As Christians in America we are insulated for the most part from persecution, at least for the present time. We forget that believers in many parts of the world suffer and die everyday because they simply Love Jesus and desire to make Him known. It would be wise for us to begin to fervently pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries as the day of Jesus’ return nears. It is for certain that within a short period of time we also here on American soil may find ourselves arrested and jailed for simply sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are presently “Hate” Crime” legislation before our government that would make it illegal for any person to speak against the sexual preference of another person. A pastor at his pulpit or a lay person on the streets witnessing to a homosexual could be subject to arrest and conviction for simply telling someone what the Bible says about sin.
Once this door has opened, it may not be long after that we find ourselves arrested for attending a church where the Bible is believed to be the Word of God and taught in its entirety. One hundred years ago, sharing the gospel in the context of sin and the need for the sinner to come to repentance before salvation is obtained, was common. Today the watered down gospel leaves out the need for repentance and those who are told the Gospel find no conviction to change their lives.
If we are determined to bring the Love of God’s message to people we must tell them about their sin also. It is by a knowledge of sin and what God has to say about sin that we are brought to an awareness of our need for forgiveness. If our government seeks to restrict us from declaring the whole gospel by restricting our speech, then we must not obey that law, we must instead obey God.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Acts 5:27-29 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in Jesus name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
It is my hope that as we bring you these news stories from abroad regarding the persecution that Jesus’ church suffers everyday, that we would all be moved to pray everyday for these giving out the gospel in other countries and to also prepare our hearts for the certainty of our own persecution here at home.
Rob Robinson
NAIROBI, Kenya, October 16 (CDN) — A convert from Islam in Somalia’s self-declared state of Somaliland has staged a hunger strike to protest his transfer to a harsh prison in a remote part of the country.
Osman Nour Hassan was arrested on Aug. 3 for allegedly providing Christian literature in Pepsi village, on the outskirts of the breakaway region’s capital city, Hargeisa. On Sept. 9, authorities transferred him from Hargeisa to Mandere prison, 60 kilometers (37 miles) away — a difficult, week-long trip for visitors that is expensive by Somali standards.
“Hassan is in really terrible shape,” a Christian source told Compass. “He is very discouraged.”
In August, the Muslims who accused Hassan met with his family, also Muslim, and agreed that Islamic teachers, or sheiks, should go to see him in jail to advise him on Islamic doctrine. Two sheiks met him in the police station cell and implored him to stop spreading Christianity. Hassan refused.
“His family together with the sheiks requested the prison to make his situation more harsh, as a form of punishment, with the hope that he would recant the Christian faith and return to Islam,” said the source on condition of anonymity. “So far the family has been silent about Hassan’s situation and gives him no support.”
Promotion of any religion other than Islam in Somaliland is prohibited, contrary to international standards for religious freedom such as Article 18 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 5(1-2) of the Somaliland constitution states that Islam is the state religion and prohibits the promotion of any other faith, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2008 International Religious Freedom Report, and Article 313 outlines penalties for Muslims who change their religion.
Authorities have thwarted efforts to secure an attorney for Hassan by insisting that he cannot appeal his sentence, the source said. No Christian has ever tried to address a religious rights violation through the courts in Somaliland, he said.
“He is in need of a lawyer to help him, which seems not forthcoming,” he said. “But he cannot be allowed the right to a defense anyway. He feels neglected, so he rejected to eat food to protest the mistreatment.”
Local authorities have embarked on a crackdown of underground Christians in the predominantly Muslim area, according to three Somaliland Christians who have fled the country. Several underground Christians have either been killed, arrested or fled their homes as Islamists try to stop the clandestine distribution of Bibles, sources said.
Hassan was accused of providing Christian literature to a village Muslim boy, who later showed it to his family and friends. The boy’s Muslim family reported the incident to the police, sources said, leading to the arrest of the 29-year-old Hassan.
“His stand is that he had only one Christian material in his possession for learning purposes and not for spreading the faith,” the Christian source said. “Hassan needs a lawyer to advocate for his case, because [for someone who was once Muslim] to practice Christianity in Somaliland or another religion apart from Islam is illegal.”
In spite of his discouragement, Hassan recently said he is adhering to Christ.
“I still belong to Jesus,” he said. “I know one day I’m sure I will be released, and my physical health is okay, but psychologically I feel very anxious and stressed. Please continue praying for me.”
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