Saudi Arabia, one of the most oppressive nations in the world for Christians.

Saudi Arabia.

Updated 25 August 2014

One of the most oppressive nations in the world for Christians.^{i ii iii} Though the persecution score has increased since 2013 Saudi Arabia has slipped from second to sixth on the World Watch List.^{ii iv}

The first major event in the history of Saudi Arabia was the birth of Muhammed in A.D. 570, he went on to be the founder of Islam.ⁱ Before the coming of Islam there was a large population of Christians, some of whom aided Muhammed during his time of exile.ⁱ This was about A.D. 622.ⁱ

The second major event was the discovery of petroleum in 1938, prior to this the economy and culture was little different to the time of Muhammed.ⁱ This discovery brought on an extensive modernisation program in the kingdom.ⁱ

Unemployment is high (20-40%) mainly because of the Saudis' disdain for certain jobs.ⁱ

Population

21.6 million (84% Urban).ⁱ

Land

South western Asia 830,000 sq. miles (2,149,690 sq. Km).ⁱ

Religion

92.1³-99% Muslim.ⁱ
“There are no provisions for religious freedom in the Kingdom’s constitution or basic laws.”ⁱⁱ Islam is the official state religion, all others are prohibited.ⁱ

Outreach.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Luke 24:45-47 Good News Bible

• Asians especially Filipinos who have come as menial labourers (cooks, maids and others). Many have been successful in evangelising their employers, many have also paid the ultimate price.ⁱ
  
• When Saudis (students, businessmen and tourists) travel abroad to the West and to more open Arab states they can be reached with the Gospel. Most prefer to travel during the hot season and the month of Ramadan.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• Christian radio such as HCJB, IBRA and others broadcast in Arabic and languages of the expatriate communities. There are many secret listeners and as a result, isolated believers.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• Christian literature and videos, including the Bible, are banned but in great demand. “Scriptures in different formats and films such as the JESUS film and The Passion of the Christ do a brisk business on the black market.”ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• About 90% of homes have satellite television. Christian channels in both Arabic and English can be used tremendously to bring Saudis to Jesus.ⁱⁱⁱ
• The majority of the population have access to the internet, “but the government blocks and monitor traffic.”ⁱⁱⁱ

Christians

The estimates of the Christian population range from 750,000¹ to 1.25 Million.ⁱⁱ Most Christians are expatriate workers, the local believers live under constant fear of discovery, arrest and execution.ⁱ Despite the dangers many Saudis are secretly seeking and finding Jesus.ⁱⁱⁱ

Church Life.

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.” Hebrews 10:25 Good News Bible.
According to tradition the apostle Barnabas was the first to bring the Gospel to Saudi Arabia.ⁱ In the seventh century Islam gained control and Christians were expelled, no missions have been allowed since.ⁱ Christians are generally allowed to worship in private, but the religious police (Muttawa) do not always respect this.ⁱⁱ Men and women from different families are not allowed to intermingle.ⁱⁱ New converts are greeted with fear and suspicion rather than excitement, hindering the growth of the Church.ⁱ

Persecution.

Jesus said: "If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first. If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

“Severe, growing steadily.”ⁱ

Restrictions & Freedoms

• Conversion from Islam to any other religion is punishable by death.^{i ii}
  
• Evangelism is punishable by arrest & occasionally execution.ⁱ
  
• “Worship is punishable by arrest, imprisonment, deportation.”ⁱ
  

In the 21^st Century …

Saudi Arabia will most likely continue to be oppressive, ferociously guarding the home of Islam and treating severely potential threats to its supremacy.ⁱ

Prayer Points.

