(copied from Mark Cahill's Book)
In a publication from Voice of the Martyrs - a
ministry that informs people about the millions
of Christians who have died for their faith, or
who are being persecuted for their faith - we
read the story of Soon Ok Lee:
"I never knew what these prisoners were singing
until I became a Christian."
Soon Ok Lee was a prisoner in North Korea
from 1987 to 1992. She did not become a
Christian however, until she escaped to South
Korea. When she first received Christ, she was
overwhelmed by her memories of what she had
seen and heard in prison.
They were simple things, like the Christians who
sang as they were being put to death. At that
time she did not understand and had thought
they were crazy. She was not allowed to talk
and so she never had a chance to speak to a
Christian. She does remember hearing the word
"Amen."
"While I was there I never saw Christians deny
their faith. Not one. When these Christians were
silent, the officers would become furious and
kick them. At the time, I could not understand why they would risk their lives when they could have said 'I do not believe,' and have done what the
officers wanted.
They were simple things, like the Christians who
sang as they were being put to death. At that
time she did not understand and had thought
they were crazy. She was not allowed to talk
and so she never had a chance to speak to a
Christian. She does remember hearing the word
"Amen."
"While I was there I never saw Christians deny
their faith. Not one. When these Christians were
silent, the officers would become furious and
kick them. At the time, I could not understand why they would risk their lives when they could have said 'I do not believe,' and have done what the
officers wanted.
who sang hymns as
the kicking and hitting
intensified. The officers
would call them crazy and take them to the
electric-treatment room. I didn't see one come out alive. "
It was the singing that stuck with her. Perhaps
it was the singing of these precious saints that
planted a seed in her spirit and eventually led
her to Christ.
Like spies, those who are curious about Christianity, zero in on believers,so that they
can evaluate the truth for themselves. They observe, they watch, they take mental notes. Whenever Christians go through trials, these
silent observers hope to see the believers fall, so that they can assure themselves that Christians are like everyone else after all.
However, when Christians smile through trouble, they are stumped. When believers clap instead
of cry, they are amazed. When Christ followers
sing amidst sorrow, they are drawn in by what
they cannot explain.
next post 29th March
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