I grew up thinking persecution was normal. It was a part of life for many of us in Northern Nigeria. You become enculturated into it, and it becomes an accepted norm.
The viral video below is a stark reminder of our reality growing up. The boy in red is clearly a Christian, and the other boys around him are bullying him, trying to force him to pray in their way. The older boy shouts ‘he is an infidel,’ implying that the harsh treatment is justified, and insists the boy must pray their way. One of the boys even holds a toy gun, threatening to harm the boy if he doesn’t comply.
The adult voice behind the scene asked how the boy got there. They replied, ‘We dragged him to this place, not too far from here, to make him pray.’ The adult voice then asked how old the boy was and instructed them to fetch water from a nearby worship center to give to the boy, apparently to coerce him into praying their way.
Obviously, the boy is troubled, as evident from his countenance as he looks up to the adult voice for help, but apparently, it makes his situation no better.
How did these boys acquire this religious hatred and intimidation? Your guess is as good as mine. They’ve been indoctrinated to believe that anyone outside their faith is an infidel and must be coerced into worshiping the same God. The gun at hand, pointed at the boy, ominously suggests what could happen in real life if he grows up with these beliefs or even now if he had to.
We must pray and win the unbelieving world for Christ. The passion these boys demonstrated in trying to get this Christian boy to follow their faith shows they could be great evangelists in the future. I dislike their approach, but I admire the passion they have for their faith, and I see potential in them as candidates for the gospel.
Those who persecute us do so out of love for the God they’ve come to believe. It’s our duty to love them and show them the God they’re so passionate about. God sent His Son to die for us, but also for them. He didn’t die just for Christians; He died for the world. He didn’t die just for the good and perfect; He died for the most wretched sinners.