• For greater recognition of human rights and for religious freedom.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• For access to God's Word.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• For those in the country to gain access to good Christian resources on the Internet for evangelism, discipleship and discussion.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• For encouragement, strength, wisdom and courage for believers.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• Protection for Christians who boldly share their faith despite the risks.ⁱⁱ
  
• Encouragement for isolated believers who face rejection and persecution from their families.ⁱⁱ
  
• For believers to find believing spouses.ⁱⁱⁱ
  
• That God will continue to draw people to Himself through satellite TV, radio and supernatural dreams.ⁱⁱ
  
• For good relations between Christians and Muslims that will permit Christian workers to enter the country.ⁱ
  
• Pray for the underground church to be tolerated (so believers both foreigners and locals can meet safely) and become an effective base for witness and fellowship.ⁱ
  
• Pray for courage for new converts who may be cut off from their families and face execution as apostates for their faith.ⁱ
  
• For foreign workers in menial jobs to continue be successful evangelising their employers.ⁱ
  
• Despite the restrictions of strict Islamic laws alcohol and drug abuse, sexual immorality and HIV/AIDS are real but hidden problems.ⁱⁱⁱ
  

For further information I recommend reading the Bible. I have referred to several English translations of the Bible. A good resource for this, in many languages, is e-sword, a free downloadable program.

© Ken Glasgow 2013

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iCompanjen J & Long J, 2000, Please Pray For Us praying for persecuted Christians in 52 nations, Bethany House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pages 168-172.

iiAnonymous, 2013, #2 Saudi Arabia, World Watch List 2013, http://www.worldwatchlist.org.au/country.cfm?country=saudi-arabia

iiiMandryk J, 2010, Operation World the definitive prayer guide to every nation, Biblica Publishing, Colorado Springs Colorado, pages 728-733.

ivAnonymous, World Watch List 2014 Top 50 Countries Summary, http://worldwatchlist.org.au

Though I know some people who have been divorced...

Divorce.

This is a difficult subject and unpleasant by it's nature. Though I know some people who have been divorced I have no personal experience of it. But Jesus taught on divorce and so I'm going to do a post on it.

Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, "Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?" Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? And God said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.'¹ So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together." The Pharisees asked him, "Why, then, did Moses give the law for a man to hand his wife a divorce notice and send her away?" Jesus answered, "Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that at the time of creation. I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman." His disciples said to him, "If this is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry." Jesus answered, "This teaching does not apply to everyone, but only to those to whom God has given it. For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so." Matthew 19:3-12 Good News Bible²

According to Jesus, there is only one Scriptural reason or excuse for divorce, if the other partner commits adultery.

When a man has taken a wife and married her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her, then let him write her a bill of divorce and put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she has departed from his house, she goes and becomes another man's; and the latter husband hates her and writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband dies, he who took her to be his wife her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled. For that is hateful before Jehovah. And you shall not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah your God gives you for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 Modern King James Version

Jesus makes it clearer:

"It was also said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.' But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery³ if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also. Matthew 5:31-32 Good News Bible

The Greek word translated as “unfaithfulness” here is: πορνεία, porneia, pronounced as: por-ni'-ah From πορνεύω, (porneuō, pronounced as: porn-yoo'-o); harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication.⁴

Other translations of the Bible use different expressions in verse 32 including:

• “except for a matter of sexual sin...” Analytical Literal Translation.

• “unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin...” Contemporary English Version.

• “except for a matter of sexual sin...” English Standard Version.

• “saving for the cause of fornication...” King James Version.

• The Message adds: “You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure.”

The LORD says, "If a man divorces his wife, and she leaves him and becomes another man's wife, he cannot take her back again. This would completely defile the land. Isaiah 3:1a Good News Bible

Isaiah and Deuteronomy also make it clear that according to the Scriptures, once divorced there's no remarriage to the same person.

Regardless of whether one has been divorced or not Jesus said: "I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again."

I have referred to several English translations of the Bible and commentaries in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2013 Last edited 14 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3.3.0, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Then the LORD God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said, "At last, here is one of my own kind--- Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. 'Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. Genesis 2:21-24 Good News Bible

2See also: Mark 10:2-12.

3Jesus makes it clear that causing another to sin is a serious matter, see also: Matthew 18:6-7, Mark 9:42 & Luke 17:1-2

4Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

Jesus being baptised by John has been called a “perfect testimony of grace”

Jesus' Baptism.

