Free to speak.

This morning, I attended a Memorial Service for the late Shahbaz Bhatti - the Federal Minister of Minorities' Affairs, in Pakistan, who was assassinated as he left for his office on March 2nd.   Mr Bhatti, himself a disciple of Jesus, was a fearless, and outspoken, advocate for all minority groups in Pakistan.  He was fully aware that there were those who opposed his stance, and his attempts to have the 'blasphemy law' - Section 295c of the Pakistan Penal Code - repealed, but stated on more than one occasion that he was willing to die for his cause, and his Lord.  This he did, as he was hit by a hail of bullets from cowards who sped off on a motor-bike.

On my way home from the Memorial Service, I had occasion to stop off in the centre of Glasgow.  As I walked along Sauchiehall Street (one of the main thoroughfares, for those who may not be familiar with the city), my attention was attracted by the words of a street preacher, who was proclaiming a simple, straightforward, Gospel message.  I thought of my Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan - and in some fifty other countries around the world - who do not enjoy that same freedom of expression and speech that that preacher was able to enjoy.  I thought of the crowds who were passing by - giving not a thought to the words of life that were being proclaimed.  I thought of the thousands, and tens of thousands, who are incarcerated by the authorities in their homelands, for as little as owning a copy of the Bible, let alone preaching in the open-air.

At the service, we had been reminded of some of the atrocities that disciple of Jesus suffer in Pakistan.  Sadly, we could have multiplied those instances, over and over again, and not confined ourselves to Pakistan.
We, in the "free world", with our (albeit less-than-perfect) democracies, and free elections, don't always appreciate how well-off we are.  It may be a beneficial experience to log on to one (or more) of the sites in My Favourite Links (scroll down the right-hand bar) that deal with the Persecuted Church, and read some of the true stories that are available.

We gave thanks for the life of Shahbaz Bhatti, and for his faithfulness to the Lord - even unto death; we give thanks for all of those who are ready to suffer, and even die, for the sake of His Name; I gave thanks for a man who was willing to be the object of sarcastic comments and heckling, or to be totally ignored.

They are among those "... of whom the world is not worthy ..." (Heb 11:38).   I am privileged to call them my brothers and sisters.