Growing up in Jamaica in the 1980s, I am well acquainted with riotous protests. Rancor raged among the demonstrators like the fires they lit on tires that sent plumes of black suffocating smoke permeating the atmosphere already thick with tension. Shouts of “We want justice” morphed into jungle justice, which was never just. Mistargeted missiles, often rocks launched through the air meant for whomever the protestors ire was directed at would sometimes hit ill-fated passersby. Therefore, the scenes out of Pakistan this week in some ways felt similar, but it isn’t the same. This is a diabolic plot to stifle the faith of the Christian minority, along with other religious minority groups. It seems so foreign as this is unknown territory for me being used to freedom of religion.
My Pakistani Christian friends, however, do not have this privilege. This week two Catholic nurses were accused of blasphemy against Islam in their country. A radical Muslim political party wanted these alleged blasphemers’ offense punishable by death. This Islamic extremist group took to the streets pounding the air furiously with clenched fists, while shouts of “Labaik ya rasool Allah” reverberated throughout Pakistan. After watching these images on a news video, I asked a Pakistani friend what they were saying and he explained that it means, “I’m present for the Prophet and Allah.” They are ready to serve and obey Muhammad and Allah no matter the cost. Jesus followers try to blend in the background hoping to escape the fury of those who see them as the enemy. They are concerned that these extremists will come into their neighborhoods to stone and burn their homes. This fear is not unfounded as this has happened before.
My mind has become a word puzzle searching to find ways to encourage my Christian Pakistani friends who are engulfed in a wave of violence against them because of their faith in Jesus. But my mind is confused and cannot decipher the best expressions, lacking the experience of being seriously persecuted for my religion. I have been trying to understand the reasons behind this recent outbreak of Muslim violence. The two petite Christian nurses working at a hospital in Faisalabad who are at the forefront of this new wave of protests are said to have disrespected Islam. A young Muslim man who works on the ward, stabbed one of the nurses as he asserted that she tore off a sticker with invocations to Prophet Muhammad. In her defense, the nurse stated that the Muslim head nurse asked her to clean out her cupboard, so she took off the adhesive wall hanging and gave it to her. The next morning, the head nurse and other Muslim hospital workers confronted her charging that she desecrated this holy writing. It was claimed that the other nurse scratched on a sticker and hid it. There was an inquiry which established that both nurses deliberately destroyed the Durood Shareef, which are words that are praises and blessings to the Prophet Muhammad. Later, surrounded by an infuriated mob, the nurses had to be rescued by the police.
Now just days after the events, police officers have been beaten to death and police officials have been held hostage as members of the Islamist party demand the release of their leader who was arrested. Roads have been blocked resulting in numerous people left stranded, unable to go home for days as police and anyone who dares to try to cross the roadblocks are stoned with bricks. The incensed crowds are also calling for the government to remove the French ambassador indicating that the French president committed blasphemy against Islam. Fearing violence against its citizens, the French embassy in Pakistan has issued an advisory for all French nationals and companies to leave the country for the short-term. Soldiers have had to be sent throughout Pakistan to bring calm to this volatile situation.
It is difficult to wrap my mind around all that is occurring in Pakistan. This is no longer news stories of persecuted Christians in a distant land, but rather the reality of the lives of my close Christian Pakistani friends and their family. One of my friends told me that there is a high level of persecution of Christians everyday which many don’t hear about, yet he stands firm in his faith despite the dangers.
Economically and socially, Christians are held back. Discriminatory policies deprive them of a good education, which results in them have the most menial jobs in the nation. Those who are financially able to leave the country are often denied permission to travel to what are considered “Christian” states by Muslim immigration officers. Yet, their Islamic compatriots are free to depart to these countries. The legal system also seems to be set against Pakistani Christians who are often convicted when innocent. For them there is no justice. A Christian could easily be attacked by a Muslim radical just for having a cross in his vehicle or Christians could be burnt alive, but the perpetrators will face no consequence. Underaged Christian girls have been kidnapped and forced to marry men up to three times older than they are, and then they are indoctrinated into Islam. Moreover, the West declaring war on Islam causes an escalation of violence against the Christian population in Pakistan, who believe things will only get worse as Muslim fanatics are on a crusade to purify the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from “sinful unclean Christians.” They have even tried to ban the Bible as an immoral book.
I, on the other hand, have had to look to the Bible to find the best response to these horrendous happenings. I remembered Jesus saying, “Blessed are the persecuted.” The blessed persecuted. What an oxymoron! But He didn’t stop there.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
Wow!!! We are supposed to rejoice in persecutions for the sake of Jesus because we have an eternal hope. Our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan can be glad in the midst of their suffering because they have a great reward in heaven. Unfortunately, from the beginning of Christianity persecution was a way of life.
They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. Acts 5:40-41
Reading these Bible verses make me wonder, if we in the West are lacking in our Christian experience as many of us are comfortable in our well-equipped churches without worry of being stoned or bombed. Are we considered worthy of suffering shame for Jesus’ name? The apostles appear to have perceived their persecution as fortunate rather than unfavorable.
Although, we may not be facing this type of persecution right now, Christians throughout the world need to rally together and walk alongside our Pakistani brothers and sisters who are suffering for the sake of Christ. We should hold up their hands as they go through this physical and spiritual warfare, just as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands when they grew weary in the heat of the battle. My friend implores me to “keep praying for us.” This is the least I, or any other Christian can do. We should pray that the Christian minority in Pakistan are unified, recognizing that greater are those who are with them than those who are against them. With Jesus, they are a majority, so they must trust Him and not waiver in their faith.
Additionally, we must also pray for those who persecute them. Jesus, Himself informed us to “Pray for those who persecute you.” This is not a suggestion, but an instruction, which must be obeyed even though it may be difficult. Let us pray believing that these Muslim radicals can have a Damascus Road experience and encounter Jesus. We must also be like Ananias, praying for them that their spiritual eyes are opened and that they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
I may not have been able to find my own words to encourage my persecuted Christian Pakistani friends, but the Word of God has stated unequivocally that:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14
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