The Church & the World | Tactical Christianity

Your Family in Africa

by R. Herbert | Feb 7, 2016 | The Church & the World

ISS Infographic: Africa in 2016

We live in a world which always seems to have a war raging somewhere, and problems everywhere else, so it’s easy to begin to lose track of what is happening on all the continents. At this time, most world news headlines relate to the complex and perilous situation in the Middle East, and so it’s especially easy to miss what is happening elsewhere – but as Christians we do need to notice.

The Africa-based Institute for Security Studies recently released a summary of the problems in Africa as we go into 2016. The graphic above summarizes this report, and we should notice that it does not consider ongoing problems of famine, disease, malnutrition, human trafficking, and other issues – simply current political problems.

Africa is a huge continent (for a graphic representation of just how huge, see our blog post here), and the first thing we need to see is just how widespread the problems are over that massive landmass. According to the ISS, there are crisis hotspots in twelve countries with major problems ranging from ongoing terrorist activity to all-out war. To put this in perspective, if twelve states of the United States of America were experiencing these levels of crisis and anarchy, most Americans would regard the situation as virtually apocalyptic.

The kidnapping of 276 (still missing) Chibok schoolgirls by the Islamic Jihadist and terrorist organization, Boko Haram, in Nigeria in 2014 resonated around the world (#BringBackOurGirls), but this event was only one of hundreds of ongoing kidnappings, killings and attacks being perpetrated by this and other groups in Africa – many of which never make it into the news in the Western world.

The cost for everyone affected by this ongoing violence is terrible, of course, but we need to be particularly aware of its effect on members of the Christian faith. Christians are the primary target of much of the violence and persecution in many of the crisis hotspot areas – and remember a “hotspot” in Africa is not just a “spot,” it may be an area of thousands of square miles. In some areas Christians are being attacked daily, with as many as three churches a week being burned and destroyed. Our prayers for believers in these areas are needed just as much as for those in the Middle East who are suffering in what are often better reported circumstances.

Notice also that the ISS graphic shows the high number of elections in many of the affected countries in 2016, and we can pray that those elections will result in better acceptance and protection for Christians who are endangered by the widespread problems. Overall the situation in Africa is worse for Christians than it has been for many years, and the problems are growing almost everywhere.

So if you are part of the family of Christianity (1 John 3:1-2, Ephesians 2:19-22), think about the responsibility to which our faith calls us – to have concern for suffering members of that family (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) and to help them (Galatians 6:10). We need to be aware of the situation and remember to pray for and support our family in Africa.

A New World Watch List

by R. Herbert | Jan 14, 2016 | Persecution, The Church & the World

Yesterday, Open Doors, the Christian aid organization serving the persecuted Church, published its updated “World Watch List” ranking the top 50 persecuting countries in the world. The Watch List is an excellent resource for churches and individuals to see where the most intense needs currently are and summarizing the situation regarding the persecution of believers around the globe.

The list is an important, though sobering publication. The fact that there are a top fifty persecuting nations to list is saddening enough, and the top listed nations among the fifty are guilty of persecution in the extreme. Perhaps not surprisingly, North Korea maintains its top-persecuting rank, and Iraq and the African nation of Eritrea now take second and third place, respectively.

The report does not just rank the most persecuting nations, however – it shows where there has been an increase or decrease in a given nation’s ranking, and provides other useful information. For example, although most people are aware of the incredible level of persecution being inflicted on Christian populations by Islamic extremists, the report helpfully indicates other aspects of this situation that we might not be aware of – such as the fact that as legitimate governments became more fearful of burgeoning Islamic extremism, they themselves are often responding by either boosting nationalism as a counterforce or tightening regulations and increasing surveillance over all religious expression.

There are some glimmers of hope. Some few countries have been downranked – such as Syria, which is down from 4th to 5th place, and Somalia, which is down from 3rd to 7th place – but in a number of these cases the downgrading is a result of the mass exodus of Christians rather than any improvement in conditions. At least one country – Mauritania – has been removed from the list, but it has simply been replaced by another country where persecution is growing.

Overall, the picture painted by the new World Watch list is one of growing severe and extreme persecution, and Open Doors is to be thanked for the work they put into carefully monitoring and documenting the escalating situation. The list is itself a powerful weapon in raising awareness and enabling informed reaction to the problem of intensifying worldwide persecution, and we would highly recommend it to every believer. The Watch List can be freely download from the Open Doors website here , and we urge you to familiarize yourself with the list and to use it for prayer and action on behalf of the millions of persecuted believers around the world.

*You can read an interview with David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors, on our sister site, LivingWithFaith.org, here.

