By Kathi Macias

Revolution in Tunisia. Rioting in the streets of Egypt. A 9.0 earthquake, the resulting tsunami, and ensuing devastation in Japan. Unrest spreading across the already volatile Middle East. Now the fighting and chaos in Libya. Staying abreast of these dramatic current events should be important to any Christian, but I am concerned that the 24/7 visual reports from popular media that bombard all of us may anesthetize believers to a more subtle but deeply troubling issue that tends not to grab headlines.

In researching my most recent novel, People of the Book, set in Saudi Arabia, I discovered that throughout the Middle East Christians daily face varying levels of suffering and persecution, a fact that seldom makes the news in light of the region’s more obvious problems. In some cases, Christians are discriminated against as they seek to obtain jobs, housing, or education. In other cases, the persecution can turn deadly, as in the case of the assassination of the only Christian member of Pakistan’s government, Shahbaz Bhatti, this year. Bhatti spoke out against a blasphemy law that makes it a crime to insult the prophet Muhammad, the Koran, or Islam. The law is obviously aimed at intimidating Christians (as well as others) and those considering conversion from Islam. Bhatti’s high-profile murder did garner some national and international attention, but many other killings do not.

Christians face serious threats from neighbors, even non-Christian relatives, in many areas of North Africa and the Middle East. The term “honor killings” is a misnomer. There is nothing honorable about this horrific crime, but it is a very real threat, not only to girls and women who violate (or are suspected/accused of violating) Muslim law, but also to anyone who converts from Islam to another religion, particularly Christianity.

My friend Dolly Dahdal shares a chilling example. Dolly was born in Lebanon but moved to Saudi Arabia with her family when she was still a young child. Dolly’s family members were all Christians, and together they attended an underground church during the 18 years they lived in the Saudi kingdom. Dolly’s friend, whom I will call Nura, was also a Christian, but her family did not share her faith. When her conversion to Christianity was discovered, her Muslim family was horrified. Determined to restore honor to their family, they beat Nura and demanded that she deny Jesus (Isa) and proclaim her faith in Allah. When she refused, they cut out her tongue and set her on fire. Nura joined the ranks of martyrs who gave their lives rather than deny their Lord.

Sadly, as both my research and my friend Dolly have confirmed, Nura’s murder at the hands of her family members is not an isolated incident. It happens far too often. Our brothers and sisters who love Isa and stand firm in their allegiance to Him live under constant threat of imprisonment, torture, rape, and murder.

What can we as believers do about it? What should we do about it?

Hebrews 13:3 outlines our responsibilities this way: “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (NKJV). What would we want others to do if we were physically chained to those who even now suffer for their faith—languishing in prison, being beaten and tortured, or condemned to death?

  1. First, of course, we would want others to pray—passionately and fervently and faithfully. More than an occasional, perfunctory prayer: “Help those who are persecuted. Amen.”
  2. We would also want them to do anything they could to help in a practical manner, such as writing letters on our behalf, petitioning governments, and supporting ministries that help in such situations. (Voice of the Martyrs is one of several such groups.)
  3. We would also want others to raise awareness with their friends and congregation. When people know what’s going they are more likely to pray and act.

It is urgent that supporting our brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith become a priority to the church, “as if chained with them.” Why? Because, as the Scripture points out, we are all members of the same body— the body of Christ.

Shahbaz Bhatti, Dolly’s friend, and countless others continue to pay a terrible price for their faith. May we rise up and stand with them as our Lord has called us to do, regardless of the cost!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com, www.theTitus2Women.com, http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com ) is an award-winning author of more than 30 books, including her newest release, People of the Book. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi lives in Southern California with her husband, Al.