Persecute

       Persecute= to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict, specifically to cause to suffer because of belief.

       When was the last time that you were persecuted because of your beliefs in Jesus Christ? Does any professing Christian have any clue at all what true persecution is? Although this type of persecution may not be spiritual but is alive and well in this country and that being the persecution of the elderly, by the government, friends and family just because they are old, outdated and worthless in the eyes of the afore mentioned people. So yes in that respect, the elderly know what persecution is. I am speaking here of course about spiritual persecution because of our relationship to God.   Many times I have witnessed crying moaning and sobbing emanating from a Christian because old Joe Smith the atheist down the street flipped them off when they walked by.  Or perhaps you have been called a religious fanatic, a retard or a sissy because you are a Christian.  Or perhaps you are asked a question from another atheist that you can’t answer and they make fun of you because you don’t know squat about your own book of fables.  Prayer was taken out of our schools; the Ten Commandments were taken off the wall at the local courthouse. Instead of Merry Christmas it is now Happy Holidays. If you are allowed to display the Nativity Scene you must also display Santa Clause just to be politically correct.   Maybe you can't distribute religious tracts at work or the local mall because it will offend the resident unbeliever.  In you eyes, is that religious persecution?  In a small sense yes it is but it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. Perhaps it's the beginnings of something much larger looming on the horizon.  But for all intents and purposes that is not true persecution in its most vile form.

       Thank the Almighty daily that you were born in America and haven't had to endure the persecution that Christians around the world are experiencing as we speak.  The New Testament Church was burned at the stake, torn asunder, crucified, beheaded, used as human torches, exiled, chopped into tiny pieces, thrown to lions and wild dogs, stoned, imprisoned, tortured at the hands of some of the most vile and petrifying human beings ever born. Have we been persecuted in America? Not by a long shot. Will we ever be persecuted? Perhaps because I can see little things here and there that has reared their ugly heads.

       Are we, as Christians, ready for persecution in its purest form? Sad to say, I don't think we are.  You may say “Well that will never happen in this country because we are a Christian nation."   Are we a Christian nation?  Look around, what do you see? Take a good long unbiased look at what this country once was and what it has become.  Many Christians are weak, milksop, spineless believers that have had life handed to them on a silver platter.  Make no mistake my friends if true persecution does come to these shores, many, many of us won’t be prepared!

       God has blessed us yes but He has also warned us time and again that there will be trials and tribulations such as this world has never known. The Christians abroad know exactly how it feels but us pew sitting, nodding off, looking at our watches waiting for the game on Sunday Christians have not a clue.   Oh poor Mary had to cook all the soup for the monthly soup supper held in that brand spanking new "utility wing" built for only 250,000 dollars. Oh poor Mary was so fatigued and persecuted by all of that soup because it had to be just so!   Hey instead of training up missionaries let’s start a softball league so that we can bring in more people to the church.  Yes indeed, bribery is such a good idea to get people saved.  Hey I have a novel idea, let's actually preach God's Word with fervor, passion and being lead by the Holy Spirit. 

       Many Christians have become soft, complacent, uncaring, conceited, self-serving and lovers of self rather than God. Now I ask you, is the picture of a church ready for persecution?  I am blessed to have been born in America and yes, I have taken that for granted at times but it's time to listen up and get prepared because this won’t last forever.

       "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says this:  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing."  and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."   (Revelation 3: 14-17).

       Sound familiar? It should. Even after all of the blessings bestowed upon us in this country and the churches, we have still decided to turn our backs on God.  We are not, and I repeat, we are not ready for the persecution that's coming. We had better prepare now. God is calling us to wake up and smell the coffee. He promises to be with us until the end of time but let us hope that the choices we make now are the correct ones, and if they are Jesus will be there to help us battle through whatever befalls us.

       "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."  (Revelation 3: 21).

       Choose this day whom you will serve.

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