The famous history of the clandestine church

* Luís Alberto Alves

In the then Soviet Union, in 1978, several evangelicals sang a song for Jesus when the soldiers entered with rifles in their hands. The cult was immediately interrupted by Red Army soldiers, who invaded the meeting place with all the savagery.

 No one knew how they had located that clandestine church that had been in the same place for a long time. "What are you doing here?" they screamed. "Are you worshiping your imaginary God?" Church members were frightened that there would probably be more armed soldiers waiting outside to take them to prison.

But what was about to happen was far worse than simply being arrested. Suddenly the soldier in command shouted, "All those who are faithful to God stand on the right side of the church, for you will be shot for your faith. It is you who decide whether to live or die.

Those who are faithful to this so-called "God" will die. But those who deny it will be set free. "Five minutes earlier, everyone also sang praises to God, but now it was a matter of life and death.Many stood up and went to the left, a few courageously placed themselves to the right, while making their last prayers.

 Separate families wanted to be united, but some were on one side and others on the other. One of the soldiers said, "You people on the left can leave." They left the place without being able to look into the faces of their brothers and relatives who would soon die. They were filled with shame.

When only those on the right stayed, the soldiers placed their weapons in the seats and said to them, "We are Christians too, but we wanted to worship God without the hypocrites.

Today everyone is very similar. It is increasingly difficult to differentiate true Christians from simple replicas. Converted and convinced they mingle in the crowd. But the hour of truth is coming, and whoever is not really will not stand the truth. Pass this faithful and true testimony ahead do not be ashamed as those who have passed to the left!

* Luís Alberto Alves is a pastor