I was reading about what one man had done for a year to try to walk and act as Jesus would and then I read this post by Jim B. — Christian Reconstructionist Decries “Christian Bashing” — and it really got under my skin and I had to add a few more thoughts on this subject
Mark 21:12-15
“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
I find it interesting how some christians continue to harp on how persecuted they are. You ask them not to speak about religious things for the moment, or ever and they feel that they are being persecuted, shut down, their 1st amendment rights stomped on and they believe some form of the Nazi brown shirts are around the corner to toss them into a camp. What a sad view of the world.
The above verses, stated by Jesus, say that they will be persecuted but no where does it say they are to rise up against the persecution, instead they are to use the opportunity to witness and to not worry about how to defend themselves. Instead they complain and act just opposite of what Jesus spoke of and prepared them for.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This verse is one that my father used to repeat a lot when situations weren’t going the way I wanted them too or I wasn’t being appreciated as I thought I should and other selfish/prideful ideas. The christians who feel persecuted should take some advice from my father.
If I am to follow in the footsteps of my Lord, Jesus, than I need to welcome the persecution that is to come. Though to it may appear a masochistic response to the outside world; personally I know that my Lord asked to have his own persecution removed from him, but when it wasn’t, he continued on the course that was set up for him. And it would be an honor to follow in the footsteps on my Lord, Jesus.
You know I think a lot of us have this Christian thing twisted. Many of us think once we accept Jesus as our savor live magically becomes easy, when the opposite is true. scripture teaches that. Many of us wear those ” What Would Jesus Do” wrist bands, with out really trying to walk as Jesus walked. This is why people find it hard to become christian. we seem to be hypocrites.
I agree, Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” and he said we are to pick up our cross as well. Obviously not a ‘prosperity gospel’ or easy in any form that I know of.
I think there is a bit of confusion by some on just what Persecution is. The early Church being thrown to Lions was persecution, the beheading of John the Baptist was persecution….Protests of prop. 8 and a Music Video is not persecution.