Praying for the Nations…

April 28, 2006 | 5:01 PM

Earlier I posted a list of questions asking my readers if they knew about things going on in Sudan, Nepal, and China. Here’s why I asked the questions.

1. I don’t think American Christians have any idea what’s going on with the invisible universal Church of Christ (the Body, the Bride) on a global level for the most part.

2. I think they should, so they can pray for their brothers and sisters.

3. Not everything I referred to in those questions is bad.

3a. There are pro-democracy rallies in Nepal, which, if the country becomes a democracy, will open the nation up to the rest of the world. The Maoists have agreed to a three month cease-fire/peace. That’s always a positive thing.

3b. What’s happening in Sudan should be public knowledge because it’s genocide. And neither side (either Christian/animist or Muslim Arab) is doing the right thing. Having said that, good things are happening among the true Christians there. Reports of great evangelists leading entire villages to Christ, coming to America and preaching to American congregations. Amazing.

3c. In China the house churches are awakening to lead the 100 million underground Christians back to Jerusalem. This may take decades, but their vision should be a model for our own lives. Their grace under the oppression of Communist rule should be noted. We have a lot to learn from our brothers and sisters in China, and we should be praying for them- they’re praying for us.

The point is this- we shouldn’t just be watching the news for the sake of know what’s happening in the world. We should be watching the news so we know how we can pray for our brothers and sisters, so we know how to ask God to work in those regions (not always asking for peace, but for courage and persistence).

“Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.” -Brother Yun

“God, give us the nations, and do it in such a way that only You get the credit for it.” -The Prayer of Edgewater

Posted in Christianity, Edgewater, Politics, Prayer, Social Justice