I am beginning a series of (hopefully) powerful posts: quotes from textbooks and other required readings from my courses in Thailand. The first three, found below, are taken from a US Department of State report that was filed only one year ago.
"Government troops used land mines without taking measures to protect civilians. In May government troops used children as young as five years of age as human shields and mine sweepers in Shan State’s Maingshu area."
"According to one report, in January military officials transferred a civilian from Insein Prison to Pa’an Prison en route to the front line to serve as a porter... The source reported that Sergeant Sa Ya Shein Htun stabbed a porter to death when he was unable to carry his heavy load. Shein Htun reportedly also kicked a porter whose leg was blown off by a land mine into a ditch, where he died. "
"Rights groups and political prisoners denounced the May amnesty as inadequate; political prisoners in Rangoon’s Insein prison responded with a hunger strike. As punishment authorities allegedly transferred seven of these prisoners to cells used to house military dogs "
...The situation in Burma (Myanmar) amounts to hundreds of crimes against humanity. From 1948-2010 there has been civil war (and there are still violent killings happening along the Burma-Thai border). Not the American idea of civil war, where both sides would have weaponry, defense and reserves. But a military backed war against ethnic minorities, students, civilians, and absolutely anyone who the government deemed to be questioning it's authority. A war against unarmed, innocent people.
Thousands and thousands and thousands of God's people have been murdered. Thousands of children forced to fight as soldiers for their lives. Thousands more die because of lack of medical treatment. Thousands of villagers are displaced and constantly running from the military.
In the wake of this massacre where men, women, children and infants are constantly beaten, burned alive, tortured and raped, there is ONE Christian group (whom I cannot name, for fear they will be found and stopped) who are willing to risk their lives, run the border, and give medical and spiritual relief to those affected by the violence.
...One.
Have we really asked ourselves what it means to be Christian? Have we truly come to a place of surety that we should not also be risking our lives? Does God actually want millions of evangelical Christians to be born, live, and die in a country full of freedom?
How relevant are these verses for the American church today?
Matthew 24:9 (ESV) “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.
Matthew 10:28 (NIV) 28 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 16:24-25 (ESV) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Does "bearing our cross" only mean walking through the pangs of forgiveness towards our loved ones who have wronged us? Is it limited to enduring the annoying coworker's "persecution" who starts angsty arguments with us about our faith? Is denying ourselves only speaking to month long fasts, living in areas we'd prefer not to, walking for weeks without shoes, giving of our finances until it "hurts," letting a stranger get the short line at the grocery store, or praying for patience in heavy traffic?
...I think that God is bigger than that.
Is the Christian walk supposed to be a process of being born again, becoming aware of your sinful nature, repenting, fleeing temptation, finding a spouse, raising children, attending church, retiring, and dying to live eternally in bliss? What are we supposed to do with our light, our wisdom, our holiness? To whom do we transfer our joy, or the "divine power to break strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:14)? Does scripture refer to our willingness to work in soup kitchens every Wednesday night? Giving money to the homeless on the street? The inconvenience it is to open our home to church events? The bible studies that are ridden with in-authenticity, a fear of being outright with the gospel, and a slavery to the analyzation of sin that has already been atoned for? Is that what Jesus meant when we said, "Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Have we been blinded by lies, by sin, by ourselves? What does it actually mean to follow Christ?
Suddenly, I think I can resonate with Paul's experience:
"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." Acts 9:18 (KJV)
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