Pastor's Corner

Confess Me!

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 8:32-33

Mariam Yehya Ibrahim, a Sudanese mother, and Christian, has been sentenced to flogging and death unless she recants her Christian faith. She is 8 months pregnant and has a two-year-old son. Her only crime --- she is a Christian in predominantly a Muslim country.

Ibrahim is charged with adultery on the grounds that her marriage to a Christian man from South Sudan is considered void under Shari’a law, for which the penalty is flogging. She’s also charged with apostasy, and abandonment of her Muslim religion, for which the penalty is death. The fact that a woman could be sentenced to death for her faith choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is abhorrent.

Mariam Yehya Ibrahim is just one of several thousands of Christians who is being persecuted daily around the world. Her story made it to the media and the news stands, but what about the others that we don’t even hear about? Mariam is not making a political statement rather she is making a faith statement and I am proud of her courage.

Mariam is following the path faithful saints have trod for centuries “And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed. I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love” (Ps. 119:46-47)

I believe events such as these can help all Christians strengthen their faith in an uncertain world. It is also a firm reminder not to take our liberty of the Christian faith and practice for granted.

When we receive Christ, we surrender to His will for our lives, God does begin to live inside of us. After we receive Christ and we begin to walk in faith and obedience, His life should be seen in us. In fact, we should become more invisible and Christ more visible. As a result we are not ashamed or embarrassed to confess His name, to pray in public or be known about alliance to the Saviour. This was reflected about Jesus, John the Baptist exclaimed, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

How do we decrease and how can He increase in our lives? The apostle Paul said it this way, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Be blessed.

Shalom,

Your friend and pastor
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu

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St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal