Saturday Song: Randy Stonehill, "China"

What a beautiful song this is. It's almost a prayer for the oppressed people in that communist land. Open evangelism is band there and the official state church doesn't preach the gospel. All they teach is moralism. Yet Christianity is growing in China, much to the frustration of the Communist Party.

Christian rocker, Randy Stonehill, recorded this prayerful song on his Equator album. Listen to Randy Stonehill's song here.

Persecution is nothing new in this world. From the murder of Abel to today's slaughter, faithful believers are targets for Satan's wrath. As Jesus said in Matthew 23:29-31 (BBE) that, "A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you put up buildings for housing the dead bodies of the prophets, and make fair the last resting-places of good men, and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.' So that you are witnesses against yourselves that you are the sons of those who put the prophets to death."

Likewise, Stephen lashed out at the Sanhedrin when he said in Acts 7:52 (BBE), "Which of the prophets was not cruelly attacked by your fathers? and they put to death those who gave them the news of the coming of the Upright One; whom you have now given up and put to death;"

So, Why does God allow persecution? Paul, who suffered much from persecuters, wrote in Philippians 1:12 and 13 (BBE), "Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; So that it became clear through all the Praetorian, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ;"

James also understood persecution. That's why he wrote in James 1:2 and 3 (BBE) that we must, "Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort; Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope;"

On Monday, I'll post about how we Christians must rediscover the scriptures.