Book Review: "In the Presence of My Enemies" by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill

This is the story of Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries in the Philippines, who were taken captive by extreme Islamic Jihadists. It takes you on a year long journey through the jungles without proper shelter, clothing, and sanitation. Food was not always in abundance. They were separated from their loved ones (children and parents).


Gracia says this, “My goal in writing this was to tell Martin’s story. I hope we’ve done it well.”

It was done very well. Martin lives and breathes in this story. Martin was a man whose deep godly wisdom and love for God is seen throughout their captivity. Part of that love was, amazingly, for his captors.

Gracia’s story comes out too. She shares her husband’s love and forgiveness for her captives. In light of the fact that Martin did not survive the rescue attempt this is extraordinary! One example will suffice, shown graphic pictures of her dead captors on the day of her rescue. She began crying. The agent showing the pictures was surprised that she was not glad they were killed. She responded if I believe what I do then these men are in hell with no other chances for God’s forgiveness. Those who are still alive she has forgiven and prays for their salvation.

Pam Ward, the reader of this Christian Audio (http://christianaudio.com/) book, did such a fine job; I found it very easy to think that I was listening to Gracia herself.

This book will cause you to examine your heart before God who sees and knows all. As one who is a part of the volunteer christianaudio reviewers program I highly recommend this book.

LOVE MY ENEMIES?

Psalm 35:13 But I, when they were sick -- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

The heart felt emotions above are actually quite unusual, and even unnatural to our inclinations, considering their context. Consider that the psalmist uttered these words on behalf of "those who fight against me", "my pursuers", those "who seek after my life", those who "hid their net for me", those who "dug a pit for my life", those "malicious witnesses" who "rise up", those who "repay me evil for good", those who "rejoiced and gathered" "at my stumbling", those who "gathered together against me", those "wretches" who "tore at me without ceasing, those who "gnash at me with their teeth", those who "hate me without a cause" those who "devise words of deceit".

In light of such affliction and hatred, from obvious enemies, would you respond the way the psalmist did? Would you be praying for them, afflicting your own self with fasting, grieving as if for a friend or brother, lamenting and mourning as if for your mother.

Seems quite unnatural indeed!

His cries and prayers were not all for their well being. He did ask God for judgment upon them. He asked God to contend for him. He even had plans on glorifying God once his enemies were judged. "Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation". But even despite these prayers he still cared for his enemies when they were sick.

We are living in times much like the psalmist. It is becoming increasingly obvious the hatred and affliction that Christians are receiving in our own country. Legislation promoted in this country continues to cut at biblical principles. Would you pray for the designers of such legislation, if they fell sick, as if they were your friend, brother, or even your mother?

Praying for God's Justice concerning our enemies is easy, but it seems to go against the grain of our human nature to pray for their well being.

Let us pray for God's Justice, but let us also heed the words of our Lord Jesus who said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Why? "So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."

HOW WELL IS YOUR PERCEPTION?

Acts 23:6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial." 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Paul perceived! What do you perceive about your antagonists? How did Paul perceive? How can we perceive? Answering this question is the theme of this post.

So how can we "perceive"?

1. Perception can come through reading Scripture. This should be our main source. Your antagonists/enemies, are shown very clearly there. David talks a lot about his enemies in the Psalms. That's a good place to start.

2. Read books that expose the heresies of the enemies of God. There are many good books exposing the many heresies we face today. Kingdom of the Cults is one of the classics. It is one that has in recent years been updated to reflect the current heresies being faced by the church. Ask your pastor or godly men you respect in the faith to suggest other books or even Web sites that offer the same information.

3. Talk with Christian brothers and sisters who have, first hand, experience dealing with such heresies. Much can be learned from those who have been and still are on the front lines. One suggestion for where such first hand info could be found is James White's Web site, http://aomin.org.

4. This last idea is very important. Do not assume you know the enemy you are dealing with without first listening to them (face to face or through media sources), before talking with them. Remember the enemies of God are everywhere - they are your neighbors, your co-workers, your family. A good listening ear will win more people than jumping to conclusions and bible thumping a stereotype of your own imagination.

The bottom line: we must be prepared. We are soldiers. Paul told Timothy,

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

THINKING ABOUT READING "THE HIDING PLACE"?

As a part of the christianaudio Reviewer’s Program I would like to recommend this Hovel Audio recording of The Hiding Place. You can purchase this unabridged reading from christianaudio.com.

Bernadette Dunne does an outstanding job reading. She will hold your attention from start to finish.

Set in pre/during/post-World War II, it is an exciting true story of a simple family who used their own home as a hiding place for the Jews during the German occupation of Holland. The Jews, considered enemies of the new German run government, were recognized by the ten Boom family as the “apple of God’s eye”.

In my opinion God Himself, the true hiding place, is the main character. His providential presence is seen in every aspect of this story. God’s love and forgiveness of man and man’s love and forgiveness for man is the theme of this story. That message is illustrated in the lives of Corrie ten Boom (the author) and her sister Betsy, as well as others.

