Forgiveness despite persecution
Pastor Lwin* is a Buddhist Background pastor serving his fellow believers in one of the strong Buddhist areas in Myanmar. One day, on the first week of June, Pastor Lwin went to visit Mr Naing*, a Buddhist acquaintance who works in a school. Mr Naing served Pastor Lwin tea and they talked.
As the two men were talking, the monk in charge of the school came out. He was angry and riled up because someone disturbed his asleep. The monk started smashing things around him.
Then, when the monk saw Pastor Lwin drinking tea with Mr. Naing, the monk shouted at him, “What are you – a Christian Pastor – doing here?” The monk was agitated by the presence of a pastor in the campus, and he threw a kettle containing hot water towards Lwin.
Pastor Lwin was hit by the hot kettle. Fortunately he escaped with only minor injuries on his face and neck, which he received medical treatment for. Pastor Lwin lodged a complaint to the township level head monk and local authorities for his unjust treatment. He hopes that by lodging the complaint, the abuse for Christians will eventually lessen. In the majority Buddhists areas, locals and monks often persecute and bully Christian minorities.
A few days after the incident, Mr. Naing called Pastor Win and told him that the monk who assaulted him has been reprimanded. The monk apologized to Pastor Lwin, and Lwin chose forgiveness.
When the head monk asked Pastor Lwin about what punishment should be given to the monk who attacked him, the he replied: “I do not want to retaliate.” The response earned respect and recognition from the monks.
Lwin said “I learned to respond to persecution from the Bible. I am also a pastor and I understand that I would be wrong to retaliate… I forgive the person who assaulted me because he does not know God”
Prayer:
• Pray for healing of Pastor Lwin’s injury and restoration back to good health.
• Pray for the wisdom for Pastor Lwin as he deals with officials and monks.
• Pray for Pastor Lwin as he shepherds believers, disciples them to grow deeper in their faith and gain preparedness to deal with persecution.
• Pray that there will be mutual understanding and peace amongst Christians and Buddhists.
*Names changed for security
