In the Sheep Among Wolves video the pastor says that the Western church is under a “satanic lullaby”. Evidence shows revival is happening across the Middle East in the countries where Christians are persecuted the most e.g. Iran. But in the Western church, where in comparison we have it easy, the number of people calling themselves Christians is in decline. Many Christians are sleepwalking in their faith and ineffective in sharing the gospel, this is the exact spell Satan wants us under. The Western church was once a driving force in spreading the gospel, now we need to look to those Christians in the Middle East for how to make disciples.
In places where Christianity is growing the fastest, there are no denominations, no church buildings, there is only the underground church. You’re not allowed to talk about Christianity in public or own a Bible. Yet the growth is staggering! There are amazing stories of how God is moving in peoples lives across the Middle East to show them the truth. This is so powerful that people are coming to Christ from all types of backgrounds (prostitution, drugs) because they find the truth that Jesus is King and Saviour. Even radical muslims are turning to Christ knowing it is a certain death sentence from muslims in their community or even family.
How do we get this kind of faith in the Western Church? It seems the freedom we have results in more apathy where as persecution makes you focus and hungry to bring people into Jesus. The Western church is more concerned about rituals and theology. Here we make converts but in the Middle East they make disciples. As the pastor says about disciples in the video: “they know Jesus is King first and then Saviour, you put your trust and allegiance in Him. Those people shine.” Many in the West don’t know Jesus as King!
It’s time we unlearn our Western theology and return to a simple, child like faith. The roots of the Church are show in the book of Acts, there we find people who sold everything they had to walk with Christ. Walking with Jesus should be exciting and bring daily joy into our lives. Once we strip back everything unnecessary about our faith then we may release God’s power to work in our lives like those Christians in the Middle East.
We encourage you to watch the interview below with a pastor in Iran:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)
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