Our hope is that the video and song touched you deeply and you will truly seek God’s will regarding your role in this mission.  If you missed the link to this video at the top of the page, simple click here and you can view it before you proceed.

We are Christians Just the Same

Question: When was the last time you heard a prayer offered up in church for the persecuted and poor Christians that are suffering for the cause of Christ around the world?  Are you even aware that people are losing their homes and family members through governmental punishment, or the actions of militant religious factions? Did you know that these punishments include stoned to death or beheaded?  All of this is because they will not renounce their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

God has much to say in the Old Testament about the Jewish people’s responsibility to the poor and afflicted.  However, since we live in New Testament times, let’s start there.

I Corinthians 16:2 - Reading this verse, in its proper context, Paul is dealing with a collection for the saints in verse 1.  This collection was for the persecuted and poor Christians in Jerusalem who were in a bad way.

Besides dealing with a famine, which most believe was going on at that time, Christian Jews were under heavy persecution by their own fellow citizens.  Here Paul is instructing the Corinthians that on the first day of the week they should "lay by him in store, as God has prospered them" (1 Cor 16:2).  This offering falls right in line with the way Paul’s parent’s raised him.  Jews would give to the poor every week as they went into the temple.  Today we would call it a poor’s box.  Paul himself knew quite well about poverty and persecution.

A thorough study of I Corinthians 16:1-2 must also include the entire 8th and 9th chapters of II Corinthians.  In these chapters, Paul continues his discussion on giving to this great cause. He says “….let this grace also be in you…”  If you do some research in the Old and New Testament about God’s commandments in helping the poor and afflicted, we believe you will come away with a new point of view and see how important this is to God.  We have listed a number of verses for your convenience in the Scripture & History page under the Huddled and Hurting section of the website.  Please look them up and let the Holy Spirit do His work.