At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. But John tried to make him change his mind. "I ought to be baptized by you," John said, "and yet you have come to me!" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires." So John agreed. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him. Then a voice said from heaven, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased." Matthew 3:13-17 Good News Bible

Jesus being baptised by John has been called a “perfect testimony of grace” because the saviour of the world humbled Himself to identify (see also: Hebrews 4:15-16) with the ordinary people in baptism.ⁱ

Even though Jesus was sinless, it was proper for His forerunner, John to show approval of Him in baptism at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.ⁱⁱ “At Christ's baptism there was a manifestation of the three Persons in the sacred Trinity.ⁱⁱⁱ” Jesus, God the Son, God the Father spoke from Heaven and the Spirit came down on Jesus in the form of a dove. This proved to John that Jesus was the Son of God:

John said, "I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven and stay on him. I didn't know who he was. But God, who sent me to baptize with water, had told me, 'When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, you'll know that person is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen this and have declared that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34 “God's Word” Translation of the Bible

God showed John that this is the one for whom he was preparing the way, that Jesus was (and is) the saviour of the world (Messiah).

I have referred to several English translations of the Bible and commentaries in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2013 Last edited 14 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3.3.0, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iJohn Darby's Synopsis, notes for Matthew 3:13-17

iiAlbert Barnes' commentary on the Bible, notes for Matthew 3:15.

iiiMatthew Henery's concise commentary, notes for Matthew 3:13-17

Predictions of Jesus as Saviour

Predictions of Jesus coming into the world.

The following is an only an introduction to the predictions of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the saviour of the world.

“I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." Genesis 3:15, The Message.

The first prediction of the Jesus as the saviour is in the wake of the first sin event.ⁱ This is a gracious promise to deliver a fallen humanity from Satan's power. “Here was the dawning of the gospel day.” The wound to the head of the serpent signifies being destroyed and ruined by the redeemer (Jesus Christ). “His subtle politics shall all be baffled, his usurped power shall be entirely crushed, and he shall be for ever a captive to the injured honour of divine sovereignty.”ⁱⁱ

Here God gives notice of 3 things concerning Jesus Christ:ⁱⁱⁱ

1. That He would be born of a woman.

2. That He would suffer and die.

3. That He would be victorious over Satan.

GOD, your God, is going to raise up a prophet for you. GOD will raise him up from among your kinsmen, a prophet like me. Listen obediently to him. This is what you asked GOD, your God, for at Horeb on the day you were all gathered at the mountain and said, "We can't hear any more from GOD, our God; we can't stand seeing any more fire. We'll die!" And GOD said to me, "They're right; they've spoken the truth. I'll raise up for them a prophet like you from their kinsmen. I'll tell him what to say and he will pass on to them everything I command him. And anyone who won't listen to my words spoken by him, I will personally hold responsible. Deuteronomy 18:15-19, The Message.

Though some take Deuteronomy 18:15-19 to refer to a line of prophets this in fact refers to Jesus Christ as a prophet.^iv John 5:45-47 is taken as Jesus stating that Moses referred to Him in Deuteronomy 18.^v

The LORD says, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times." Micah 5:2, The Good News Bible.

Bethlehem was often not mentioned when the cities of Judah were listed, because it had an insignificant size and population. When the Gospels say Bethlehem is not the least, they really saying it is the greatest from God's view point as the birth place of the saviour. God chooses the insignificant things of this world to eclipse the greatest.^vi

When the wise men came from the East, this prophecy was quoted^vii to tell where to find the king of the Jews. The birth place of the Messiah was predicted to be Bethlehem as a way of encouraging the faith of God's people.^viii

Bethlehem was formerly known as Ephrathah^ix. In this prophecy both names are used to give greater certainty. Ephrathah also means “house of bread” which is a proper place for Jesus to be born as He is the bread of life.^x

The Messiah is described in Micah 5:1-6 as:

1. Being eternal.

2. Being a mediator as the ruler of Israel.^xi

“So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us).” Isaiah 7:14, The Message.

