By Carl Moeller, Open Doors USA President/CEO

One day after the death of Michael Jackson, the headline on the Associated Press story I read blared “’We’ve Lost a Hero’ – Fans around the World Mourn King of Pop.”

In the story some of his horde of worshippers around the world, including country leaders, referred to Jackson as “my idol,” “my master” and “an eternal performer.”

The story quoted former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos as saying : “…..the accusations, the persecution caused him so much financial and mental anguish. He was vindicated in court, but the battle took his life. There is probably a lesson here for all of us.”

Yes, there is a lesson to be learned ! But it’s not about the “persecution” of celebrities like Jackson. The real lesson should be people in the West turning their attention to the suffering and persecution going on daily in countries like North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

I have talked to hundreds of Christians in restricted countries who have been truly persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. What the so-called King of Pop went through in his personal life was not persecution. In planning for his memorial service scheduled Tuesday his brothers couldn’t even agree on which religion should guide Jackson’s tribute, so they opted for a nondenominational event, according to the New York Daily News.

Let me just summarize a few incidents of persecution of Christians since Michael Jackson’s death on June 25 :

* At least five people were killed and 30 injured Sunday following an explosion outside a Catholic church in Cotabato City in the Philippines.

* In Pakistan, after a Muslim beat a Christian field worker for asking him to let him pass on June 30, a cleric in a village near Lahore used a mosque loudspeaker to announce a call to attack Christians. It resulted in more than 500 Muslims ransacking and looting at least 110 houses, according to Compass Direct News.

* Word was received last week that Islamic extremists beheaded two young boys in Somalia earlier this year because their Christian father refused to divulge information about a church leader. The killers are now searching Kenya’s refugee camps now to do the same to the boys’ father, according to Compass.

Believe me, that is just the tip of the iceberg.

A hero is described in my dictionary as “someone distinguished for exceptional courage, fortitude or bold enterprise. One idealized for superior qualities or deeds.”

Christians who put their lives on the line are the real heroes….heroes of the faith.

Let me tell you about one such hero.

On November, 2005, Ghorban Dordi Tourani, a 53-year old Muslim convert to Christianity in Iran, was arrested by the secret police. A few hours later, his stabbed and bleeding body was thrown in front of his home in Gonbad-e-Kavus, where he lived with his wife and four children, according to Compass Direct. A year before his death, Tourani wrote this prayer : “Lord Jesus, please let me glorify Your holy name in every moment of my life on this earth. I am willing to give my life that belongs to You, for the sake of You and Your church.”

Michael Jackson’s fanatic followers have made a mockery of heroes like Ghorban Tourani. Some of them are reportedly willing to pay more than $15,000 online for a ticket for the memorial service. That is a sad commentary on today’s glorification by fans and the media of Hollywood “stars” – many of them living troubled lives in a fantasy world.

I do have a Master. He is Jesus Christ. He is the One I worship.

This reminds me of Psalm 146:3-5 : “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground ; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”

An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world’s most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to our Website at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

If you would like to arrange an interview, please contact Open Doors USA Media Relations Director Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117 or email jerryd@odusa.org.

Give a Bible today ! Text Bible to 20222 and send one Bible for only $5 to a Christian living under persecution.

Assist News Service