A Man of Courage | SermonIndex

sermonindex Jun 7, 2011

As I prayed through the Barnabas Fund guide for the persecuted I was reminded of a noble man who was martyred a few months ago. The man's name was Shabbaz Bhatti of Pakistan. He was a Christian and held the rank of Minister of Minorites. Very rare in an Islamic country. Shabbaz championed the rights of minority groups in Pakistan which included Christians and off sects of Islam. He opposed the infamous blasphemy law in Pakistan and called for its repeal. He also called for the release Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who has been imprisoned for over a year for her stand for Jesus. I might add this sister is sentenced to be executed by hanging. Obviously Shabbaz taking a stand for these things in Pakistan drew the attention of the extremist. He recieved multiple death threats. Like Jesus he knew he was marked for execution. Yet this brother was willing to die for his beliefs. On Mar.3td this noble saint went onto the welcome embrace of his Lord. Let us remember the sacrifice of ths courageous saint and pray his death will not be in vain. Through his sacrifice may the blasphemy laws be repealed in Pakistan, may the church there grow stronger, and may many be brought to Christ.

StarofG0D Jun 8, 2011

Thanks for sharing brother. I came across this the other day.

Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2010

1/10/11 Worldwide (CDN) — Pakistan’s blasphemy laws led to the murder of two Christians and a death penalty sentence for a Christian mother of five in 2010, topping Compass’ top 10 news stories. Following this blend of state and societal violence to Christians was a spike in attacks on Christians in Iraq; a possible death penalty for an Afghan Christian accused of apostasy; a 17-year-old Somali girl’s martyrdom; and large-scale attacks on Christians in

Nigeria. The complete list follows.

1 – Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law Leads to Murder, Death Penalty for the Innocent Pakistan’s widely condemned blasphemy laws led to the murder of two men and a death penalty sentence for a mother of five in 2010. On July 19 in Faisalabad, Pakistan, a suspected Islamic extremist shot dead two Christians accused of blasphemy. An armed gunman shot the Rev. Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his 30-year-old brother Sajid Emmanuel after handwriting experts on July 14 notified police that signatures on papers denigrating Muhammad did not match those of the accused. Expected to be exonerated, the two leaders of United Ministries Pakistan were being led in handcuffs back to jail when they were shot. Advocacy group representatives said the two bodies bore cuts and other signs of having been tortured while the brothers were in police custody. Muslims had staged large demonstrations calling for the death penalty for the brothers, who were arrested when Rashid Emmanuel agreed to meet a mysterious caller at a train station but was instead surrounded by police carrying papers denigrating Muhammad – supposedly signed by the pastor and his brother and bearing their telephone numbers. The Muslim who allegedly placed the anonymous call to the pastor, Muhammad Khurram Shehzad, also filed blasphemy charges against the brothers, said Atif Jamil Pagaan, coordinator of the Harmony Foundation advocacy group. Khurram Shehzad had filed the blasphemy case on July 1 under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which are commonly abused to settle personal scores. Section 295-C states that “whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shall be punishable with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall be liable to fine.” The shooter (or shooters) escaped.

Continues.. http://www.persecution.org/2011/01/10/top-10-persecution-stories-of-2010/

sermonindex Jun 8, 2011

I am afraid as we get closer to the return of Jesus more stories of martyrs will be heard and told. The book of Revelations predicts this. Yet John says that the martyrs overcame Satan by the blood of the lamb, the word of their testimony, and they did not love ther own lives unto death. Richard Wormbrandt has said that an early church worship was never complete without recounting the story of the martyrs. Imagine that practice being restored to the American churh. Tragically even the Mennonites are turning away from reading out of their own Martyrs Mirror. To forget the martyrs past and present is to forget our heritage. The martyrs have much to teach us. Someone shared with me that one hour spent in the presence of someone who has endured persecution exposes the shallowness of our American faith.