christ’s sake.” That is why Luther says: “This must be considered, that every persecution, even on church level, which happens because of the devil in the heart, happens for the sake of Jesus.” – Schirrmacher, p.19.

Christ Himself had always made it clear, that persecution would take place because of Him.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” Matt. 10:20. “…and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ” Matt. 10:25. “;..they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you… into prisons… for my sake.” Lk. 21:12. “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20.

Persecution goes back to the hatred of the world against God and His revelation in Jesus Christ. “If the’ world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15: 18,19.

The Holy Ghost as: Comforter “If ye be reproached for the name o? Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” 1 Pet.4:4.

“The early church was always aware of the fact, that the Holy Spirit is able to give the- persecuted the wisdom and power to endure. For Tertullian, the Holy Spirit goes to prison with him, yet the Holy Spirit as the trainer even prepares the Christians for the persecution.” – Schirrmacher, p.24.

Before the stoning of Stephen, the glory of God appeared before him: “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” Acts, 7:55. E.G. White expressed herself in similar words: “True, they had through fear of death, kept some timid souls from;’ embracing the truth; but many, even of the most timid, had received the truth, and there upon their fears and timidity immediately left them. As these witnessed the death of their brethren and beheld their firmness and patience, they knew that God and angels assisted them to endure such sufferings, and they grew bold and fearless.” – EW, p.226.

I am now saddened that with many the Holy Spirit is being treated like a foster child, “The discussion about the personality of the Holy Spirit has probably produced one of the reasons.” – Mager, p.9.

Maybe it is the opponent of God, who maneuvered us to this disregard of this omnipotent power of God -:the Holy Spirit.

When one member suffers…

“Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them.” Heb. 13:3. One Christian never suffers all alone, but always as a part of the body of Christ: .., And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.” 1.Cor. 12:26.

“A church which ignores its martyrs, and does not pray for them, nor steps in for them with courage and cares for them, destroys not only the spiritual community among an. the members of the body of Christ. It betrays at the end Jesus Himself, the heart of the body who suffers with His members.” – Schirrmacher, p. 48.

Two Bible texts of the Apostle Paul who grew from persecution: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us…” 2.Cor.l:8-ll.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:19.

“Your prayers,” “your prayers”! Where are today our prayers for the persecuted?

Elisabeth and Jim Elliot. When we talk about persecution of Christians, then the story about Jim and Elisabeth must not be left out. In 1956, in the jungle of Ecuador, five young missionaries were killed by members of the Waorani tribe. It took 33 long years till the circumstances about this crime became known:

“In 1989 Olive Liefeld, widow of one of the five missionaries, went back for the first time to the Waoranis. She knew that Elisabeth Elliot, widow of killed Jim Elliot, together with Rahel Saint, sister of the murdered Nate Saint, had for years successfully worked among the Waorams. Apparently the five culprits were still alive, and all of them had accepted the faith of Jesus Christ.

In January of 1989 Mrs. Liefeld, through the help of Rahel Saint was able to meet one of the killers, Kimo and his wife Dawa. Both natives took the American lady to the spot of the crime.

Olive Liefeld remembers: ‘In the months before the murder missionaries flew in wide circles over the native village, in a pail letting down donations. The day was celebrated when the natives sent back monkey meat, parrots clothing. Our men prepared a schedule when they could start with the frrst visit to these natives.’

On that day long looked forward to, they landed with a plane on the River Cuaray. The Waorani-men came out of the jungle to greet the missionaries.

‘Dawa said, that one of the five men took a picture of an Indian girl from his pocket. The Ancas Indians wear no clothing and therefore knew nothing about pockets, cameras or photos. Thus they drew the conclusion, that these strangers must be cannibals, because they thought, one of them took a little Indian girl – the picture – out of his own body.

The missionaries were totally unaware with how much fear the Indians prepared themselves for the next meeting. Because of that, five Waoranis attacked the young Americans at the shore after they had landed. Dawa and several others were watching everything from a safe distance. “Dawa was telling how our men (the Americans) deliberately shot above the heads of the attacking Waoranis,” said Mrs. Liefeld, “and one shot even hit her in the knee. She knew that these strangers could shoot Kimo and the other Waoranis, but it was obvious they did not want to do that.” Within minutes all five missionaries were murdered.

