This post is a continuation of a series. The prior blog posts of abbreviated interviews introduce some of the challenges that Islam brings to the church even, or especially, in what is considered to be a western, Christian church environment. The interviews highlight two crucial and common fallacies.
The first fallacy suggests that it is easier to witness and worship God in open, free, and democratic countries. Christians often assume that the work of witness will be simpler, less demanding, and ultimately more productive in settings where there is openness and freedom. But that hope is not necessarily true. In fact, followers of Jesus are as free to share their faith in Christ with people in any "closed country" as they are free to share Christ in any "open country." Ultimately, political environment has little to do with a believer's freedom to witness and practice his or her faith. Believers in Jesus have been universally commanded by God to share the gospel as they go among the nations or people groups — or as they stay at home. The freedom to share one's faith is inherent within the command from the throne of God. God would not have commanded something that we are unable or not free to accomplish. The question is not: "Are we free to share our faith?" The question is: "Are we willing to suffer and endure the consequences of exercising that God-given freedom? Are we willing to be obedient no matter where we happen to be?"
How we respond to our freedom to witness is a test of our obedience. Whether or not we are willing to act on that freedom — and suffer — is a test of our courage. Frankly, there are no borders on the planet that are closed to a godly, freely exercised, witness. Governments cannot legislate witness away, mosques cannot kill it, and witness freely given in obedience cannot be eliminated by principalities or powers.
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