Silas
Beloved of All
Your concern for brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith reflects the love Christ puts in our hearts, and it is right to bring them before the Lord in prayer.
Jesus was clear with His disciples that persecution is part of following Him. He said if they persecuted Me they will also persecute you, and if they hated Me they will hate you, because they have not known the One who sent Me. He also said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and to rejoice and be glad for great is the reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you. When we pray, we can ask that any suffering would truly be for Christ's sake and for righteousness, not because of being obnoxious or unwise, and that those who suffer would know they are sharing in His sufferings and will also share in His glory. We can pray that they would remain faithful, that the gospel would still go forward through them, and that their love would be evident to all.
It is also important to remember that not everyone who uses the name Christian truly belongs to Christ. Jesus said not all who say Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. In many places where there has been conflict done in the name of Christ, people have become bitter toward the very name, yet they can often discern the difference when they meet believers who truly love them and walk in the way of Jesus. The early believers were known more for being people of the Way, people who had come to God through Christ, than for a label. Pray that the witness of suffering believers would be marked by that genuine love and purity.
Regarding giving, Scripture teaches that the laborer is worthy of his hire and that those who preach the gospel should be able to live by the gospel, and Paul thanked God for churches that gave freely to support ministry in places where the people themselves were too poor to sustain it. At the same time Paul often chose not to use that right. He worked with his own hands making tents so that he would not be a burden and so no one could say he was in ministry for money. He was not looking for a cloak for covetousness and he did not seek glory from people or use gimmicks to pressure people to give. He said he did not desire a gift as much as he desired fruit that would abound to the givers account.
That example helps us today. There are always ministries that seem to exist for their own support, always soliciting, always sending appeals and return envelopes, always asking to be ministered to. A faithful work does not press or manipulate. Because of that, it is wise to be discerning before giving to any relief group, including the one you mentioned. History has shown that even large worldwide religious bodies have at times used a portion of what was given to support armed groups that brought great harm, even to missionaries and their families. We would not want any gift intended to help persecuted believers to be diverted to harm them.
Relief work in distant lands is also very complex. We have all seen how efforts to send food and help can fall apart because of corruption and conflict on the ground, leaving the need as great as before. For that reason, pray for wisdom for those who are trying to bring real help, that aid would actually reach those in need, that workers would be protected, and that Christ would be honored in all that is done.
If you feel led to give, do so as the Lord leads you, not under pressure, after looking carefully into how the group handles funds, how much actually reaches suffering believers, and what its beliefs and practices are. God sees the heart and He honors cheerful, prayerful stewardship. Above all, continue to pray. Pray for comfort and courage for those who are hated for His name, for their families, for those who seek to help them with integrity, and that many would come to know salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus was clear with His disciples that persecution is part of following Him. He said if they persecuted Me they will also persecute you, and if they hated Me they will hate you, because they have not known the One who sent Me. He also said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and to rejoice and be glad for great is the reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you. When we pray, we can ask that any suffering would truly be for Christ's sake and for righteousness, not because of being obnoxious or unwise, and that those who suffer would know they are sharing in His sufferings and will also share in His glory. We can pray that they would remain faithful, that the gospel would still go forward through them, and that their love would be evident to all.
It is also important to remember that not everyone who uses the name Christian truly belongs to Christ. Jesus said not all who say Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. In many places where there has been conflict done in the name of Christ, people have become bitter toward the very name, yet they can often discern the difference when they meet believers who truly love them and walk in the way of Jesus. The early believers were known more for being people of the Way, people who had come to God through Christ, than for a label. Pray that the witness of suffering believers would be marked by that genuine love and purity.
Regarding giving, Scripture teaches that the laborer is worthy of his hire and that those who preach the gospel should be able to live by the gospel, and Paul thanked God for churches that gave freely to support ministry in places where the people themselves were too poor to sustain it. At the same time Paul often chose not to use that right. He worked with his own hands making tents so that he would not be a burden and so no one could say he was in ministry for money. He was not looking for a cloak for covetousness and he did not seek glory from people or use gimmicks to pressure people to give. He said he did not desire a gift as much as he desired fruit that would abound to the givers account.
That example helps us today. There are always ministries that seem to exist for their own support, always soliciting, always sending appeals and return envelopes, always asking to be ministered to. A faithful work does not press or manipulate. Because of that, it is wise to be discerning before giving to any relief group, including the one you mentioned. History has shown that even large worldwide religious bodies have at times used a portion of what was given to support armed groups that brought great harm, even to missionaries and their families. We would not want any gift intended to help persecuted believers to be diverted to harm them.
Relief work in distant lands is also very complex. We have all seen how efforts to send food and help can fall apart because of corruption and conflict on the ground, leaving the need as great as before. For that reason, pray for wisdom for those who are trying to bring real help, that aid would actually reach those in need, that workers would be protected, and that Christ would be honored in all that is done.
If you feel led to give, do so as the Lord leads you, not under pressure, after looking carefully into how the group handles funds, how much actually reaches suffering believers, and what its beliefs and practices are. God sees the heart and He honors cheerful, prayerful stewardship. Above all, continue to pray. Pray for comfort and courage for those who are hated for His name, for their families, for those who seek to help them with integrity, and that many would come to know salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
