The Privilege of Persecution:

by Carl A. Moeller, David W. Hegg

Many Americans view the persecuted church as “third-world,” needy, uneducated, and poor —
sorely lacking in much of what we assume the church needs to function well. Essentially, we
see them as being in need of us. But the irony, say Carl Moeller and David Hegg, is that we’re
in much greater need of them.
Through a combination of inspiring real-life stories, first-hand experiences, and exposition of key Scripture
passages, Dr. Carl Moeller and Pastor David Hegg examine the “normal Christian life” of Christ-followers
currently suffering persecution around the world. In topical chapter after chapter, the authors conclude that
the suffering church’s vibrant, sacrificial, and communal faith is much closer to God’s intent for His church
and His children. The authors explore the areas of community, leadership, worship, prayer, and generosity,
among others, revealing specific attitudes and actions of the suffering church that can renew the spiritual
lives of Christians in the West. Each chapter ends with challenging questions and suggestions for personal
and corporate application.

Genres: Faith, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2011

Reviews

[Anne-Marie Madore · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I’m reading a book, I try to finish it before starting another one. I came across, The Privilege of Persecution and planned to read it at a late date. Instead of putting it away, I opened it up. After reading the Forward, Opening Words about the Global Church, and the Introduction, I was completely hooked. This book has transformed by thinking about the global church and those being persecuted around the world. How different we view things here in the west, meaning North America. Our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe are being persecuted for their faith in ways beyond our comprehension.

This book has shown me that I have taken my freedom to serve God for granted, I understand why the book is aptly titled: The Privilege of Persecution. I have greater respect for my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world whom daily take up their cross and follow Him, regardless of the cost. And for many, it costs them everything, including their lives!

The book is broken down into six chapters: God and His Word; Worship and the Church; Prayer and Dependence; Community, Culture, and Evangelism; Leadership, Authority, and Power; Generosity and Stewardship.

This book has given me much food for thought. Jesus told us in His Word that we would be persecuted for following Him. The western churches have much to learn from the persecuted churches throughout the world. I ask the question: How will we fare when the persecutions faced by them comes our way? Are we truly ready and prepared to take a stand for our faith, regardless of the costs?

The book has served its purpose. The authors have given me a greater understanding about persecution and why it’s considered a privilege, and informing me about many things global churches are aware of, that we here in the west are not. I thank the Lord for putting this book in my path. I highly recommend this book and encourage you to read it for yourself.

[Harold Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Many Americans view the persecuted church as "third-world," needy, uneducated, and poor -- sorely lacking in much of what we assume the church needs to function well. Essentially, we see them as being in need of us. But the irony, say Carl Moeller and David Hegg, is that we're in much greater need of them.

Through a combination of inspiring real-life stories, first-hand experiences, and exposition of key Scripture passages, Dr. Carl Moeller and Pastor David Hegg examine the "normal Christian life" of Christ-followers currently suffering persecution around the world. In topical chapter after chapter, the authors conclude that the suffering church's vibrant, sacrificial, and communal faith is much closer to God's intent for His church and His children. The authors explore the areas of community, leadership, worship, prayer, and generosity, among others, revealing specific attitudes and actions of the suffering church that can renew the spiritual lives of Christians in the West. Each chapter ends with challenging questions and suggestions for personal and corporate application.” (From the Moody Publishers Publishing Company Website)

About the Authors:
DR. CARL A.MOELLER is a dedicated advocate for the millions of Christians around the globe who are denied religious freedom and basic human rights. His mission is to mobilize Christians to pray, encourage and advocate on behalf of suffering believers. Moeller began his ministry in 1983 when he joined Campus Crusade for Christ International. There he gained a global Christian perspective working with church leaders in eastern European communist countries. These work experiences prepared Moeller to turn his passion for suffering believers to full-time ministry in 2003 when he was appointed President and CEO of Open Doors USA. Moeller lives in Southern California with his wife Kim and their four children.

