JARS OF CLAY
What the West Needs to Learn From the
Persecuted Church
By Kenneth Harrod
Release International. 121 pages. £8.00
ISBN 978 0 955 969 317
The vision of Release International is ‘to see a world in which the whole Body of Christ understands persecution and responds to persecution prayerfully, pastorally and practically’.
This book, written under a pseudonym by one of their staff members (and endorsed by Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide), is a contribution to the fulfilling of that vision. It seeks to give a biblical and theological undergirding to a call to support today’s persecuted Christians. In five chapters the author sets out the reality and meaning of suffering as a Christian. The material is primarily a presentation of the scriptural witness to the expectation of suffering as a follower of a crucified Saviour, with some illustrations from situations that the author has encountered. The book is to be welcomed for two prime reasons. First it is encouraging to see a mission agency setting out a biblical basis for the ministry in which it is engaged and using that as a motivation for support rather than emotional stories. Secondly it presents a biblical theme that is not often heard in British churches. Not only will it increase our support for other persecuted believers, but it will also prepare us for any future persecution the Western church might face. Each chapter has questions at the end for discussion. It could profitably be used as a short course for church house groups.
