I’ve been thinking about North Korea a lot lately. But then I guess I am not alone given the rhetoric flowing out of Washington and Pyongyang. It may be one of the poorest countries of the world but it has now joined the nuclear club in spite of all the attempts that have been made to prevent it. That should give us pause for thought.

And then there are the two ‘play ground bullies’ Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un who seem to be trying to outdo each in other in their scary rhetoric, little realising (I assume) that their tweets and sound bites make it harder and harder for either of them to back down. They may not want war, a nuclear war even, but that is clearly an ever possible scenario. As one of my Baptist colleagues wrote recently: “The risk for the peninsula and for the world is that these promises of ‘fire and fury’ and special ‘gift packages’ will be delivered, because those making them don’t have the wisdom or humility to realise how foolish they are.”

But I’ve been thinking about North Korea for other reasons too. I am acutely aware for example of the price being paid by my fellow Christians in a state that requires its citizens to afford its supreme leader a god like status. According to one highly regarded source whereas South Korea has amazingly large Christian population it’s a very different story in the North. Given the nature of the beast it is impossible to calculate the true number of Christians living there, but it has been estimated that there are just 350,000 Christians living in this slave state of some 24 million people. And tragically, up to 100,000 of these are locked up in harsh prisons or work camps. Having said that though, 350,000 is a remarkable statistic given the fact that various North Korean governments have been trying to stamp out all vestiges of Christianity for the last 70 years.

For following World War II, the communist regime of Kim Il-sung was determined to get rid of all foreign religions, especially Christianity, which was branded a tool of ‘Western imperialism.’ Missionaries were thrown out, churches closed, and many Christians executed for their faith, with many more pouring into democratic South Korea at the end of the Korean War.

In fact, I read this week that Open Doors USA says North Korea is the most oppressive place in the world for Christians. I quote: “Due to ever-present surveillance, many pray with eyes open, and gathering for praise or fellowship is practically impossible. Worship of the ruling Kim family is mandated for all citizens, and those who don’t comply (including Christians) are arrested, imprisoned, tortured or killed. Entire Christian families are imprisoned in hard labour camps.”

Few, if any, would have predicted this at the turn of the last century though because 110 years ago this year there was such a remarkable revival in and around Pyongyang that the city became known as the ‘Jerusalem of the East.’ It was a revival that affected all levels of society so much so that I have read that even Kim Jong II’s grandparents were active in the Protestant Church. I wonder what Trump’s ‘Rocket man’ would make of that claim. I guess no one living in North Korea would live long enough to tell him.

I say all this because if my understanding of the North Korean situation is accurate (and I’m open to be shown it isn’t) it should serve as a salutary reminder to the church in the West that our existence is by no means guaranteed. I have no doubt that Jesus will keep His promise and that He will continue to build His Church of course. And I am equally persuaded that He will do so in spite of every determined effort to destroy it. But I am just as sure that we need to learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters. We need to remember that Jesus wants His followers to be faithful to what He has said whatever the cultural and political pressures to conform. The Christians of North Korea deserve our prayers, our support and our applause. They have much to teach us.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]