In the old Soviet Union, religion was forbidden. It was a crime to worship. You knew the consequences and either took the chance of getting caught or you didn't.
It is starting to sound like the way America looks upon Christians. In some cities, it is now illegal to hold Bible Studies or Prayer Meetings in your home. You may not display anything Christian on Public Property, You must not Pray on Public Land, no prayers in school.
At any rate, the story that Billy Graham told was about a little church in the Soviet Union.
The congregation were in the middle of service when a group of armed Soviet Soldiers burst into the Church. They told the group in the Church that anyone that was not a Christian could leave, but the Christians must stay.
The majority of the group stood up and departed. This left a small group of people who had now began to pray. They were making ready to go to meet the Lord.
The leader of the Soldiers ordered his men to lower their weapons and approached the group of Christians. He said that they had nothing to worry about, because the soldiers were also Christians but they knew that some of the people in the congregation would turn them in if they saw them worshiping. The Soldiers just wanted to come into the Church and worship with the other Christians. The Soldiers knew that the people who remained were the true Christians because they were willing to give up their lives rather than to deny Christ.
The Soldiers and the rest of the Congregation worshipped that night in the little Church in the middle of a country that was hostile to them.
Ask yourself, would you have left or stayed?
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This might be a real good time to remember Cassie Bernall who died in Columbine for Jesus' sake. |
