(Duccio di Buoninsegna was the first great Sienese painter)
"I noted a while back the move in the UK to make preaching the gospel or just reading the Bible itself in public a hate crime. Here's an article that should likewise make you realize that in a very short time we will all be faced with the choice of suffering persecution and loss of worldly goods at the hands of those who irrationally hate God and refuse to defend their views in argument, and being silent. Note how the secularists hate the idea of truth. Well, except for "their" truth, which is unquestionable. The only truth they will allow is that "there is no truth in religion, only in science." They have no idea they are just as much a caricature as the most wild-eyed Inquisitor in Spain in the 15th century.
I pray God will cause me to love His truth, His church, His people, His gospel, more and more, so that my attachments to this world will grow ever weaker and weaker. The only Christians who will remain strong in the coming years will be those who realize the strong antithesis of these simple words: "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). The only "leverage" the world has against us is that which we willingly give: our ungodly attachments to this world system. The more we are crucified to the world, the more we live in light of our death in Christ and our life in Him, the less power they will have. This is the secret of the persecuted church, and it is a lesson our brothers and sisters in other lands know well. It is one we must learn, and quickly." -James White; http://aomin.org
I hope our brother is wrong,(about the persecution part), however, I took this to heart the other day when I read it, and haven't been able to shake it loose from my thoughts, so I thought I'd throw it out here for others to consider.
All who come here, have a blessed weekend in His peace, love, and joy.
2 comments:
Don,
I do not believe he is wrong at all. I cannot believe the changes I have seen in my lifetime on many issues. I believe the largely successful attempt to intimidate people into conforming to a liberal PC post-modern secular world-view has been masterfully implemented by the political left. This required a population that could be manipulated, duped and ultimately brainwashed into believing all the "correct views" they formulated. Some know it is wrong, but just go along to protect their careers, social standing, etc.
Christianity runs counter to these standards and will become more and more of a target for these people. More people that claim to be Christian are compromising their doctrine to fit in with the standards of the world. They want to be liberal and Christians so they cut some slack for abortion. They want to be PC on the homosexuality issue so they question Paul’s motives and truth. They want to support the “correct” politicians so they certainly do not want to be judgmental unless of course it is the “wrong” politicians who after all should judged differently.
Get ready. It is going to get worse.
Thanks Wayne, for the discouragement. Just kidding.
Those were well spoken words. And persecution, as much as I will hate it, will be a good thing for the Church. God is loving and faithful, and yet He will chastize His people, and judge the world in certain seasons. We can see that throughout history.
Perhaps it's America's season for affliction, and judgement.
God fuels the furnace of affliction, and the precious metal is rid of its dross. And then it shines pure and honors the One who purged the impurities away.
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