Several people I have spoken to recently have told me of their fears of speaking to people or even giving out tracts. Several of these people have told me of their need to be pushed. Well many of us need to stop and examine ourselves right now. Ask yourself this question, do I love my self respect more than lost souls and glorifying God's Name?
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A Reality Check
People in Denmark, where I live, are generally very worried about what people think about them. This goes for the typical church goer as well. I strongly suspect much of the west is the same. Folks we need to get past this. Jesus told us:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:18-19).
The Apostle Paul also said:
"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life (II Coritnhians 2:14-16).
True Christians are the smell of life to those being saved and the smell of death to those perishing. Some people just aren't going to like us. And that's just it, someone mightn't like you or call you a name. There are many Christians right now having their bodies hacked into pieces just because they are Christians. How dare we even be preoccupied with our own fragile selfesteem.
The disciples always taught:
"that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
So if you're trying to avoid tribulation you're probably trying to avoid God's Kingdom. Just stop and think about it for a moment.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12).
So you can try and avoid persecution or embrace it as something honorable to go through for the Name of Him who suffered so much for us (please don't confuse this with offending people through acting like a jerk). Either way, persecution will come!
So in Denmark, persecution means a little personal rejection . . . what does it mean in India right now???
Many tears have been shed as I have prepared this blog post. It comes from seeing the suffering of my persecuted brothers and sisters while I watch on in my westernised affluence, I also cry as I am reminded that the blood of the martyrs is precious in God's sight, and I pray to God that he would give me courage and strength to ceaselessly testify of my wonderful Savior when I face Satan's henchmen. Watching these videos also makes me so mad at all these churches trying to preach "your best life now" all the while remaining silent on our precious suffering brothers and sisters in India. Pray for them and speak up with the Gospel. It is glorious and Christ is so worthy to be preached.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
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1 comment:
Bro. Cameron,
This is always a timely topic. I get cold feet a lot of times when I have an opportunity to witness, but as you pointed out, where in the world is the church from the book of Acts? And even Foxes' Book of Martyrs shows us how much persecution a Christian will face if they are true to their Lord.
I agree with Paul Washer who says that (at least here in America), "America is not Gospel hardened, America is ignorant of the true Gospel."
I wonder at times if those Christians who oppose us for preaching the true Gospel instead of a "Gospel of love", are regenerated. I know only God knows, but if they know only a God of love, have they ever been convicted of their sins and seen themselves as filthy wicked in the sight of a holy God? I fear for them.
Keep the faith, brother.
Bro. Mike King
Mount Vernon, Washington USA
www.lawandgraceministry.com
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