Has the persecution come?

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.        Matthew 5:11-12 NIV

The hallmark, yea the leading indicator of a Christian’s fully devoted life may well be the persecution that follows. Are you spoken well of in your sphere of influence? You can rest assured that you have no part with Christ. Does your manner of speaking easily translate from the world to the church? Have no fear, for your persecution will not come. The greatest danger to church is friendship with the world. Christians who practice yoga, celebrate Halloween and carry on as if there is no discernible difference between the Christian worldview and all others will never raise the ire of hell.

However, if you mark yourself as a follower of Christ, unafraid and unashamed to name his name rest assured the world will hate you. When a man denies his own deity and acknowledges his utter inability to save himself the world’s repulsion is undeniable and unavoidable. When one dares to point out the sinful condition of this world and offers the untenable dichotomy between God’s justice and a fallen world, make no mistake you will lose your respectable reputation. And yet, the servant is no better than his master. Why then Christian should you be better than our Lord?

Have you a part in his suffering? You can rejoice for you are one of his children and your reward is great.

Read Full Post »

More Knowledge-More Love

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, Philippians 1:9-10 NIV

The passage is clear, the Christian must not remain a babe in Christ. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle urges us to learn more, to gain knowledge that we may discern the best. Far too many Christians are passified with little knowledge; they remain on milk never moving on to the meat of the word. This point is often punctuated with a visit from the local cultist.

They lack the knowledge of the faith required to exalt Christ as Lord and exhibit a readiness to give an answer to the abherrent adherent of false faiths. Dear Christian you are compelled by our Lord and Savior to move in love toward more learning. Your theological training is just beginning on the day of your salvation. You want to be more pure? Learn more says the Apostle. You want to walk in holiness? Study to show thyself approved. You desire discernment, learn to use your teeth that you may ingest the meat and move off the milk.

Babes in Christ are easy pray for a faith that is impure, unstable, and ill-prepared in an onslaught of theological half-truths. You must gain knowledge from the giver of wisdom. Come let us reason bids the Lord God Almighty. Do not allow your lack of knowledge to rob you of a pure and holy faith. Seek wisdom and get understanding.

Read Full Post »