Causes. Animal rights. Missing persons. Human Trafficking. Race Relations. Disability Awareness. World Relief. Patriotism. All of these and many others are worthy causes. People risk their reputations, maybe their freedoms and even their lives. That is a good thing. It is a good thing to find a cause outside ourselves to not only make a difference in this world, but to bring purpose and happiness to our own lives in knowing that we are making this world a better place than when we entered it. We normally develop a passion for causes which have affected us at a personal level, a family member or a close friend. That makes sense.
But there is one cause that transcends them all because it affects each one of us not only now, but for all eternity.
This is because each of us has a soul and Jesus tells us, in John 14:6 that He alone is the only way to know God, His Father. He said it, not I. Countless Christians in the past, and Christians today, have staked their reputations, their freedoms, and often their lives, because they so believe this. Can all the multiplied millions of Christians be wrong? Who would die for a fraud or a hoax?
Whether you are a Christian or not, let me share with you the story of a woman named Asia Bibi. Asia, a wife and mom of five and believer in Jesus, who has been behind bars for over five years. She was arrested on June 19, 2009, for blasphemy. All she was doing was defending her Christian faith when she and some Muslim women had engaged in a lively theological discussion. That was a very brave act. For Pakistan, Asia's homeland, has a brutal Sharia law, meaning that anyone who dissents from Islam should be punished and sentenced to death. Despite international advocacy and the assistance of two separate authorities who were assassinated trying to help her, Asia remains in prison and awaits a death sentence to this day. No one will come forward to assist her. She seems to have exhausted her appeals. She suffers chronic illness and weakness.
Would this Christian mom risk all for a hoax or a fraud?
I leave you to answer this question for yourself. But Asia is only one Christian in prison just for what she believes. Worldwide, many Christians languish in jails or prisons just because of what they believe. In China, I learned about the plight of a Christian leader who has been in prison even longer than Asia, six years. Yes, I know that other religious minorities experience severe persecution, but, historically, Christians have been the most persecuted of these groups. But wherever you are in your life journey, you can sign a petition for Asia if you agree that her basic human rights to religious freedom and dignity are being trampled and violated.
You can sign an international petition for Asia and please share it once you have signed it. You can learn more about her and sign that petition here.
The above photo of Asia is courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs, Inc..
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