Migrant Mission Field

Unless you have been living on the moon you cannot have failed to notice the huge press coverage being given to the plight of refugees trying to flee ISIS and get asylum in Europe.  The politicians have been taking to the air-waves to give their opinions which vary from "let's give them a warm welcome" to "we're full up, they can't come here" with one senior figure saying that this is "an exodus of Biblical proportions".

So what should be the Christian response?  Of course, we should do what we can to help those in need and, if people are fleeing oppression we should give them asylum.  After all, Britain has a fine record of taking in genuine refugees - remember the Ugandan Asians of the early 1970s?

Moreover, when it comes to helping others Christians have a big advantage over the unsaved and it is simply this - we can, and should, give humanitarian help, but we can also tell refugees the way to eternal life.

If we truly believe the Bible we know that Jesus is the only and exclusive way to Heaven (I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one comes to the Father but by me - John 14 v 6) and we should take every opportunity to point people to Christ, especially when a bridge has been established due to us having done them a kind service.  Indeed, this has been happening during the current crisis.

In Siciliy, there are Christian groups giving material help to Syrian refugees and also passing on Arabic scriptures so that they can learn about Jesus, and there other parts of Europe where similar work is taking place.

Many of these poor people come from countries that ban evangelism and so it could be that God, in His sovereignty, has brought this situation about in order to move huge groups of people to a country where they can hear the Gospel.  Two examples of this will suffice to prove my point:

1.  About 15-16 years ago a large number of Kosovan refugees came to Kent and, more particularly, Cliftonville, which is on the edge of Margate just a few miles from where I live.  A local Gospel Hall set up English language classes and sought to befriend them.  As well as teaching them English the believers also gave them Scriptures and  Gospel material in their own language.  Eventually, they were dispersed all around the country but it is obvious that God brought them to this area to hear the precious truths of Christ and have an opportunity to be saved.

2. Over the years many Iranians have fled that country in fear of their lives and ended up in the UK.  As a result of evangelism, and the Holy Spirit opening blind eyes, many have been saved and even started up Iranian Christian Fellowships with a view to encouraging one another and reaching out to their fellow compatriots.  Indeed, in my own evangelism I well remember having regular contact with such a refugee who fled Iran after questioning Islam.  I was able to pass on a Bible to him and a book "More than a carpenter", both in Farsi.

We often think of missions as going to another country to preach the Gospel but God also works by bringing people to Europe for the same purpose.

Only eternity will reveal the good done for people's souls in this way.

What is the spirit of antichrist?

Whenever one thinks about the word "antichrist" there is a tendency to conjure up thoughts of some particularly vile person who spends his time attacking the Christian gospel, and making all kinds of spiteful comments against the person of Christ and His followers.

However, it may surprise you to know that, in fact, most people today exhibit the spirit of antichrist even if they are exceptionally mild-mannered and have a respect for Christians.  Consider the following  from 1st John chapter 4 v 3 "And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist........"

To put it simply, every person who does not accept that Jesus is the Christ and that He really is who He said, viz. the Son of God, is guilty of having a spirit of antichrist.  No matter how mildly and respectfully they present that view they are under God's condemnation for their unwillingness to accept Jesus as the Christ.

This truth is clearly confirmed by a careful of reading of John chapter 3.  In verse 18 we read people are "condemned already" if they don't believe "in the name of the only begotten Son of God".  Moreover, in verse 36 we are told that those who "believe on the Son have everlasting life";  while those who do not so believe shall not see life, but will have the wrath of God abiding upon them.

I well remember having a long conversation with a bloke who was appalled at the Biblical truth that faith in Christ as the Son of God is essential to obtain eternal life.  "Do you mean to say", he exclaimed, "that Rabbi Jonathan sacks, a good man, is going to Hell?"  I replied in the affirmative (a simple question deserves a straight answer) and pointed out that this applies to everyone who does not accept Christ as the Son of God.  They are ALL in the same boat, they are ALL going down and only if they get into the lifeboat that is the Lord Jesus will they be saved.

To put this very simply - atheists, agnostics, Muslims, sikhs, hindus, most Jews (I say most Jews because there are an increasing number of Jews who have accepted Christ) and all who will not accept that Jesus is the Son of God are on the same broad way that leads to judgement.

The teaching I am putting forward in this article would be considered "extreme" but, being the truth, it must be proclaimed without fear or favour.  There are millions of our fellow citizens exhibiting the "spirit of antichrist" and they need to be warned to repent of their unbelief and accept Christ - the eternal consequences of not doing so do not bear thinking about.

At the end of the day we must base our beliefs on the clear statements of The Lord Jesus Christ not the political correctness of modern society.  He said: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one comes to the Father but by me" - John 14 v 6.