“Look for the cross.” Yesterday, on my way to church, I listened to a program on CBC - a secular news type program - dealing with the problems in North Korea. In the process of his work in Washington, DC, the person being interviewed travels in and out of North Korea, China, and so on. He involves himself in helping refugees in China from North Korea, helping them not to be sold as house slaves, or worse, which he described.
He told about North Koreans in attempting to cross the border into China being faced with almost assuredly being shot by border guards - it being illegal to leave North Korea without permission. Border guards stationed on the border between North Korea and China will shoot in the back anyone they see crossing because it is seen as treason against their country.
During this whole interview, I was most moved by a phrase he used, “Look for the cross.” He told that North Koreans who are contemplating the dangerous journey into China were told by people trying to help them, “Look for the cross.” He went on to explain that they were told that if they survived crossing the border and could find a building with a cross, if they went into that building, they would be safe and would be cared for. Imagine!!
This brings up several issues for us, North Americans. Would we put a cross on our churches if we faced the dangers of persecution by the government of China? Then, I wonder if our churches, in which we face no persecution, would be open to helping people in this way - to provide safety from death, and provision for finding a life in a new country.
I cannot help be moved by this practical display of grace - described in a very ordinary manner by a secular person, not claiming to be a Christian, without commentary about it at all. Just that this is what happens. We have so much to learn about grace, don’t we?
We could contemplate the scripture telling of Barnabas being excited about when he visited the church at Antioch, he "saw the evidence of the grace of God .... " in how the Christians there were treating the people.
Submitted by Naida
He told about North Koreans in attempting to cross the border into China being faced with almost assuredly being shot by border guards - it being illegal to leave North Korea without permission. Border guards stationed on the border between North Korea and China will shoot in the back anyone they see crossing because it is seen as treason against their country.
During this whole interview, I was most moved by a phrase he used, “Look for the cross.” He told that North Koreans who are contemplating the dangerous journey into China were told by people trying to help them, “Look for the cross.” He went on to explain that they were told that if they survived crossing the border and could find a building with a cross, if they went into that building, they would be safe and would be cared for. Imagine!!
This brings up several issues for us, North Americans. Would we put a cross on our churches if we faced the dangers of persecution by the government of China? Then, I wonder if our churches, in which we face no persecution, would be open to helping people in this way - to provide safety from death, and provision for finding a life in a new country.
I cannot help be moved by this practical display of grace - described in a very ordinary manner by a secular person, not claiming to be a Christian, without commentary about it at all. Just that this is what happens. We have so much to learn about grace, don’t we?
We could contemplate the scripture telling of Barnabas being excited about when he visited the church at Antioch, he "saw the evidence of the grace of God .... " in how the Christians there were treating the people.
Submitted by Naida
posted by Randall | 12:13 p.m.
3 Comments:
Thanks Naida that waw so good to hear that these people have friends who are showing them the Grace that we all take for granted. We should be more thankful for the Grace that God has given to us so freely.
B&G
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lAST EVENING IN bIBLE STUDY WE DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT JESUS IS GREATER THAN ANGELS AND THE FACT THAT HE CAN SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST. HE DIED THAT ALL MEN MIGHT BE SAVED INCLUDING THE WORLD'S DESPOTS IF THEY WOULD REPENT. AND WHEN I THINK OF CHINA AND NORTH KOREA AND THE SUFFERING THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH IT BEHOOVES ME TO PRAY THE MORE FOR THOSE PEOPLE. GOD LOVES THEM AS MUCH AS HE LOVES NORTH AMERICANS
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