Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. – Psalm 119:89

Chinese courtrooms were the scene of trials six years ago, prosecuting two Christian businessmen for selling audio versions of the Bible, as part of that government’s campaign to “eradicate pornography and illegal publications.” The following year, after the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, the North American president of the Middle East media ministry reported that it was incredibly dangerous for Christians in that nation. He stated that the Taliban would demand people’s phones and, if they found a downloaded Bible on the device, would kill them immediately. He added, “The Taliban have spies and informants everywhere.”

Challenges Christians face in the United States have not reached this level of danger or intensity, but some Americans are being pressured to hide, if not denounce, their faith. A theological apologist wrote that there are battlefields of human culture upon which true Christianity has failed to successfully contend. As a result, the tolerance of a Bible-based faith has gradually declined and those who continue to profess and practice it face increased persecution. In a recent example of this, the Maine Supreme Court ruled that a father could prohibit the mother of his teenage daughter from taking the girl to any church.

Reports from missionaries in Afghanistan and in China reveal that believers there have worked hard to memorize as much Scripture as they can… able, in many instances, to recite entire books of the Bible. If you suddenly had your copies of the Bible taken from you, whether from your bookshelves, coffee table, or cellphone, would you be able to call to mind enough of the Word of God you really need to sustain you? As you pray that Congress and the Supreme Court would continue to protect religious liberty in the United States, make an effort to increase your Scripture memory program.