The Gift of Light

by R. Herbert | Dec 13, 2015 | Giving, The Church & the World

Here at TacticalChristianity.org we are always on the lookout for people doing good work that we can recommend and about which we can spread the word. One such project which is well established, but was new to us, is One Million Lights.

The project’s website gives two important statistics. First, 1.3 billion people around the world still depend on kerosene oil for light. The second statistic is that kerosene causes 1.5 million deaths annually.

To see that second statistic in perspective, realize that far fewer people die from malaria around the world in a given year, and that the number of kerosene-related deaths does not include the huge number of adults and children badly burned through kerosene fires.

Another, less noticeable – but no less real – aspect of kerosene use is that it causes a number of respiratory illnesses. According to the OML website, kerosene smoke inhalation is equivalent to smoking four packs of cigarettes per day and is related to many cases of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and cancer in households which are forced to use kerosene as the only source of available light. Add to these very real health hazards the high cost of kerosene – which means that already impoverished families often spend up to half of their annual income on purchasing the fuel.

Yet the answer to this little-realized, but widespread cause of death, illness and impoverishment is as close as solar-powered lamps. That is where the One Million Lights organization enters the scene. The project has distributed over 59,500 solar lanterns since November 2014, in 27 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. A map on the OML website shows where these lights have gone and makes it very clear what a tremendous effect the program is having.

The amazing thing is how little these lights cost compared to what they give. For every $15 donated to OML, members of a family somewhere are protected from possible death and injury, almost certain ill health, and increased poverty. Giving an impoverished family half its annual income back is, alone, an amazing return on fifteen dollars. If you choose to donate a light, you can even choose the area to which it will go – a menu lists far-scattered areas of need ranging from countries such as Liberia and Uganda to specific tribal regions and places such as Barwani and Kishanghar that you may never have heard of before.

But wherever the light goes, it can make a huge difference in people’s lives. As a Christian, you know that is true spiritually. In this case, it is true physically as well. So if you would like to let your light shine in this way, consider the work of the One Million Lights project. A little light goes a long way.

Words for a Time of Persecution

by R. Herbert | Aug 9, 2015 | Problems, The Church & the World

“… persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9).

The apostle Paul knew a few things about being persecuted for one’s faith. After turning from his role as persecutor of the Church, Paul was himself frequently attacked and assaulted for his beliefs and teaching. The harassment was not just verbal. The apostle tells us he was physically beaten numerous times and that “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes” (2 Timothy 2:9). He was even, on one occasion, stoned and then dragged away and left for dead (Acts 14:19).

It was not only the leaders of the early Church who underwent persecution, of course. In his epistles to the Thessalonians, Paul provides an example of a whole congregation that was experiencing persecution: “… you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV). “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering” (2 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV). We don’t know all the details of how the Thessalonian Christians were being treated by those around them, but it is clear that they were facing discomfort and persecution.

But Paul doesn’t just commend these people as an example of those who are persecuted for their faith; he helps them realize where much of the spirit of persecution comes from, and he also offers them hope. Notice what he told them: “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV). In saying this, Paul foreshadows God’s help to persecuted Christians through the ages – stressing the fact that God either strengthens or protects his people, depending on his will, and sometimes he does both. Paul found this frequently. Sometimes he was rescued (2 Timothy 3:11) and sometimes he was not (2 Timothy 2:9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

We have only to look around the world today to see that many – possibly the majority of – Christians are still living in some degree of discomfort in terms of societal or official pressure and persecution. Many are suffering intense persecution, and God still protects his people or strengthens them to endure. But why do some suffer and some escape? The testimony of history and current events both show that God works despite the persecution of his followers. It is in times and places of persecution that Christianity grows the most – both numerically and spiritually. Not only does persecution and societal lack of approval help believers grow closer to God, but also it often gives them unique opportunities to be a better light to others.

It is no coincidence that Paul told the Thessalonians that they were a model to all the believers in the surrounding areas (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8). The persecuted Thessalonians were, he tells us, especially effective in spreading the gospel throughout their surrounding region (vs. 8) through their “work produced by faith,” their “labor prompted by love,” and their “endurance inspired by hope …” (vs.3). As a result, the Thessalonian Christians were both a powerful witness to other believers and to those outside the Faith.

Paradoxical as it may seem, Paul reminds us that the more uncomfortable it becomes to be a Christian, the more Christian committed Christians become. Nevertheless, we need to pray for the persecuted. Pray for the persecuted Church!

We recommend Jonathan Petersen’s excellent article on this topic on the BibleGateway.org site here.

Should You Fear Conspiracy?

by R. Herbert | Jul 26, 2015 | The Church & the World

In films such as “Conspiracy Theory” (1997), “Enemy of the State” (1998) and a number of others, leading actors like Mel Gibson and Will Smith have portrayed individuals struggling to survive despite governmental or corporate conspiracies that threaten to destroy them.

