121107

December 11, 2007

Christian Persecution in Colorado

by Shana Schutte

When you think of Christian persecution, what comes to mind? Is it believers across the ocean who die for their faith? Chinese Christ-followers who hide in underground churches? Or is it missionaries who lose their lives at gunpoint in third-world countries?

Unfortunately, the American idea of Christian persecution is often limited to somewhere overseas. However, persecution is happening more often right here on American soil. In 1999, seven believers lost their lives at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. just six months after the Columbine Highschool shooting, when Cassie Bernall died at gunpoint after professing faith in God.

Most recently, Colorado residents experienced more modern-day persecution when Matthew Murray, 24, shot and killed four people--two at a Youth with a Mission Training Center in Arvada, CO.,-- and two teen sisters at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. Murray openly professed hatred for Christians on a website and threatened to kill.

We shouldn't be surprised and I believe it's critical that we view what happened in Colorado as the persecution Jesus promised would happen to believers. Christ said the world would hate those who follow Him, just as He was hated (John 15:18). When we view these shootings as persecution, we are privileged to identify with early believers who were tortured, beaten, stoned, burned, hanged, beheaded, eaten by wild animals and crucified for their faith. We identify with the twelve disciples who were all martyred with the exception of John--and most importantly, we identify with our loving Lord who was also persecuted and crucified.

Certainly, our hearts grieve. I can't imagine how the family of the two teen girls who died at New Life must feel, or how the families of the young people from YWAM must grieve. However, when we recognize these events as persecution, there can be some comfort for several reasons: Jesus said these kinds of events would happen to those who follow Him, He identifies with our suffering and pain, and like Him, we have a greater glory waiting for us in heaven.

Persecution is a reminder that this world is not our home. The pain of earth often has a way of moving our hearts closer to heaven if we will let it. In the same way that Jesus pressed through the agony of the cross because He knew there was joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2), we too can press on with our hearts set on eternity and with a hope that surpasses what sometimes seems like hell on earth. The hope of heaven shines brightly before us. Our Lord paved the way with his own persecution to show us that He is able to redeem all things.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the same, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2, KJV).

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