Reforming Evangelicalism Conference Links & Praying for the Persecuted

Reforming Evangelicalism (A Conference)

 Last weekend there was a conference at Grace Church in Colorado called "Reforming Evangelicalism."  I watched a couple of individual sessions and both Q & A sessions (all good).  I've started one of the earlier sessions, and so far I recommend it.  Phil Johnson and Don Green I have listened to plenty before.  I still haven't listened to Travis Allen, but perhaps I will get to his sessions later.  If you missed the conference and are interested to hear it, I am sharing the links to each session with you.

Session 1 (Travis Allen)  Session 2 ( Phil Johnson)  Session 3 (Don Green)  Session 4 (Travis Allen)

Session 5 (Don Green...this one was encouraging to me)  Session 6 (Phil Johnson)  

Speaker Panel (Q & A)   Speaker Q & A    

Church Service (Don Green)

Praying for the Persecuted

There are Christians being persecuted around the world.  Some are in danger of their freedom or even their lives.  Persecution comes in different forms.  It can be an outright attack due to someone being a Christian. or it can come as a subtler attack on the freedom of Christians and others.  The latter is increasing around the world under the guise of safety from an illness or politically correct thinking.  The former is happening in Communist and Islamic countries.  There are also countries where unrest and warring goes on which puts a lot of people in danger.  

As Christians, we can sympathize with persecution for political and other reasons and support people because of it, but there is a deeper connection and affection for those who are Christians who are under attack (spiritual brothers and sisters).  When Christians are persecuted (fined or imprisoned), physically harmed, or even murdered for their faith in Christ and obeying their conscience, we as believers should rally around and support and encourage them when we can and how we can.  If we cannot do anything else, we can at least pray.  In these dark times, the persecution is likely to increase.  I would like to once again encourage Christians to pray for situations they hear about where people are being persecuted...especially Christian brothers and sisters...no matter what level of persecution it is.  All true Christians need encouragement and prayer.  An encouraging Scripture verse or letting someone know you prayed for them...well, perhaps you are someone God will use to remind the person of God's love, presence, and continuing care in their most difficult times.

I was reading Acts 12 today where the church was praying for Peter, and an angel of the Lord led him out of the prison.  He went to a house where they were praying, and they were astounded.  God doesn't always choose to rescue people from harm, but sometimes it is within His will.  When you pray for something, and you see the answer like they did...  Wow!  I also heard another message about Acts 16 where in verse 25 Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns when they were in jail.  That is when an earthquake happened...well, you can read the rest for yourself.  Sometimes God does rescue people, and sometimes He uses the death of martyrs for other purposes, but I do think that these passages in Scripture should encourage us (or me at least) to pray whichever the case!