Acts 5:26-28, New Living Translation

“The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. ‘We gave you strict orders, never get to teach in this man’s name!’ he said. ‘Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and he went to make us responsible for his death!’”

My heart is heavy. There are so many horrible things taking place that is drawing this nation further from God. It’s not just happening in America, but it’s happening around the world. There are things taking place at this very moment that I am sure not many of us even know about.

There is a bill in Canada they are trying to pass, Bill C-367. This bill is now being renamed Bill C-373. What is its purpose? According to change.org it “eliminates the “religious exemption” in section 319 of the criminal code in Canada. This would enable the government to treat Christians in Canada as hate criminals, if in good faith they express an opinion based on the word of God. By sanctioning, Bill C – 373 Christians in Canada will have their freedom of expression taken away if they quote a passage from the Bible and they could also face legal actions. How is a passage quoted from the Bible hate speech?

I know that this is nothing new. In the book of Acts chapter 5, the apostles were arrested for teaching about Jesus Christ. “The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. ‘We gave you strict orders, never get to teach in this man’s name!’ he said. ‘Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and he went to make us responsible for his death!’” (V.26-28, NLT)

On February 29, 1948, Richard Wurmbrand was arrested. He was a Romanian evangelical Lutheran priest and had become a Christian. For fourteen years, he was imprisoned and tortured by the communist regime of Romania. They wanted him to denounce his faith in Christ.

Many countries and many people face persecution on a daily basis for their faith in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) says, “The Message of the Cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction. But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

No matter the circumstance, do not be afraid! Though we’ve heard it many times, let me remind us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2Timothy 1:7, NLT) Paul continues with this in verse 8, “So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.”

If we go back to Acts 5:29-32 (NLT), our original text, Peter, with love, power, and self-discipline, goes on to say, by the power of the Holy Spirit, “…We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this, so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

I share this with you because my heart is heavy for my country. I share this with you because of my Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, not just in Canada, not just in America, but worldwide are facing persecution for their beliefs in Christ. As time passes, the days are becoming eviler.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:28 (NLT), “Don’t Be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. You’re only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus also tells us in the sermon on the mount, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10, NLT)

I want to encourage you, speak up! Don’t remain silent! Use the voice that God has put inside you. Just as He was with Moses when he had to speak before Pharaoh, so He will be with us! Quoting the Bible and sharing the gospel is not hate speech. It’s love that brings redemption and salvation! Don’t let anyone take that away from you or stop you from sharing this with others!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NLT)