SAMIZDAT

SAMIZDAT

Monday, September 29, 2014

 

2Timothy [MKJV] 2:1-3 Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

  Yesterday while reading I learned a new word, samizdat. It is a Russian operative word having to do with the dissident political movement beginning many decades ago.  The word means “to copy”, in particular doing so covertly in opposition to political powers.

  Certain books and literature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Zhivago_(novel) , the Bible, western newspapers and magazines, et al.) was forbidden and people were prosecuted severely, even sent to concentration camps in Siberia, for possessing or reading them.  As in some countries today, China for instance, a single or small number of an original publication is smuggled across the border, and copies are made. This often done laboriously by hand. Sometimes the literature involved is broken down in portions and circulated. 

  Imagine reading the middle chapter of a novel and then chapter 3 and then ….

  Or reading 2Peter chapter 3 and then John chapter 6 and then …..

  Consider the early decades of the church (A.D). as the gospels and epistles (Letters to congregations.) were written, sent, copied, circulated . . . it was not a matter of as with our reading and studying Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1Corinthians, 2Corinthians ….

  We can say this is not Russia under draconian communism, or restrictive China, or brutally Sharian ISIL, but what if current national and international trends against *Christian continue? Will we then fulfill the Apostle Paul’s urging to Timothy?

EBB4

 

*I believe we must stop thinking it is Christianity that is being opposed. It is Christian that is being

opposed. It’s personal! When one suffers, all suffer. G5546 Χριστιανός; Christianos; khris-tee-an-os'

From G5547; a Christian, that is, follower of Christ: - Christian. Note 1Corinthians 12:26; 1Timothy 3:12.