Movies of this type have produced wryly humorous lines such as “It’s not paranoia If they really are out to get you,” but many people view the threat of conspiracies aimed at the control of society as not at all humorous and all too real.

For some, conspiracy lurks behind every movement of the stock market, every government announcement, every corporate merger. The threat of conspiracy affects not only how they see the world, but also how they live in it. In some cases, fear of conspiracy leads to everything from not using credit cards to not drinking tap water.

Even some Christians fall prey to worry over conspiracies based on things people think they see going on in the world, but ironically the apostle Paul indicated quite clearly that there really is a conspiracy against humans that cannot be seen and which is far greater than the real or imagined conspiracies of governments and mega-corporations: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

But whether we think of physical or spiritual conspiracies, the Bible makes it clear that these are not things we should fear. The prophet Isaiah stated this emphatically: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread” (Isaiah 8:12-13).

Isaiah’s words are interesting on two levels. He certainly does not deny the existence of conspiracies, but he clearly suggests that people see more conspiracies than actually exist. More importantly, Isaiah stresses that it is not some shadowy “they” we should fear, but the One who is far greater than any human power. The prophet’s words were reinforced by Jesus himself in saying: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

So the Bible does not deny the existence of conspiracies in the world in which we live, and certainly not within the world we do not see, but it categorically directs us not to waste our lives in fear of such things. This is not to say that we should ignore evidence of conspiracy and corruption, or that we should not fulfill our social duty of fighting it where it may be fought, but Christianity does preclude apprehension that affects our lives or fear that begins to form our behavior.

For the believer, even the worst of hidden conspiracies need not be feared because every power, seen or unseen, is ultimately subject to the One who guides history and who promises his servants protection according to his will. Living by that understanding is an important part of how we see God – that he is the only “unseen power” that matters. To freely paraphrase Isaiah, it is more important to maintain a truly reverent respect for God than to worry about the tap water.

Walking Wisely with Others

by R. Herbert | Mar 4, 2015 | Relationships, The Church & the World

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:5-6 ESV).

To the Jews of the apostle Paul’s day every non-Jew was an outsider, and this concept is true in Christianity also: every person who is not a Christian is an “outsider” in being outside the church and the Christian faith. This is not a negative concept, it is just as much an understanding that Christians have a special responsibility toward those whom they could help or hinder in terms of coming to faith.

It is important to notice that in discussing how to interact with those outside the Faith, Paul could have mentioned scrupulous financial dealings, avoiding inappropriate dress or behavior, general helpfulness or many other things, but he doesn’t. These things are all important, of course, but Paul singles out two other aspects of our Christian walk instead.

First, Paul urges us to make the best use of the time we have. This could mean two things: either using time wisely so that those outside the Faith see our diligence in the calling we have, or, alternately, that we use the time we are with those on the outside to maximum advantage by making sure our behavior is always a proper witness. In Paul’s words “making the best use of the time,” the Greek expression is “buying up the opportunity,” so the latter possibility is perhaps more likely – that we use the time with those outside the Faith to maximum advantage.

But in any case, after admonishing his hearers to use time wisely (see also Ephesians 5:15-17), Paul continues by stating the one aspect of our interrelations with others that he wished to stress above all others at that time: that our speech should always be gracious and “seasoned with salt,” so that we know how to answer each person with whom we deal.

“Gracious” speech was something noted about Christ himself (Luke 4:22), and Paul stresses that His followers must reflect that same aspect in their own lives if they are to reflect Him truly. Gracious speech is the opposite of words that are unpleasant, unkind, unedifying, unclean or in any way unwholesome. Why stress this above other things? Perhaps Paul had in mind the ease with which many people slip into the wrong kind of speech when they are with others whose speech is not gracious. And our speech, along with our actions, is certainly one of the two things that define us to others. In fact, we are often with others in situations where we have no opportunity to show our faith through our actions, yet the need for right speech is always present.

An interesting aspect of this is seen in Paul’s mention that our speech should be “seasoned with salt” – a figurative way of saying that it should not become corrupted. The Greek expression is in the “perfect” tense giving the meaning of a past action with continuing effect. We need to remind ourselves that our speech has been cleansed and needs to be kept that way in interactions (Ephesians 4:29). It is with that meaning rather than being “ready to discuss our faith,” as is often said, that Paul ends his exhortation by saying that we should “know how … to answer each person” – know how to answer them graciously and “seasoned with salt.” Paul makes it clear that this is one of the most important things we can, and must, do in interacting with those outside the Faith.

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