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ll over the world, people are being persecuted for their faith. Every day, believers suffer insults, slander, beatings, torture and even murder. Still others are denied the right to publicly worship or even possess scripture.

You may have suffered under religious oppression, or personally know afflicted friends or family who live under such circumstances. More likely, you learn about people suffering in other lands, feel pity that such injustice exists, and wonder what you can do to change things in quaint faraway places.

Religious tyranny has always been with us, and always will be. One of Satan’s key strategies to dissuade the faithful is governmental or societal oppression. Spiritual forces of darkness are working to discourage, dishearten and destroy God’s people. In an especially diabolical twist, the oppressors are often deceived, believing that their actions are righteous and Good.

Historical examples of persecution are ubiquitous. John the Baptist was beheaded. The disciple Stephen was stoned by the religious leaders of his day. The apostle Paul confessed to persecuting believers “to their death”, prior to his dramatic conversion.

The Old Testament is loaded with stories of God sending prophets and apostles to his people, who in turn kill or otherwise mistreat his servants. In order to impose their beliefs on others, people have been tormenting, subjugating and killing all through the ages.

As often as this happens in a clash of different cultures, it is just as common for people to fight their own neighbors and countrymen in civil wars. Bono of U2 grew up watching two factions, who both claimed to follow Jesus, killing each other in Ireland. Sadly, one of the most effective times for radical Shiites or Sunnis in Iraq to bomb each other has  been during their holy Friday prayers at the mosque.

The mistreatment of the faithful is not something that just happened long ago; for much of the world it continues today. In March 2006, Abdul Rahman faced execution when he was prosecuted in an Afghan court for converting from Islam to Christianity (his family turned him in). While in custody, he was pressured to renounce his faith, or at least plead insanity to escape the death penalty. Faced with an unusual show of international political pressure, the Afghan authorities relented and released Rahman to political asylum in Italy. The overwhelming majority of clerics in the country, and the general public, continued to call for his death.

While the mainstream media occasionally highlight injustice (such as the recent flap over the Olympic torch, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama), they tend to minimize or ignore reports of persecution around the world. In North Korea, China, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, and several other countries there is no true religious freedom.

I have to assume that most of our readers live in a somewhat free society, where people of different faiths and beliefs are tolerated, and live in relative peace. Still, we should never take for granted a life without persecution. Until Hitler’s meteoric rise in Nazi Germany, most Christians there viewed their faith and nationalism as complementary. By the time they learned the extent of the Nazis’ evil ambitions, it was too late for effective civil disobedience. Courageous women and men took a stand against the state-controlled church and the Nazis, leading to their imprisonment and the death camps.

For any readers breathing a sigh of relief that they weren’t born into the Roman Empire (lions vs. Christians in the Coliseum) or some equally repressive regime, it only gets better: the scriptures virtually guarantee that believers will face persecution. Jesus tells his disciples that since “the world” hated and persecuted him, it will torment his servants also. No servant is better than his master. 2 Timothy 3:12 says,”In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” Darkness hates the light, so if you are shining brightly — the Enemy will find some flaming arrows to throw your way. The good news is that Jesus promises us that those who are persecuted for righteousness will receive a great reward in heaven.

Scripture is also clear regarding our attitude to persecution. We are called to bless those who persecute us - bless and do not curse. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We are called to love, however hard it may be, those fanatics who use violence and abuse to spread their hate. This is not easy! But God calls us to love people the way He does, which transcends the ways of the world.

When our sisters and brothers in Christ suffer, we are called to weep with them,  encourage them, and pray. Hebrews 13:3 exhorts us to “remember those in prison as if you were together with them, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

Jesus’ longest recorded prayer is found in the gospel of John. Jesus and the apostles celebrate what has come to be known as the Last Supper. After the meal, Jesus prepares them for his impending trial and crucifixion. He exhorts his followers to trust in God during the dark times ahead. He then prays not only for the Twelve, but goes on to include all future believers in his supplication.

In John 17, Jesus prays for the “complete unity” of those who believe in Him. Also, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” This unity and oneness is so that the world may know that God sent Jesus and loves all of us.

This column is meant to deal with art, culture, and faith, not to be an authoritative Bible study. For those who are persecuted for their faith today, I feel compelled, as a brother, to do something. I can boast to God’s glory about their faith. I can sign petitions, letters and emails to world leaders to fight injustice.

If you are interested in learning more, and hearing some amazing stories, www.opendoorsusa.org is a great resource. Another is www.persecution.com (Voice of the Martyrs). These organizations have experience assisting believers in closed countries, and can provide the opportunity to write letters of encouragement to victims of persecution, as well as sending material help their way.

The most important and effective thing we can do, though, is simple: we can pray.

I can not think of one good example of God directing people to manipulate others towards conversion. God is the author and creator of free will. If you feel the need to pressure someone else, make sure you pray about it.

If there is one God, then why do his supposed servants disagree on so many aspects of their faith?