I find it interesting that just a few weeks ago, I wrote that how we die might be equally as important, if not more important, than how we live as Christians. It's unfortunate that I had to be proved right in such a short time, and in such a horrific manner.
My goal here is not to sound like an alarmist, end-of-the-world doomsday watcher (God knows we have enough of those hilarious people polluting our air waves as it is). There have always been parts of the world where it is a dangerous gamble to identify yourself as a Christian. The simple fact is though, persecution and genocide have found their way into our midst as a body of believers.
Whereas in the past you might have heard that certain countries are hostile towards the gospel, now for the first time in our modern age we're witnessing first-hand the systematic eradication of believers. While governments of the world have been quick to condemn these acts of brutality, and even recently we've begun to see the ponderously slow arrival of material aid, it remains sadly true that, by and large, the world is still sitting on its hands.
Again, if I alarmed you in my previous post with the assertion that it might be a good idea to buy a gun, please understand my intentions clearly: I know that Jesus did not call us to be a people of violence, but to be fair he did also warn us that it would be prudent to have a means of self-defense.
If that seems too militant for your liking, I can only ask you this: If a band of armed men came to your house one night intending to rape and murder your family, would you let them?