It’s stories like this one that will recalibrate what you think scripture REALLY means when it talks about ‘persecution’.
In the West, we might see people getting tied in knots over some troll on social media making fun of a cheesy low-effort Christian-ish meme, on the other side of the world, we’re seeing examples of legitimate violence.
Uganda is not one of the countries we often talk about, being overshadowed by other examples. But that’s kind of the point. When your faith actually makes a difference, when it is lived out in such a way that your personal life story holds up a mirror to others, you can expect a reaction. Sometimes, it will be a desire to have what you’ve discovered. Other times, it will instigate irrational opposition — often including violence.
Remember when Jesus said he would set father against son, mother against daughter and that your enemies will be those of your own household? Not that he desired the conflict, so much as the change of some would NOT be accepted even by those who are supposed to love you most.
So it was in Uganda, where two sisters offended their father for abandoning Islam for faith in Christ.
At midnight, on September 6th, Amina and Shamila, of Kibenge, Kasese District in Uganda were at home in their beds. When they smelled an accelerant, and saw flames. They understood their home had been torched and they had to find a way out. They knocked some bricks out of their wall and crawled through the hole, escaping into the night, sparing their lives at least, even if everything they had owned was now lost.
According to the report, their father, Muhamud, had poured petrol over the house before setting it alight while the girls were sleeping. He had reportedly told them he would act in accordance with Islamic law after they rejected Islam and converted to Christianity on 26 August.
[…]
Despite losing their possessions, Amina said the experience had strengthened their Christian faith.
“We are happy to say that the fire consumed our shelter but did not consume our faith and hope in Jesus Christ,” she said.
[…]
A local chief, who asked not to be named, thanked God for protecting the two girls and praised Christians in the area for coming to their aid.
“I also thank the Christians of my area for having that solidarity to rescue these innocent people,” the chief said. “We are against these murderous acts under the cover of having a religious fight; it’s notorious and uncalled for.” — Christianity Today
