The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is this Sunday, Nov. 13.
Christian martyrdom is an ongoing worldwide crime. In too many countries, Christians face violence, imprisonment, and death for declaring allegiance to Jesus Christ.
According to Open Doors USA (@OpenDoors), the top 10 most oppressive countries for Christians are North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Laos. See the list of 50 (pdf).
To give biblical perspective leading up to IDOP, the following verses are taken from the Common English Bible (http://CommonEnglishBible.com) (@CommonEngBible, http://facebook.com/groups/CommonEnglishBible, http://facebook.com/LiveTheBible, http://vimeo.com/commonenglishbible):
“So we cried out for help to the LORD, our ancestor’s God. The LORD heard our call. God saw our misery, our trouble, and our oppression.” Deuteronomy 26:7 (CEB)
“The LORD is a safe place for the oppressed— a safe place in difficult times.” Psalm 9:9 (CEB)
“Sing praises to the LORD, who lives in Zion! Proclaim his mighty acts among all people! Because the one who avenges bloodshed remembers those who suffer; the LORD hasn’t forgotten their cries for help.” Psalm 9:11-12 (CEB)
Have mercy on me, LORD! Just look how I suffer because of those who hate me. But you are the one who brings me back from the very gates of death so I can declare all your praises, so I can rejoice in your salvation….” Psalm 9:13-14 (CEB)
“Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek the LORD praise him!” Psalm 22:26 (CEB)
“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.” Proverbs 31:8 (CEB)
[Jesus said:] “If the world hates you, know that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, I have chosen you out of the world, and you don’t belong to the world. This is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19 (CEB)
[Jesus praying:] “I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one.” John 17:14-15 (CEB)
“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (CEB)
“Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” Romans 8:35, 37-39 (CEB)
“In fact, anyone who wants to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will be harassed.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (CEB)
“You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:3 (CEB)
“Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward.” James 1:12 (CEB)
“Look at how we honor those who have practiced endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job. And you have seen what the Lord has accomplished, for the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11 (CEB)
“You have shown endurance and put up with a lot for my name’s sake, and you haven’t gotten tired.” Revelation 2:3 (CEB)
“Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CEB)
For a media review copy of the Common English Bible and to schedule an interview with its associate publisher, Dr. Paul Franklyn, please contact Audra Jennings, ajennings@tbbmedia.com or Diane Morrow, dmorrow@tbbmedia.com, at 1.800.927.1517.