It was predicted that Jesus would be born to a virgin hundreds of years before it happened.^xii This prediction was also an assurance that the city and nation would not be destroyed by the current threat.^xiii Being born of a virgin signifies Jesus' divine power and purity.^xiv The name Immanuel is a description of Jesus' character, being the Son of God.^xv

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice. The LORD All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done.” Isaiah 9:6-7 Contemporary English Version.

Reference to “A child” in this verse is taken to be a mention of the Messiah, not only by Christians, but by Jews. The prophets often speak of things that will happen as though they have already happened, here the statement that: “A child has been born for us” could be stated as “A child will be born for us”.^xvi

Isaiah 53 speaks of how the Saviour was to be rejected by His own people.

Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him, so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true: "Lord, who believed the message we told? To whom did the Lord reveal his power?" John 12:37-38 Good News Bible.

There's much more on this subject, I encourage my readers to search the Scriptures themselves.

© Ken Glasgow 2011 Last edited 14 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iGenesis 3:15.

iiMatthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible. Gen 3:15

iiiJohn Wesley's explanatory notes. Gen 3:15

ivJohn Darby's Synopsis, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible. Deuteronomy 18

vAlbert Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:15-19

viJamison, Fausset & Brown Commentary. Micah 5:2

viiSee Matthew 2:1-6.

viiiMatthew Henry's concise commentary. Micah 5:1-6

ixSee also Genesis 35:19.

xJohn Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Micah 5:2

xiMatthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible. Micah 5:1-6

xiiIsaiah 7:14.

xiiiJohn Wesley's explanatory notes. Isaiah 7:14

xivMatthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible. Isa 7:14

xvJamieson Fausset & Brown Commentary & John Wesley's explanatory notes. Isa 7:14

xviJohn Wesley's explanatory notes. Isaiah 9:6

Solidarity with Shouwang Church in Beijing

Solidarity with Shouwang Church in Beijing

An Appeal from Churches and Christians Worldwide

May 10th, 2011

We the undersigned, churches and individual Christians from all over the world, stand in solidarity with our fellow believers from Shouwang Church in Beijing and call on the Chinese government to end the religious persecution of this church and its members and to uphold the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.

During the past few weeks, the Christians of Shouwang Church have been deprived of a place of worship, whether indoors or outdoor. Many church members have been detained, interrogated and even physically abused; church leaders were placed under extra-judicial house arrest for weeks. Authorities even prevented the congregation from holding its service on Easter Sunday, the most important holiday of the Christian calendar. All these governmental actions are direct violations of the human rights clauses of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and also violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which the Chinese government itself is a signatory. Our appeal expresses the views of and is endorsed by churches and individual Christians from around the world. It is entirely without any political agenda and free from any government involvement. It is simply a voice of conscience, a call to respect human dignity and to recognize the inalienable rights accorded to every human being, particularly, in this case, to the leaders and members of Shouwang Church in Beijing.

We acknowledge that China has made remarkable economic progress in the past three decades. The Chinese government deserves recognition for its policies which have improved the lives of hundreds of millions of poverty-stricken Chinese and raised the literacy level through compulsory education. In the area of social justice and human rights, however, China has failed to make commensurate progress.

Economic growth without reforms in social justice and human rights could result in great harm for the Chinese people, and could have catastrophic consequences for Chinese society if left unaddressed. We as churches and individual Christians therefore appeal to the Chinese government to end its repressive political actions against Shouwang Church and it members. In so doing, it will demonstrate its respect for human rights and human dignity, social justice, and the Chinese constitution.

Christian churches around the world are all One in the Body of Christ. As members of this Body, we stand in solidarity with, pray for and suffer with Shouwang Church.

May the Lord’s blessing be on Shouwang Church and may He sustain her in this time of testing, grant her grace, wisdom and perseverance, and establish her like “a city on a hill” as described in the Bible to manifest the glory of our Lord.

You may sign your name here (http://www.helpsw.org/p/helpshouwang.html), and then email: zhichishouwang@gmail.com

May God Bless You!

Source: http://www.helpsw.org/p/statement-en.html

At 11AM today (20 July 2011) in my time zone there were over 4500 signatures on the petition.

