While Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, one church in Tennessee was met with a disturbing act of anti-Christian hostility.
On Sunday morning, police responded to a report of a trailer on fire near the church entrance. The trailer, which police confirmed was intentionally set ablaze, contained hundreds of Bibles. An investigation is ongoing.
Although this distressing display could have put a stop to the Easter gatherings, the fire was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt. Greg Locke, the pastor of the church, said that the debris was cleaned up before the services began.
“It blocked the entrance to our campus and the fact that it was an entire load of Bibles is rather conclusive proof that it was most assuredly directed at us,” Locke told the Tennessean. “It did not, nor will it stop us … We had a full house and a marvelous service.”
Locke added that he believes this destruction of Bibles outside his church is indicative of growing anti-Christian hostility. “If you think Christianity is not under attack more than ever before … you have not been paying attention,” he said.
Sadly, this incident is reminiscent of the fiery persecution that the global persecuted church faces on a regular basis and on a much wider scale.
Gift a Bible today and help persecuted believers stand strong amid threats and intimidation.
As we reported last year, in Manipur, India, nearly 400 churches and 7,000 houses were burned or destroyed. Persecuted Christians in India have lost not only their safety, their homes and their churches, but in many cases, they have lost their lives at the hands of Hindu extremists.
Last Christmas, Muslim extremists attacked and set fire to a tent where persecuted Christians in Egypt had gathered to celebrate the birth of our Savior. “We didn’t do anything to harm anyone,” said one worshipper. “We are very peaceful. What did we do to make all this happen to us? Why is there so much hatred towards us?”
Persecuted Christians in Pakistan have also seen their homes and churches burned down. A Muslim mob destroyed 26 churches and several homes in Faisalabad, including the home of a pastor. In Jaranwala, extremists vandalized 25 churches and more than 100 Christians’ homes.
Let’s say a prayer for believers across the globe who face anti-Christian hostility and persecution because of their faith.
Lord, we lift up the church in Tennessee that was subjected to this threatening display of Bibles being burned. Thank You that no one was injured and the Easter service could carry on. We pray that the congregants will not be shaken by this vile act and we pray for those who attempted to intimidate them by setting these Bibles on fire. Let us remember what Luke 6:22 says: “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
We also remember that the global persecuted church faces widespread hatred and fiery attacks. We ask for safety for believers in Pakistan, Egypt, India and beyond. God, please protect them and let them be able to worship in peace. In Your name we pray, amen.
About the author
Chandler Peterson is a staff writer and editor for Global Christian Relief where she shares stories of Christian persecution. Read the latest Christian persecution stories on our website and learn more at GlobalChristianRelief.org.
