An Enduring Struggle: The Global Quest for the Bible Amidst Persecution
(Photo: Open Doors)
In a world where books shape thoughts and challenge norms, their power is undeniable. Many regimes, both autocratic and democratic, have chosen to ban certain books they find threatening. Yet, one book stands out as the most restricted across 52 countries: the Bible. Its pages are considered so dangerous that people risk their lives to obtain it.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Open Doors, an organization dedicated to ensuring access to the Bible in regions where it is banned. Originating from the efforts of Brother Andrew, a Dutch missionary who smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union, this mission has provided hope and spiritual sustenance to countless believers. To those who receive it, the Bible is more than a book; it is essential for spiritual survival.
Anecdotes from the past illustrate the lengths to which individuals have gone to access the Bible. During the Soviet era, one man trekked through the harsh Siberian winter hoping to receive a copy from Open Doors’ smugglers, only to find the Bibles were already distributed. In desperation, he asked for the empty box, believing it could sustain him until more Bibles arrived.
Open Doors has chronicled the world’s most challenging places for Christians since 1993. North Korea frequently tops this list, where possession of a Bible can result in execution or lifelong imprisonment in concentration camps. Even having a relative with a Bible can seal one’s fate. Yet, despite these grim realities, North Korean Christians continue to cherish the Bible, often reading it secretly under the cover of night.
In China, the Bible is also heavily censored. Digital versions have been altered to remove references to ‘Christ,’ ‘Christians,’ and ‘Jesus.’ Furthermore, Bible apps have been removed from the Apple and Google stores. A 2019 crackdown saw individuals arrested for acquiring Bibles from the Wheat Christian Bookshop years prior.
The efforts of Open Doors continue to evolve. In 1981, the organization famously smuggled a million Bibles into China overnight. Today, they use modern technology, such as data cards, to reach believers in areas where the Bible remains forbidden. This mission persists in the face of danger, driven by the belief that the Bible’s transformative power is unmatched.
For those with unrestricted access to the Bible, its value can sometimes be taken for granted. Yet, in regions where it is prohibited, the Bible represents hope and life. Its profound impact is a testament to its power, feared by regimes that seek to maintain control. As Romans 10:17 states, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12
Daniel McIlhiney is parliamentary officer for Open Doors UK & Ireland. Find out more about the work of Open Doors at opendoorsuk.org
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
