so today i saw a video that i found quite disturbing...i won't go into the details of the video, because i think that on the whole the topic of the video was irrelevant. but what i found so disturbing was the train of thought one person had with regards to the christian faith. even further there was a post by a person in response to the video who believed that christians are "ignorant" and believe in "archaic" ways of thinking.
as a christian, this infuriates me. i find it so disturbing that society is constantly trying to remove God and faith from nearly every aspect of living. WHY!? so i decided that the comments from the video and post lead me to read about the persecution of christians.
and then i came across this...1 corinthians 4:12-13
"We work hard with our hands for our food. When they hurt us, we put up with it. When they tell evil lies about us, we speak nice words about them. Even today, we are treated as though we were the garbage of the world - the filth of the earth."
as christians we have been persecuted since long before Jesus' death on the cross. but through time we have always stood strong in the belief that Christ will come again and lift us up to heaven.
but as i see the world now, there are the beginnings of a serious chasm in society. there seems to be less and less of a middle ground. believers are becoming stronger in their faith. and non-believers are becoming strong in their ways. so what are we to do?!
2 corinthians 6:1-10 states...
"We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. God says, 'At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you that the 'right time' is now, and the 'day of salvation' is now. We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. Some people honor us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything."
i know that is a lot of reading. but God tells us to go out and produce fruit. as a new generation of kids are coming into this world we must reach out to them and help reshape the future of this world.
nobody has to be lost forever, but as christians we have the blessed, unavoidable and difficult task to face people who will mock us, throw "stones" at us and try to discount us.
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I really like this it is an amaizing list of verses. I am not sure why people need to make fun of Christians, if you don't agree then fine don't agree that is your choice. I am not standing around making fun of them. I honestly think people are scared, as if they agree that yes there is a God then they will have to turn from their sinful ways and many people don't want to acknowledge what they are doing is sinful, but if only they could see that God's way is so much better and there lives would be so filled with rejoicing instead of trying to fill a whole in there lives that can be filled with nothign but God's Love. Alcohol, Sex, Drugs, Pornography, Violence none of these things can fill that emptiness. Only God! And oh what a blessing he is in my life. Eveyday I am thankful for everything he does for me and ever blessing he give me and every opportunity he shows me to make a difference in someone elses life. Praise God for His Mercy and Grace!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carrie and JP on this. It is easy to feel frustrated and sad that so many are so miserable that they will look for any excuse to banish the notion of a loving Heavenly Father. In the Book Of Mormon, some verses I found on this topic talk of a time when the people were being persecuted for their belief in Christ:
ReplyDelete"Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing while others would recieve railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
And thus there became a great inequality in the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up...save it were a few of the Lamanites who had been converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable,willing with all dilligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."
It goes on to say the reason that people were persecuting the members of the church:
"Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this--Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity,and to the puffing them up with pride,tempting them to seek for power and great authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.
And thus, Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity..."
I think that sounds like our times right now, doesn't it to you? Pride can tempt anyone to deny a living Father in Heaven.
it can...both are beautiful posts. i know for myself, the more that i see the sin the world, the more i tuck into God's loving arms and ask for help. at the same time, i'm trying to reach out more and more to those around me, to help them. help them find God, help them rekindle their love for God. i think about all of my friends and family members and couldn't imagine life after death without them...so my work needs to be done here on earth, before time runs out.
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