The Persecuted Church
MG,
You've taken the words right out of my mouth....In America, it's so easy to hide our faith...We don't really have to show it, at all.
I, for one, have been persecuted - though only at work, where the people were snobs toward a christian and did everything, they could, to make life as hard a possible for me - even trying to force me to drink alcohol, which I flat out rejected (the woman demanded, 'Judge not, lest ye be not judged,' and I shot back with the fact that they could drink whatever they preferred. I preferred to drink no alochol.)
Finally, when I entered my resignation - to go back to school, to study BIBLE, of all things!!! - they trumped up a lot of charges, which made it impossible for me to save two months' pay to begin school (it also made it possible for me to find that God is my Provider, not secular labor, so He was victorious).
Then again, I've known a Deaf woman, whose father was a minister. She always acted like she knew everything, related to the Scriptures because of that relationship and got mad at me, when I explained that my dad is a real estate broker and I know nothing about the profession.
I, often, wonder how strong America's christians would become, should the Word of God not be so available. The countries, where they tried to stamp out christianity (Russia, for example) grew in christian numbers.
Why?
Because praising Him, through persecution, causes others to want a faith worth dying for....Unfortunately, we don't have that, here. We're too free.
This gives me a request: How many other ways do we have, which can be used to teach the lost that Jesus is Lord.
I can tell people that, without a God, Who answsers prayer, I wouldn't be here, BUT, if they reject that, what would you back it up with?
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Ditto , you know that living the faith and showing Jesus through our lives is the best witness there is .
Another thing , we cannot expect an unsaved person to accept what we say if they are not led by the Holy Spirit . If folks do not accept the bible as the word of God , we have not much basis for discussion .
However , we must live a life before them to make them desire what we have . Continue in prayer for all with whom we have contact .
Rom:2:7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Gal:6:9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2Thes:3:13: But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
1Pt:2:15: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pt:3:17: For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Mystery Guest
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[
Ditto , you know that living the faith and showing Jesus through our lives is the best witness there is .
Another thing , we cannot expect an unsaved person to accept what we say if they are not led by the Holy Spirit . If folks do not accept the bible as the word of God , we have not much basis for discussion .
However , we must live a life before them to make them desire what we have . Continue in prayer for all with whom we have contact .
Rom:2:7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Gal:6:9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2Thes:3:13: But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
1Pt:2:15: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pt:3:17: For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Mystery Guest
[/quote]
You are completely right, sis....My best friends are not my family, it seems, because because my brothers and sisters do nothing for anyone, unless they think they'll benefit from it. **
At the same time, a man, who has only been a christian for about 20 years, has helped me in so many ways I couldn't begin to count them.
The only way I can find to repay him is to teach his wife and daughters signs....And refuse any pay!!!
Steve's witness is this: If you need help, he's there. He doesn't keep a "little black book," of favors, you owe him, either.
Once, when I had a heat stroke (trying to cut the grass in the heat, shortly after my last surgery in 1999, I called all the members of my family and nobody was home. I, then, called Steve and he came and got me.
That's the kind of friend we need.
Also, at my paternal grandma's funeral, a lady said that, back in 1972, when her husband was in the hospital in Columbus, GA, and the woman had no way to get there, Grandma drove her (three times) and refused any pay for gas or time.
That's what I aspire to be.
Come to think of it, that's what ALL christians should aspire to.
** This now excludes my older sister, who visited one of my chatrooms, once, at Mrs. C. and her family.
In 2000, when it was discovered that I can no longer do yard work, my nephew "volunteered" to do my lawn. He only asked that I allow him to take my riding mower, which he had to have fixed.
He's never missed either cutting my grass or, if he was away, finding someone else to do it for him.