The gospel of Matthew says in chapter ten verse 33, "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Sobering words. Powerful words. True words that have consequences that are not empty. God means what He says and sometimes I think that we don't really believe that. However, I also believe there are times when we do believe that and today I have a story from Compass Direct where some Christians are being faced with this choice - recant their faith in Christ and save their temporary shelters or stand firm and lose their shelters. What would you do if those shelters were your safe dwelling place? Could you trust the Lord or would you walk in fear and recant?
Tough questions, and not just a question to these Christians, but really it's a matter of faith. Here's more of the story from Compass Direct.
Village heads tell church members they must recant faith within 48 hours.
Authorities including a religious affairs official, the district head, district police and the chief of Katin village in Ta-Oyl district, Saravan province, expelled the 48 Christians at gunpoint on Jan. 18.
Prior to the expulsion, officials raided a worship service, destroyed homes and belongings and demanded that the Christians renounce their faith. (See www.compassdirect.org, “Lao Officials Force Christians from Worship at Gunpoint,” Feb. 8.)
Left to survive in the open, the Christians began to build temporary shelters, and then more permanent homes, on the edge of the jungle, according to HRWLRF. They continued to do so even after deputy district head Khammun, identified only by his surname, arrived at the site on Feb. 9 and ordered them to cease construction.