| On the West
Front of Westminster Abbey, above the Great Main Door, stands a whole array of figures,
carved in relief. From ground level it’s virtually impossible to distinguish one from
another, and over the years, from time to time, more have been added. As we moved into the
21st Century, a new addition of 10 sculptured figures was added. They are just
some of the more well known and public leaders of the Church who represent the martyrs of
the 20th century. On this Sunday after All Saints Day, the Church throughout
the world is beginning to acknowledge that the persecution of the Church didn’t just
happen in the first 500 years of Christianity, and its all been plain sailing ever since!
- but that it’s still happening today – and some would believe that more
have died "in the faith of Jesus Christ" in this past century , than ever
before. Latest research estimates that there are some 200 million Christians around the
world who do not enjoy total freedom, only because they confess Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Saviour.
Under Islamic law sharing the good news about Jesus Christ is forbidden; In many
Islamic countries, choosing to leave Islam and to follow Jesus is a capital offence.
Giving out the Bible can be a life-threatening activity.
On this Sunday after All Saints Day, we are encouraged to pray for, support and
remember our suffering brothers and sisters in the Persecuted Church throughout the world.
Today in big cathedrals and small village churches across Europe and the western world,
in small house churches in China, in the forest in Vietnam, in homes in Cuba, in secret
meeting rooms in Saudi Arabia, in youth groups in Africa, and in big meetings in
Venezuela, as well as in many other places, fellow Christians will be praying with and for
those in the persecuted church. Our gifts today through the Missions Envelope - and the
Special missions offertory box – by the entrance to the church – will be
forwarded to the Barnabas Foundation, an Anglican organisation which gives specific
support both for Anglicans and for other Christians who today are suffering in Muslim
countries because of their personal commitment to and faith in Jesus Christ.
The stories of how such people are standing firm, and have stood firm in the face of
such opposition should lead us to examine our own depth of faith and our own commitment.
I will tell you of two accounts – the first is of Archbishop Janani Luwum, whose
relief statue is one of those above the door of Westminster Abbey. Janani Luwum was
appointed Archbishop of Uganda in 1974 at a time when Idi Amin was already slaughtering
innocent people. Janani Luwum met with Idi Amin on several occasions and tried to turn him
away from this bloodbath, but his actions were met with hostility and contempt. I would
like to read you part of the report of the last days of Janani Luwum’s to remind us
of how God gives his grace and strength in the time of trial and persecution.
"In early Feb 1977, by order of the President and in the dead of night, armed men
stormed into Janani’s residence, searching unsuccessfully for arms and hurling
accusations of conspiracy against him. This was the Presidents signal that extreme
measures were about to follow. The Anglican bishops in their turn decided to take a strong
political stand. They drafted an unprecedented memorandum addressed to Amin, but also sent
it to Cabinet Ministers. Copies were smuggled abroad. The bishops did not pull their
punches. It was a complete arraignment of the President’s method of government, and
the havoc it was inflicting on the country. They also requested a meeting with him.
After an accusatory session with Janani alone, Amin summoned a large assembly of
government officials, members of the armed forces, ambassadors, and religious leaders - at
the International Conference Centre in Kampala. There the Anglican bishops and
particularly the Archbishop along with two cabinet ministers were accused of conspiracy to
overthrow the President and restore Dr.Obote. Faked evidence was produced and the 2000
soldiers assembled shouted for their execution. Later all the bishops except Janani were
told to leave. Janani, in bidding them farewell, said, "They are going to kill me. I
am not afraid. I see the hand of God in this." Shortly afterwards he was shot in the
mouth and the chest, - some suggest, by Amin himself. The date was 16th Feb
1977. The next day it was officially announced that the Archbishop and the two Cabinet
ministers had been killed in a car crash. When Janani accepted Jesus as his Saviour in
1948 he beamingly announced - "Today I became a leader in Christ’s army. I am
prepared to die in the army of Jesus." He was true to his word. But he was also true
to Anglican tradition in Uganda, for the early years of the Church there were
marked by martyrdom as well."
Another more recent story, of just 2 years ago, - though this time not one of
martyrdom, is of an 18 year old Indonesian Christian on the island of Maluku, in Eastern
Indonesia. As a Christian he was captured by the militant Islamist militia, the Laskar
Jihad when they raided his village at 3am one morning. They slashed his left ear and
shoulder, his right arm and neck, - with machetes, and left him for dead in the jungle.
As a Christian, Johannes cried out to God for strength enough to walk. For 8 days he
walked in the jungle with no food or drink. Near the point of death, Johannes received a
vision of a man in white who said to him "Follow me." Johannes believed this
comforting visitor was Jesus. Soon after – miraculously - he was found by his
brother-in-law and taken to hospital. He believes that his life was spared so that he can
now tell others about Jesus. The words of St.Paul in his letter to the Galatians, now
apply to Johannes, as they do to so many of our persecuted brethren – "I bear in
my body the scars that show I belong to the Lord Jesus." (Gal 6:17)
Elijah , in the O.T , discovered that following the Lord God would involve persecution.
Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that he would receive strength to face his coming
ordeal. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews, in the N.T , reminds the new converts in
the faith to
1. Stand their ground in the face of suffering. (vs.32,33a)
2. Stand side-by-side with others who are suffering (vs33b)
and 3. Identify with those who are persecuted for their faith. (vs34).
On this day we are reminded to pray for and stand with those of our Christian brothers
and sisters who are facing hostility, imprisonment or even death as a consequence of
exercising the spiritual freedom they have in Christ. Let us ,today, commit ourselves not
to forget them as we enjoy our own freedom to worship God without fear.
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