A dear friend sent me a couple of books for my birthday from the Voice of Martyrs. She knows my heart for the people of India, so I was elated when I opened them up. I want to share an excerpt from “Restricted Nations–INDIA” by the Voice of the Martyrs with Riley K. Smith.
This is a pledge that graduates from Emmanuel Theological Seminary and Bible College in Kota, Rajasthan make publicly.
“I stand with the apostle Paul in stating that, ‘for me to live is Christ and to die is gain’.
I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my hands to serve all mankind.
I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my feet to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth no matter what the cost.
I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my lips by proclaiming the Good News to all who hear and by edifying the Body of Christ.
I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my mind as I meditate upon His Word and His promises to me.
I give my earthly treasures and all that I possess to follow the way of the cross.
I commit to love my family, orphans, widows, lepers, the wealthy and the poor the way that Christ loved the church.
I surrender my will and life to His will and life.
I commit to the service of the Lord by being a good steward of my time.
I surrender this body on earth to the perfect will of Jesus, and should my blood be spilled may it bring forth a mighty harvest of souls.
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb. I will seek to honor His command. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
Lord Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I love my India and my fellow citizens, and I claim India for Christ.”
After that ceremony, one of the graduates returned to his village. They tied old shoes around his neck and led him down the streets then forced him to drink cow urine and they beat him. Yet, what they had hoped for…the gospel to be shut down…wasn’t what happened. Hundreds who watched the spectacle came to Christ.
Truth is, you and I need to repent. What we consider persecution is rather pathetic, when’s the last time we’ve been beaten and forced to drink cow urine?!
I pray that this will come back to you and to me, when we feel the day can’t get much crummier. I pray that you and I will be bold enough to say this pledge and claim America for Christ. These Indians knew it wasn’t just lip service that day when they stood publicly and stated these strong words. Can we?…and truly mean it…
Heroic…I could only hope to be that strong!