DAVID W. HEGG(D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary in California) is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA. He has a passion to promote the health of the church through expository preaching, and a reliance on the Gospel. He is a frequent speaker at retreats, camps, and Bible Conferences. David teaches at The Master's College, is the author of Appointed to Preach and The Obedience Option and blogs at www.heggthought.com. He and his wife Cherylyn have three adult children, Abby, Ellen, and Andy.
With Craig Hodgkins

My Thoughts About the Book: The Privilege of Persecution sounds like a rather strange title for a book, does it not? I think at least for the most part it does seem strange to us as American Christians. It think it is unfathomable to us that the 2 words privilege and persecution could be used in a positive sense in the same title, phrase or sentence if you will. But this is just one of the many surprises you will discover as you read the book…that for Christians in other parts of the world living for and suffering persecution for Christ IS a privilege.

In the first section of the book concerning the Global church pastor David Hegg writes, “Many Americans view the Global Church as “third-world,” needy, uneducated, and poor-sorely lacking in much of what we assume the church needs to function well. But the irony is that we’re in much greater need of them.” And Pastor Hegg writes from personal experience and observations as a result of his work with the ministry of Open Doors USA. His opening statements are both convicting and sobering because what he writes is true.

The authors refer to quotes from a variety of sources, personal stories of real live persecuted Christians, from their own personal experiences with persecuted Christians, and words from the Scriptures the authors reveal to us what occurs in the lives of believers in “third-world” countries. They also share what others have thought and written about persecution and suffering and what the Word of God states about the issue. One thing is definitely true about the book and that is that the authors clearly spell out for us is that our concept of the Christian life and suffering/persecution is worlds apart from what Christian in other countries believe and are experiencing on a daily basis.

Authors Moeller and Hegg look at persecution and suffering from six key perspectives: “God and His Word,” “Worship,” “Prayer and Dependence,” “Community, Culture and Evangelism,” “Leadership, Authority and Power,” and finally “Generosity and Stewardship.” In their book they write about such things as how thousands of believers gathered to worship the Lord outside in the falling snow. Snow means cold. Cold means uncomfortable yet for them to not worship the Lord was not an option. Hmmm, makes you think does it not? While we complain if the temperature is 68 degrees in our churches and the pews are not comfortable enough, Christians in other parts of the world gather to worship without buildings, without heat or in the blazing sun and no padded pews. And they do so because they are totally consumed with a passion for knowing, loving and serving Christ – even if it means they lose everything including the lives of their families or even their lives. Read the book, it’s all in there…the good and glorious, the bad and the ugly.

The Privilege of Persecution is a book that has been written for such a time as we are living in right now in America and delivers a message that we need to seriously take to heart…that it really DOES cost something to serve Christ other than having to get out of bed early and go to church, put just a few dollars in the collection plate, then go out and spend double or triple to what we gave the Lord on a Sunday lunch buffet to then return home to our comfortable lives in our comfortable homes. After all, we’ve done our Christian duty for the week so everything is just fine in our petty, spiritually impoverished little “Christian” worlds while as the book reminds us, Christians in other parts of the world are spiritually rich and living their lives to the fullest for the glory of God without all the stuff we hold so dear and see as vitally essential. They refer to it as the issue of “Relationships versus Resources” quoting African Christians as saying, “In America, you have watches. Here, we have time.” Amen!
if you care about and if you want to know how “the other half” of our Christian family lives in other parts of the world as well as how they respond to their circumstances get a copy of the book and read it. Then after you read it pray that God will open your eyes to see the great opportunities and vast unmet needs that exist in the lives and churches of our brothers and sisters in Christ in “third-world” countries. Ask the Lord to show you what you can do to make a God-honoring difference in their lives so they can serve the Lord whom they love as much as their own lives more effectively.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Moody Publishers Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Mazzou B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read. In more ways than one.
''Many Americans view the global church as 'third world', needy, uneducated, and poor-sorely lacking in much of what we assume the church needs to function well. But the irony is that we're in much greater need of them.
It is a lesson that is best viewed through a lens of humility, and both of us have had to learn in our own way.''- the authors.

