A.M. Rosenthal's "The Chinese Christians" is one of many editorials by this gifted journalist that earned him the Medal of Freedom. I watched the July 9th medal presentation this year because Nelson Mandela was among those to be honored. I was so preoccupied that the implication of President Bush's words only dawned on me afterwards. He said that Mr. Rosenthal's calling was journalism but "his passion is human rights" and "outspoken defense of persecuted Christians in Asia, Africa and the Middle East have truly made him his brother's keeper."
It wasn't always so for this insightful Jewish reporter and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. In 1997 he became aware how the US media ignored the plight of Christians suffering for their faith. His end of year editorial reflects this: "Did you report the full story on every important subject you wrote about?" he asked himself. "No, early this year, I realized that in decades of reporting on human rights, I rarely touched on one of the most important... the right to worship where and how God or conscience leads."
Sometimes an event alters the course of your life. For Rosenthal it was a phone call from Michael Horowitz the director of the Hudson Institute's Project on Civil Justice Reform. "He said the biggest story in the world was the persecution of Christians. I found, to my astonishment that it was true" said Mr. Rosenthal.
Though born in Ontario, he's been a New York boy all his life. A product of the NY schools he quipped: "the education was fine and the free tuition was only a little more than I could afford!" The N.Y. Times has been his life. 2 decades as a reporter, 2 decades as an editor, retired Jan 1, 1988 and now he's a columnist. When he says there's wide scale international persecution of Christians the secular media is forced to pay attention.
It's not news to us. Last month the sad tale seared our hearts of Sudanese government helicopter gun ships attacking Christian villages in the South of that country. In my denomination alone 3 evangelists were killed and 70 congregations fled their villages. The U.S., through its involvement with the UN "Operation Lifeline Sudan," continues to allow this government which is responsible for mass, selective starvation to veto international food aid deliveries to the Christian, South Sudan - a veto that Khartoum has not hesitated to exercise. Are the 2 million already dead not enough? Read up on this. Write to your Senator and Congressman.
Modern heroes of our faith are ordinary people who love Christ more than life itself. In his report to a convention I attended in the African nation of Zimbabwe an unassuming pastor simply said: "This year I have been before the rifles 3 times, but they spared my life." Do you understand this kind of devotion to God?
Jesus wove it into His "Sermon on the Mount." He said: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice because great is your reward in heaven." Matt 5:11 Christians don't blow up busses to get a reward in heaven. They love, they witness and in many places they bleed. If that's the standard we here cannot afford any compromise that would make us anemic shadows of our peers.
So some get annoyed if you ardently profess your faith!? So be it. I'm not talking about avidly pushing your church's doctrines, but rather daily, random, persistent acts of unselfishness done in the name of Christ. Be their humble hearted attendant. Only then use that interest to publish the One for whom you have become a love servant. They won't persecute you for the acts, but what you say might get you into trouble. Say it fearlessly, but be very sure you have earned the right to speak. Care about those around you. Intend to be your brother's keeper. Jesus did!