In the following years, people like Elisabeth Elliot and Rahel Saint let the Waoranis know that their men came in peace to them, to tell them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gikitia, the leader of the attack, was especially hit by the message that two of the Americans were former soldiers, but rather shed their own blood than to shoot these natives. Gikita became a Christian shortly after and with him several more Waorani men with their families.

The decision of the Americans to shoot no Waoranis, was more than a token of peace. And last but not least it was their death, that ended a circuit of revenge, violence and murder between the tribes. Because when the Waoranis became Christians, out of their initiative followed peace with the tribes, with which they were warring for generations.” – Kraemer, p.9l.

Steve Saint, son of the murdered Nate Saint continues to do the missionary work among the natives in the jungle of Ecuador.

“Why the missionary efforts among the Waoranis was crowned with success, has also to do with an additional mysterious event directly after the massacre. The natives told Olive Liefeld: Having the dead before their eyes, Dawa between the trees and Kime at the shore, they heard a peculiar singing. Both testify they saw a group of people above the treetops singing and beamed like a hundred flashlights,’ … The lights were bright and radiated, and suddenly they were gone.” – Kraemer, p.93.

Kimo told that only when they heard the word of God they were no more afraid. Those singers have been the angels of God.

Klaus Kraemer closes this story in his book:” Engel – Grenzgarenger zwischen den Welten”, with these words: “I try to say: that God out of this tragedy of death and grief was going to develop something good which the survivors at that time were not yet able to have in view.

Why angels of God keep some people from terrible catastrophes, why they allow such calamities to happen to others with all the grievous consequences, is a mystery of God and yet a part of His perfect plan. This is not a cheap attempt to explain something, no fatalism, but my deepest conviction and consolation. The love of God does not make distinctions, also when according to our perception, it reveals itself differently.”- Kraemer, p.93.

The missionary Ralph Shallis, who laboured many years among Muslims ‘m Algeria, writes in his book: “Lebendige Zellen: “I believe in the possibility of a global persecution which will be more cunning, inexorable, worked out and more cruel than all the persecutions in church history since the time of the apostles. After the falling through of our great organizations there remains only Jesus and His word. The more we live this reality, the better we are prepared for the difficult times.” – Shallis, p.119.

“The person of Jesus Christ has not lost its attraction; the Bible has not become obsolete, in the contrary: each generation becomes newly captivated by its truths, because Christ is that reality, that has answers ready for all the longings, the fears of every human being. But it is our way how we represent Christ to the world, that makes Him unintelligible, yes even invisible. We obscure His lucidity… for things of less importance… It is time to think over our ways how we evangelize, to think over our churches, our future and let our minds pass through the refining fire of the word of God.” – Shallis, p. 115-117.

“The love of God makes no distinctions, even when according to our perception it reveals itself differently. Moerover, I am certain that God, to a person whom he had protected many times before, had to suffer much, and who died early and in a tragic manner,…

For all who count on the love of God: “He shall give angels charge over thee, to keep thee ill’ all thy ways.” By that Christians will be comforted, encouraged and strengthened.” – Kraemer, p.94.

” And the peace of God, which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7.

References

Klingberg Max, Martyrer heute, Gerth, Asslar, 2000. Klingberg Max und Schimnacher Thomas, Martyrer 2201, Christenverfolgung – vor allem in islamischen Laendern, Idea Wetzlar, 2001. Kraemer Klaus, Engel – Grenzgaenger zwischen den Welten, Brendow-Verlag, Moers, 2000. Mager, Johnnes, Auf the Spuren des Heiligen Geistes, Advent-Verlag Luneberg 1999. Mordecai Victor, Is Fanatic Islam a global Threat?, 1997. Rapp/Staines, Sie starben fur Jesus, Brunnen Verlag, Basel, 2000. White Ellen G..” Early Writings, p. 226. Schirm1acher, Prof. Dr. Thomas, Christenverfolgung geht tins alle an, Idea-Dokumentation 15/99 Wetzlar 1999. Shallis Ralph, Lebendige
Zellen – Das Modell Gottes fur die Gemeinde,CLV Bielefeld, 1999.