Pastor Jerry McGhee, Sun Lakes Community Church
There is a Chinese Christian man by the name of Yun who endured unspeakable torture by government agents simply because he is a faithful believer in Jesus Christ.
As I read the book entitled The Heavenly Man by Paul Hathaway, chronicling Mr. Yun’s conversion and life as a Christian in Communist China, I was humbled and challenged. I’m not sure I could have endured the sheer brutality that this brother in Christ has.
The fact is, men and women around the world are being subjected to persecution for no other reason than that they claim Jesus Christ as their Savior. Yes, Jesus told his disciples that they would be hated and suffer because of Him, but it is still hard to get one’s head around the idea that one person would seek to make another suffer because they love and serve Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, today, religious persecution extends to almost every religion’s belief system. The call for love, tolerance and brotherhood is being drowned out by the call to conform and submit to “my” ideals and rituals.
I wish that the message of just days ago – “peace on earth, good will toward men” – would become the heart’s cry of all men and women of faith, any faith. That is the subject of my prayers, and I invite you to join me.
Sun Lakes Community Church meets for worship every Sunday in the Sun Lakes Chapel located just across from the Sun Lakes Country Club at 9:30 a.m. Pastor Jerry McGhee can be reached at 423-790-4575. The church website is www.sunlakescommunitychurch.org.