Why the silence?
Some non government organisations state that about 200 million Christians are persecuted each year. They say it is an estimate more than any other time in history. Can these figures be an exaggeration? Is the picture created not really as dire as it sounds? Groups and organisations like Stand Today are vouching and mobilising
for a grand million volunteers for this specific cause; Christian persecution awareness. Stand Today are like the Indymedia of Christian Persecution since they are using the Internet as the virtual core (or home) if I am correct, to build a united front on their focus issue like the indy's. But is this situation of persecuted Christians as bad as reported, that even CSW have held special days and gatherings for this cause? Yet if I were to ask anyone from any city church that I have attended or who I often acquaint with Christianity sadly I find that not many of them can say they know groups like Christian Solidarity, Stand Today or their cause for the matter.
Yet members within the church are the very persons which these charities aim at for actions as they are Christians of the same faith as the persecuted. What is wrong with this picture? That the charities and awareness project organisation's audience have become the least aware over here, which is the Church and its members, the target for change.
So what is wrong with this picture?
Is it that the particular situations happening in far nations mentioned through these organisations are not in fact to do with Christians officially? That maybe it is more to do with the requirement of land and may be affecting other religions just the same.
Is it that even if the church members knew they would fear to condemn such acts because that would be condemning the government who represents the people of the land? Or is it that we fear that mass attention to this issue may lead to further religious and cultural tensions the kind of stuff that fuel wars? But if that was case the outcry against this issue of persecution would have to be loud and the people united for such a front. But as it stands we exist in divisions even as Christians over here. Can this division affect our overall response to the crisis of believers elsewhere?
What is a fact as far the reality of today goes is that if there were to be a refugee from Vietnam's Central Highlands seeking asylum outside Asia most of them would be Christian.
It is also a fact that in Muslim occupied areas in Northern Nigeria whereby Christians are low in number is where they are being harassed as a minority group. And that if we pick one of these organisations say Christian Solidarity World Wide, which is somewhat UK in flavour we can note from their lists of site-information that they have focus groups and missions whereby members themselves go and actually live with the people, the wretched of the nations they are supporting who may or sometimes may not be Christians. These few facts reflect that there is an actual issue out there, which we don't know so much about and can involve the suppression of Christian believers. The links or relations in which these charitable organisations have amongst one another if they are working to the same end which is "freedom of worship in the countries where Christians are being harassed" one would think would show solidarity in itself and reflect what they want people of the church to be like, united, solid, aware and together for this cause. Yet because of what it took to set up these organisations and the mechanics of what it runs on financially or regionally though there ends may be the same their staffs volunteers, workers and to some degree policies are not, there is the barrier. Where are the united relations that would make the world aware and the church responsible?
Why is it that some of these organisation one of them which claims that it works with some churches not as known as say Amnesty International? Is it because of the Christian logo attached to the spirit of the organisation? At the end of each of these gatherings held for persecuted Christians speeches are made by the victims themselves and it is always said to the Christian audience that they should "go and spread the words you have heard." Where better for individuals in the Christian audience to begin to spread than with their own church? So if it's the "Christian logo" that keeps verbal and printed information on these charities quiet though it is in reality much more broader than that, there is no reason why the many members who attend Sunday and holy day Church service cannot be aware of the actual plight of their brothers and sisters in the faith. Now all this awareness should not be a thorn in the side or painstaking effort like mentioned above it all depends on how culturally inclusive the church really is which is the audience of these charities. So if this isn't seen or known, in inner-city church services and the many side-worships and gatherings within then it is understandable to say with the organisations that there is a silence from where counts. The only question is what measure is being done to address the cultural and religious divisions within the charity's target, the Church?
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I agree with the charities like International Christian Concern’s claim of “silence where it counts,” but perhaps for wrong reasons. One is that this silence must mean that the church is not as inclusive as it sounds or it seems which may mean non-Christian organisations are housing these refugees escaping to worship their Christian God. And two is that this silence may be because the relations between charity and charity which are working for the same end are tied by their own policies and what keeps them running to highlight each others similarities, and work closer with each others members radically, no barriers or paperwork or strings attached. Full on participation. What political anti-globalist like to call the “de-regulated” or unofficial activism effect. This effect will not only be a shining example to the Church divided members of Christ to unite, but can also reflect just how that unity can work in the case of Christian persecution. So that like anti-globalists we can reach the stage where members within the Christian Church what ever church with God's spirit can freely say “what can I do?”
What CAN I do?
ID: Resolution1948
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