Religious freedom is an important part of our country’s history, but many Christians in the United States take it for granted. Meanwhile people in many other parts of the world face discrimination, imprisonment, and threats on their lives because of their faith. Despite the recent stories of Shoaib Assadullah Musawi (imprisoned for giving someone a Bible in Afghanistan) and Asia Bibi (facing execution on charges of blasphemy for proclaiming Christ in Pakistan) making headlines, many American Christians are unaware of the ordeals facing believers in other countries. LinC looks at how we can make a difference for persecuted Christians. Key Scriptures: Psalm 44; John 15:18-21; Hebrews 10:32-39. A professor in Alabama recently generated controversy by publishing an alternative version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that replaced potentially offensive racial slurs. Critics argue that the changes soften the book’s anti-racism message, but the professor responsible for the new edition didn’t want the words to become stumbling blocks for students who didn’t yet understand the context of the story. Scripture has a lot to say about stumbling blocks. Even if something is legal or OK for us, it might put a friend in a tempting situation or keep someone from embracing the good news of Christ. Next week LinC looks at Paul’s teaching that “Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial” (1 Corinthians 10:23, CEB) and talks about considering others before ourselves.
