Many younger Christians are beginning to recognize this need. Skeptical that the solution can come from governments, they are instead working through the grassroots level to effect change. While you might not find pastors advocating for international justice or starting nongovernment organizations, you might see the people in their churches doing so—and the pastors and leaders directing funds to organizations that aid, relieve and support the persecuted church.
These organizations have been involved in multiple avenues of aid, including advocacy. You won’t find their staff or volunteers listed anywhere because it would put them in danger. You might also be uncomfortable with some of the actions of these organizations. But their work shows that the American church has at least observed the persecution taking place around the world.
By getting involved in such organizations, we can better see the need to give up the false dichotomy of Western church versus global church, and move toward the global church serving the global church. Those of us in the West are not the only ones aware of the persecuted church. We can all stand in solidarity with each other when we realize the West needs help too.
Pattern and Power of Prayer
So what can we do right now? Start by simply praying. Sometimes, we roll our eyes when we hear that we should pray for the persecuted church, as if praying is nothing. But consider how the early church prayed when being threatened (Acts 4:22-31). They affirmed who God was, quoted Scripture applicable to their situation, and then asked God for boldness and confirmation of their message.
We can learn a lot from following their pattern, and from recognizing that God is the only one that can truly protect his people. Let’s cry out with the saints across all time: How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?
