Recently Christians’ persecution has been on the rise, at the same time the churches seem to be going back to their roots. According to the World Watch List, which is produced by the Open Doors USA (2016), a non-denominational mission supporting persecuted Christians in over 60 countries, persecution of Christians worldwide is on a rising trend. In the Bible, the early Christians through their house churches demonstrated to the world God’s plan for the salvation of the world. According to Filson (1939), “the house church was a vital factor in the church's development during the first century, and even in later generations.” (p. 112) Just like in the early house churches, the modern days persecuted church demonstrates a sense of community and
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This can be seen in their lives as they gave themselves up continually to prayer and to the ministry of God. As a result, they were full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, and led people to Jesus every day. According to the book of Acts of Apostles, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (King James Bible, Acts. 4. 7) Similarly, the Anabaptist obedience to Jesus’s calling to discipleship can be seen in the testimonies of their lives. Bender (1944) …show more content…
This can be seen in different countries in the world, where Christians are being persecuted, but persevere and choose to pray for and love the persecutors. One of the Stories in the book Extreme Devotion by the Voice of Martyrs (2015), God opened Liuba’s eyes, a Russian Christian, to see her persecutor differently and smile at him despite the suffering. According to the Voice of Martyrs (2015), “Liuba Ganevskaya had been beaten repeatedly in the Russian prison. But when she looked up at her torture, holding the whip above her back, she smiled.” (p. 202) Liuba’s act of Love in the midst of her suffering opened her persecutor’s heart, which opened a door and provided an opportunity for her to witness to him and lead him to Christ. Thus, the love of Christ has been shown to the lost and hopeless world through the early church, Anabaptists, as well as the modern underground and house churches.
Finally, God’s power at work can be seen in the life of Christians in the current house and underground churches just like in the lives of early Christians and the Anabaptists. According to the book of Acts of Apostles in the Bible, Peter and John, despite being seized and put in jail, they boldly proclaimed and showed God’s power. Demonstration of God’s power can be seen in the lives of the Anabaptist as they chose to obey and follow Jesus
This can be seen in their lives as they gave themselves up continually to prayer and to the ministry of God. As a result, they were full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, and led people to Jesus every day. According to the book of Acts of Apostles, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (King James Bible, Acts. 4. 7) Similarly, the Anabaptist obedience to Jesus’s calling to discipleship can be seen in the testimonies of their lives. Bender (1944) …show more content…
This can be seen in different countries in the world, where Christians are being persecuted, but persevere and choose to pray for and love the persecutors. One of the Stories in the book Extreme Devotion by the Voice of Martyrs (2015), God opened Liuba’s eyes, a Russian Christian, to see her persecutor differently and smile at him despite the suffering. According to the Voice of Martyrs (2015), “Liuba Ganevskaya had been beaten repeatedly in the Russian prison. But when she looked up at her torture, holding the whip above her back, she smiled.” (p. 202) Liuba’s act of Love in the midst of her suffering opened her persecutor’s heart, which opened a door and provided an opportunity for her to witness to him and lead him to Christ. Thus, the love of Christ has been shown to the lost and hopeless world through the early church, Anabaptists, as well as the modern underground and house churches.
Finally, God’s power at work can be seen in the life of Christians in the current house and underground churches just like in the lives of early Christians and the Anabaptists. According to the book of Acts of Apostles in the Bible, Peter and John, despite being seized and put in jail, they boldly proclaimed and showed God’s power. Demonstration of God’s power can be seen in the lives of the Anabaptist as they chose to obey and follow Jesus