Doulos

Today at RBC Ministries we were treated to a special chapel with Michael Card. Although Michael is not an official member of RBC Ministries, he has been in several Day of Discovery programs, has produced a CD with Discovery House Music, and has published one book with Discovery House Publishers (which I edited) and has two more scheduled for publication (and I'm editing at least the first one). Last night he sang at Grand Haven, so he made his way to RBC today for our chapel.

These days Michael prefers to be known as a teacher rather than a musician, but I don't think his fans will ever let him forget his music. He had only a half hour today, so he accompanied us accoustically on some familiar hymns and then talked about one of his favorite current themes, being a slave.

Michael is always so insightful and explains the truths of Scripture in such a winsome way, and today, in just a few minutes, he talked about the blessings of being a slave of Jesus Christ. He pointed out that the question is not whether a person wants to be a slave; the question is who will we be a slave to. We will be a slave to Christ, or we will be a slave to sin, and it is only in being a slave to Christ that there is true freedom. He explained that the Greek word doulos is the word usually translated "servant," and the KJV translators tried to avoid the word "slave" because it really wasn't something anyone wanted to be. And yet Mary, who says she is the Lord's handmaiden in her Magnificat, is really saying that she is the Lord's slave.

And all of this tied in with the project I've been working on--the persecuted church book. I've been astounded at just how much is asked of Jesus' slaves in other countries and what a trust has been placed in those who have been found worthy to die for Him. And while I'm very thankful that in the United States we have the freedom to worship, to publish and distribute Bibles and Christian literature, to boldly declare our faith without legal repercussions, it makes me wonder about our ability to persevere--our lives are so easy here.

I've also been impressed with the hatred others have for Christ and His people. In story after story, I am amazed at the lengths the haters of God will go to in their attempts to destroy His gospel and prevent it from being spread. It isn't enough that Christian ministers and heads of organizations are illegally imprisoned; they are thrown into the worst prisons after being brutally tortured and given the longest possible sentences. It isn't enough that Christians are murdered; they are tortured to death and dismembered in hideous ways.

The story so far that has most touched my heart is an incident that occurred in Turkey in April. A young pastor, Necati Aydin, operated a publishing house that distributed Bibles and Christian literature. He, Tilmann Geske, a German translator, and Ugur, a co-worker were brutally martyred in April of this year by a group of five young (19-20 years) Muslims who had posed as "seekers" for several months, winning these Christian men's trust. These young men tortured the Christians for three hours one morning before being discovered and then killing their victims. The wives of these men and the church in Turkey have responded in such a Christ-honoring way. Please go to this link and read the letter that the Turkish church has written to the "global church" about this incident: http://www.persecution.com/news/index.cfm?action=fullstory&newsID=511

It is tragic and beautiful at the same time; disheartening that humans could treat other humans in such a way, yet encouraging to see how God preserves His people and His church--to see that no matter how hard the darkness tries to put out the light of truth, it cannot. And it's another look at just what is required of some who are slaves of Jesus Christ.