"I HAVE GIVEN THEM YOUR WORD AND THE WORLD HAS HATED THEM
I had been explaining that the Bible was my divine sat-nay, the ultimate shaper of my world view and values,
the inspiration for my life, my direction and guidance. The interviewer then asked a fascinating and significant
question:”Why is the Bible so dangerous?” Open Doors was started by a man who risked his life to smuggle Bibles through the Iron Curtain. At the request
of leaders of the persecuted church we still prioritise the supply of God’s Word—and it is still dangerous
to do so. Across the world and back through history those with power—sometimes even people known as Christians—have often
sought to destroy the book and prevent it being read. They have realised, perhaps better than we sometimes do, that the Bible is subversive. Of course, it is not the
book itself, but its message—a message that releases the power of God’s Holy Spirit into the lives of disciples
of Jesus. The message calls people to recognise God as having ultimate power and follow Jesus as the one demanding total
allegiance. And the Holy Spirit who gave people the courage to stand in front of Nero and refuse to say’Caesar
is Lord’still empowers women in an Iranian court to say”We will not deny our faith:’ Brother Andrew once said: “Go through the Bible, and let the Bible go through you’ When that happens we are
emboldened to share our faith and follow Jesus’ command to’make disciples’:people who give Him their ultimate
allegiance and live out His life and values. Wherever there are authorities who think they can demand total allegiance this will provoke rather than end
persecution. That is why our mission is to strengthen the persecuted church: so they can live out the message of
the book and witness to the saving power of Christ! The Jesus revealed in the Bible sets people free and gives them a new identity. No political power can restrict
that freedom. Praise God! Eddie Lyle
CEO Open Doors UK & Ireland