As you and I read this book, let us begin aright as well, with a heart of humility and repentance.

From the first chapter, I was grabbed by this heart-touching, convicting, motivating book. One can tell that the authors know their topic. As I raced through this medium-sized book, my heart was convicted about my lack of understanding of what it truly means to live-and die- for Christ. The more I read books like this, the more I am convinced of my apathy. Living in North America has been a blessing. But instead of using that blessing to glorify God more, I like so many other citizens of the West have squandered this privilege. We are now at the point that Christians in the East are praying for us!
''In the West, we are not persecuted. We are intimidated.'' (-Brother Andrew)

''When we claim allegiance to God's kingdom but...bend to fit into the culture, we are hypocrites by definition and we are wide open to the criticism we receive.'' (page 99)

The Privilege of Persecution is well-written, well laid-out and organized into several chapters. Each chapter was distinct yet flowed with the main purpose of this important book.
1. God and His Word

2. Worship and the Church

3. Prayer and Dependence

4. Community, Culture, and Evangelism

5. Leadership, Authority, and Power

6. Generosity and Stewardship

I found this book to be well-rounded. It was easy to understand yet convicting. Needless to say, I do recommend this book for all audiences! It was not condemning, yet didn't skimp on truth.

''Persecution often results in pain, but that same pain can bring perspective, a perspective of who we really are- or can be- in Christ, through God's great mercy...'' (page 146)

And these brothers and sisters in the global church have experienced this first hand.

'Obedience doesn't lead us to the blessing. Obedience is the blessing.'' (page 131)
This is something those strong Christians know. Let us be humble and seek God. Seek true and lasting faith.


More about this book (from the publisher's site):
Many Americans view the persecuted church as "third-world," needy, uneducated, and poor -- sorely lacking in much of what we assume the church needs to function well. Essentially, we see them as being in need of us. But the irony, say Carl Moeller and David Hegg, is that we're in much greater need of them.

Through a combination of inspiring real-life stories, first-hand experiences, and exposition of key Scripture passages, Dr. Carl Moeller and Pastor David Hegg examine the "normal Christian life" of Christ-followers currently suffering persecution around the world. In topical chapter after chapter, the authors conclude that the suffering church's vibrant, sacrificial, and communal faith is much closer to God's intent for His church and His children. The authors explore the areas of community, leadership, worship, prayer, and generosity, among others, revealing specific attitudes and actions of the suffering church that can renew the spiritual lives of Christians in the West. Each chapter ends with challenging questions and suggestions for personal and corporate application

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. The writing is simple and the themes are not complex, but it covers the very essential differences between America's Christian church and the persecuted churches fighting to survive around the world. These differences are truths we need to integrate into today's American church or we will never show the fruit that persecuted Christians manage to produce despite the stresses of every moment.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a limited but helpful book on the topic of the persecuted church. There are a lot of good correctives for wealthy American churches in it. The final chapter on generosity and stewardship was worth the price of the book.
Every once in a while there were some overstatements, but in a book that's less than 150 pages and covering such a broad topic, that's to be expected.

[PariahBorne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply written and gave valuable insight on the persecuted church as well as comparisons to the church in America. It seemed almost biased in some places, thinking that the persecuted church has things all together, however, the authors stated that it wasn't their intention to make it that way.

I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it for anyone curious on the global church as a whole.

[Lisa Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wish there was more of this book. Maybe expanding out what is already here. What a great book about how our privilege in America can actually work against us in our relationship to Christ. Highly recommend.

[William Martin]

This book sharers warning to the Church in America. There is danger in being wealthy, comfortable, and complacent. The persecuted Church throughout the world seems to understand that better than we do.

[Amelia Delrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it and see how blessed America is.