For further information I recommend reading the Bible, e-sword, a free downloadable program includes many translations of the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2011

This page was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

Worldwide “Help Shouwang” Signature Campaign.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011
China Aid Association
Source: http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/05/leading-chinese-pastors-in-north.html?utm_source=BP_recent

(Washington, DC – May 11, 2011) Leading Chinese church pastors in the United States and Canada have launched a worldwide “Help Shouwang” signature campaign in hopes that drawing attention to the Chinese government’s crackdown on one of Beijing’s largest house churches will stay the leadership’s hand from imposing harsh punishment against the church and its leaders.

The effort was initiated by some former members of Shouwang Church who are now pastors of Chinese churches in the United States. Their bilingual May 10 appeal has already been signed by some of the most well-known pastors of Chinese congregations in the United States and Canada.

They include Boli Zhang, the former 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement student leader who now pastors the D.C.-area Harvest Chinese Christian Church; Yujian Hong, a Shanghai-native who converted to Christianity while studying for his PhD in the United States and now serves as senior pastor of Faith Chinese North American Baptist Church in Vancouver, Canada; and Tongsu Liu, the Western legal philosophy scholar and Yale Law School and Yale Divinity School graduate who is now senior pastor of Mountain View Chinese Christian Church in California.

“Our appeal expresses the views of and is endorsed by churches and individual Christians from around the world,” the appeal said. “It is entirely without any political agenda and free from any government involvement.”

“It is simply a voice of conscience, a call to respect human dignity and to recognize the inalienable rights accorded to every human being, particularly, in this case, to the leaders and members of Shouwang Church in Beijing,” the appeal, entitled “Solidarity with Shouwang Church in Beijing,” continued.

While acknowledging the economic progress that China has made in the past 30 years, the appeal noted, “In the area of social justice and human rights, however, China has failed to make commensurate progress.”

It warned, “Economic growth without reforms in social justice and human rights could result in great harm for the Chinese people, and could have catastrophic consequences for Chinese society if left unaddressed.”

Calling on the government to “end its repressive political actions against Shouwang Church and it members,” the appeal said that in this way, the Chinese government could “demonstrate its respect for human rights and human dignity, social justice, and the Chinese constitution.”

The full appeal in English is available here:
http://www.helpsw.org/p/statement-en.html
The full appeal in Chinese is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tO-3oi8m2spu4aZzYFEkaMhrkY9ouHdq-QKZkrbnZ1A/edit?hl=en&pli=1#

A “Help Shouwang” website has been set up at www.HelpSW.org to collect signatures and for people to leave comments. Signatures can also be e-mailed to: zhichishouwang@gmail.com

Churches in the free world are also encouraged to organize special activities to show their solidarity with Shouwang, such as holding an Outdoor Sunday Worship Service or prayer service dedicated to Shouwang, or organizing a “One-Mile Walk for Persecuted Shouwang” or an art performance or event dedicated to supporting Shouwang church members in their fight for freedom to worship.

Church leaders in the free world could also engage in a two- to four-day period of “self-confinement” at home, as an act of solidarity with Shouwang’s clergy and lay leaders who have been under informal house arrest since early April, and write and post their reflections at www.HelpSW.org and on the Shouwang Facebook page.

For further information, please contact:
Timothy Hsu
Email: zhichishouwang@gmail.com
Phone: 508-890-8880 (10:00am-4:00pm EDT)

ChinaAid Contacts
Rachel Sparkman, Media Coordinator
Tel: (888) 889-7757, or Rachel@ChinaAid.org
Mark Shan, CAA Spokesperson
Tel: (267) 205-5210, or Mark@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org

For further information I recommend reading the Bible, e-sword, a free downloadable program includes many translations of the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2011

This post was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

Tithes & Offerings.

I have heard this being compared to paying for a meal at a restaurant, if you are fed you pay. If you are fed spiritually in a church you pay there...ⁱ

© Ken Glasgow 2011

This page was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iThis was Pastor Col Stringer, then Senior Pastor at Faith Centre Christian Church, Darwin.