Focus on Pakistan
We read a lot about problems that Christians face in Muslim countries: Pakistan is as bad as any. There is a sad story about the couple who were burned alive. We wonder what goes through peoples’ minds – we are reminded of Saul of Tarsus. God can make those poor people think.
Then today’s shocking news: 141 killed in a school by the Taliban. Muslims killing Muslims.
My interest in Pakistan goes back to my young days. The sister of one of my friends was at Oxford University. Being a Christian she found herself outside some of the fraternities (or sororities). Another outsider was Benazir Bhutto, whose father was then prime minister. He was assassinated; then in 2007 Benazir herself lost her life too when campaigning for re-election to the same position. There was much corruption – and violence.
In our conurbation of 250,000 people we have only a few who follow Islam. There are, I think, two mosques. However it is important for us to remind ourselves of the sufferings of our brethren in Islamic countries – Satan behind the aggressors – ‘Whom resist, stedfast in faith, knowing that the selfsame sufferings are accomplished in your brotherhood which [is] in [the] world’ (1 Peter 5:9 Darby).