While still in Ravensbrück (a concentration camp), a pit of despair and evil, dying Betsy said to Corrie, “Must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still.” This became Corrie ten Boom’s message in the years after her release from the concentration camp.

How would you live if faced with possible imprisonment or even execution? Would you forgive the informants who caused you to be arrested? How about the guards? This story will challenge you to question the depth of your faith, love, and forgiveness.

ARE YOU LOVED "TO THE END"?

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

How interesting the phrase "he loved them to the end". Who did he love them? The verse says he "loved his own who were in the world". Who were his own? Those whom he had chosen. 

What end was he referring to?
The end he was referring to was obviously prophetic, since he had not yet "departed out of this world to the Father". "Loved them to the end" has at least four related views. 

First, a short term time frame. The end of his life in this world with his disciples. He would be going to his death very shortly. He had told them so on a number of occasions. His end in this world was imminent. So his love to the end was for his disciples with him at that moment.

Second, it extended to all who at that time had embraced him as their Savior during his lifetime. So again the end was very imminent.

Thirdly his love extended to all who would believe on him in all ages. For them the end would be when their lives were over or when he returns for them.

Fourthly and lastly "the end" refers to eternity. Eternity of course does not end. End, in this case, means that his love goes on and on. This may not at first make sense. But, if he meant end to mean end in the sense of ceasing, of being no more, then his love for those to whom he was speaking would have ceased as soon as he went to the Father.

Look at it this way, If I have eternal life and he loves me to the end, does this mean that at some point in "time" eternal life ends? How absurd!

I rejoice in this, "He loved"(loves) me "to the end. On what do I base this - on the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ
(see John 3:16; Romans 1:16; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

Is it true for you? Do you know that he loves you to the end?

ARE YOU STANDING ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION?

I have been listening to "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. In one part, the family had to tell Corrie's aunt, Tante Jans, her tuberculosis was at the final stage. This was a sure death sentence. Her aunt's response surprised the family. Upon hearing this news, she covered her face with her hands. They tried to encourage her, by reminding her, of the many good works that she could bring before the Lord. But, she burst out with,

"Empty! Empty! How can we bring anything to God? Does He care for our little tricks and trinkets?" And then as we listened in disbelief, She lowered her hands and with tears still coursing down her face whispered, "Dear Jesus I thank you that we must come with empty hands. I thank you that you have done all, all on the Cross, and that all we need in life or death is to be sure of this."

This is not meant to be a discouragement to good works. If your hope and faith are in God and His Son, then you were "created in Christ Jesus for good works". Tante Jans probably would not have lived her life any differently. What she realized at the moment of hearing her physical death sentence, I can add nothing to what Jesus has done in respect to my salvation.

JESUS did "All on the Cross". "All we need in life or death is to be sure of this."

Are you sure of this?

CAN ANY GOOD THING BE FOUND IN THAILAND?

Acts 21:1 And when we (Paul and friends) had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days.

The above passage is just a portion of one of Paul's missionary journeys. It reminded me of one of the most exciting times in my life. While in the Air Force I had been sent overseas to Thailand. Part of the excitement was being able to go to another country. But, another part of the excitement was having the opportunity to meet Christians from a different part of the world.

Some of my memories there as a young believer, centered on a local missionary, John Perkins. He had been in Thailand for 30 years. It was exciting to be able to co-labor with him! It was in a limited way but still meaningful to me. He was still faithful to the Lord after all those years!

In that time he had established 12 local/regional churches. By the time I had been stationed in Thailand, John's role had changed. God had already raised up pastors from within the various churches. He was in a very real sense an apostle to these churches.

In this "apostle" role, John had oversight of all the pastors and key leaders within each of the churches. On Sundays he would visit one, and sometimes two of the churches, to preach and encourage the congregations. On occasion, several of us from the base would go with him on Sunday to visit one of the churches. Here are a few remembrances of one visit:

It was during the rainy season and the road at one point was flooded. One of the congregation members met us with his boat and took us a few at a time to the other side. I remember John asking a couple of us to give our testimonies of the Lord's salvation in our lives. He said just speak for about 5 minutes. I was a little nervous. He translated as we spoke. I remember thinking after about things I should have said and ways that I could have said it better. It was exciting to hear and recognize a hymn being sung in the Thai language. I don't remember any more specifics, but it has been exciting to remember it!

Another way in which I was able to be a co-laborer with John was to be a part of an English teaching program that he had established. Several of us at the base would volunteer to teach the Thai University students.

The class was located in a building in downtown Udorn. The name on the sign over the doorway said Good News Book-room. If I remember right it was written both Thai and English. His practice was to use Christian resources to teach the students. This became a tool to disciple those students who were already believers and to evangelize those who were not.

This has been a good time for me, remembering the Lord's work in my life. I hope you have enjoyed hearing about it. From time to time as the Scriptures trigger other memories I will share more of my early life.