Men burst the door open. They all had guns. The leading officer shouted for the pastor to give him the Bible or he would shoot him. What was the pastor to do? He handed the man the Bible.

“We will let you go,” growled the guard, “but first, you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot.” He pointed to the first man with his gun. The man asked his Father to forgive him as he knelt down and spat on the Bible. A woman was nudged forward. She too spat. Both were allowed to leave. The next girl that was threatened couldn’t have been more than 17 years old. She knelt down slowly. As the soldiers watched she picked up the Bible, took the hem of her dress, and wiped the spit from the cover. The Communist soldier put his gun to her head and shot her.

Does this story shock you? To many Americans this ghastly story is unheard of, but in Communist China, and in many other countries today, stories like this one are familiar.

All of America was shocked when the Columbine shooting occurred. Even though it h

American Christians are almost never threatened to, under penalty of death, deny their faith, while Muslim women who convert to Christianity are beaten, tortured, or killed by their husbands in Pakistan. Under Islam, around 400 Christians are martyred each day. Yet, knowing of the persecution they may receive, many people still come to Jesus in Islamic countries.

I hope that these differences will soon disappear. I hope that the Western church will awaken and start doing something for God. I hope that the readers of this who are Christians will make a decision today to give over their life to Jesus Christ--living for Him and no other. And I hope that the reader who has not yet made a decision to follow Jesus will consider that if hundreds of people are willing to die--everyday--for their faith, then there might be some truth to their beliefs. I hope that you will remember this question every day for the rest of your life: He died for you, will you die for Him?

I remember a story that gives an example of a hunger for God’s Word that I believe all Christians should have. Two young men worked all winter long shoveling frozen earth in Romania just so they could buy a Bible. They had relentlessly saved in the slight hope that they might be able to purchase an old, tattered Bible. Through

Some topics in this essay:
, Communist China, Underground Church, Jesus John, American Christians, Jesus Christ--living, God’s Word, Christians America, Church” Christians--those, Communists Muslims, christians martyred, believe god”, american christians, western church,