Persecution

[herald2]

Around the world Christians are being persecuted for their faith. My grandparents went to China as missionaries. The Communists went to every house in their village and killed all foreigners, except their house. My grandfather was arrested by Mao Tse Tung, put on trial, with a gun held to his head. He was ordered to renounce his faith. Instead, he preached the gospel to thousands of Communist Chinese. They threw him into a dungeon. Meanwhile, my grandmother fled with the three children into the wilderness. My father, a very cerebral Pathologist said, that bandits would ride up, slit your clothes and kill you. Out of nowhere, there was a sound of a bugle and scared them off.

My grandfather prayed to the Lord, to either take him home, or, set him free. That day, "someone" came and opened the door. He thought he was going to be executed. Instead, he led him to the Hong Kong Harbor. He found his family and went to Singapore.

We are living in the last days, persecution is going to arise. When the church was being persecuted by Saul, the Lord said, "Saul, Saul why persecutest thou Me? And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said I AM Jesus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks...Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Acts 9:4-6.

Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake." Matt 5:11.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matt 5:44.

There are Christians all over the world that are being persecuted for their faith. Radical Islam and radical Hindus are persecuting Christians in their own countries. But we hear them say, "Persecution only makes us stronger." Can we say that? Muslims in Iran are having dreams and visions of Jesus and are coming to Him. There are Christian meetings of over 2 million strong in Nigeria. In Israel, there are over 180 Messianic congregations - those that believe, that, Jesus is the Messiah. God is pouring out His Spirit in China so much, that, they do not have enough pastors. 10,000 Christians disappear in Northern Korea every year. God is pouring out His Spirit in Northern Europe and in Cuba, and in South America. We are approaching the end of all things.

Jesus said, "But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy he receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for awhile: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by they are offended." Matt 13:21.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."2 Cor 12:10.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:35-39.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim 3:12.

"And I saw under the altar, the souls of them that were martyred for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge, and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Rev 6:9,10.

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?

Edited September 8, 2009 by herald2

[~Shalhevet~]

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?

I am ready. I have already been persecuted. I take the persecution, knowing that God will reward me in the end.

[EricH]

I hope I am. I just don't want to make Peter's mistake if thinking I can do it in my own power

[huskmc]

yeah, it seems days are getting darker for believers.

Edited September 3, 2009 by huskmc

[huskmc]

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?

I am ready. I have already been persecuted. I take the persecution, knowing that God will reward me in the end.

your life has been threatened because you follow Christ??

I have been attacked online because I stated I have faith in Christ. I have been in born again chats with folks coming into criticize christians and jeer them because of their beliefs, and proclaim that christianity was the reason mankind was so messed up. and I have even seen people criticize the jews, who from what I have read try to negotiate with the palastinians, and glorify the refusal the palastinians have made and the killing of Jews.

Edited September 3, 2009 by huskmc

[huskmc]

Are we ready to be persecuted for our Lord Jesus Christ?

I am ready. I have already been persecuted. I take the persecution, knowing that God will reward me in the end.

your life has been threatened because you follow Christ??

I have been attacked online because I stated I have faith in Christ. I have been in born again chats with folks coming into criticize christians and jeer them because of their beliefs, and proclaim that christianity was the reason mankind was so messed up. and I have even seen people criticize the jews, who from what I have read try to negotiate with the palastinians, and glorify the refusal the palastinians have made and the killing of Jews.

all that may be true, but can we really call that persecution. afterall, the OP talks about people's lives being in danger. the only threat to us is our pride, because that is what's actually threatened when you are ridiculed for your beliefs.

Yeah, I suppose a man is entitled to his beliefs. I just lose sight of that after being put down or my God being put down. A man shouldn't enforce his beliefs on another cause I'm not perfect and it is a free country to express ones opinion. Sometimes it does, but I shouldn't let it bother me. but I guess it is right in saying, be angry but sin not. I shouldn't go out here beating some innocent person up just because I'm angry. I shouldn't beat somebody up just because they don't believe what I believe.

[~Shalhevet~]

your life has been threatened because you follow Christ??

Not threatened, just ridiculed, laughed at, mocked, etc. Maybe that's not persecution? Is persecution an actual threat?

[huskmc]

your life has been threatened because you follow Christ??

Not threatened, just ridiculed, laughed at, mocked, etc. Maybe that's not persecution? Is persecution an actual threat?

To be ridiculed laughed at mocked poked fun of, that is kind of a bit too far in politely speaking one's mind.

[~Shalhevet~]

To be ridiculed laughed at mocked poked fun of, that is kind of a bit too far in politely speaking one's mind.

Is that persecution though?

[nikki1]

Blessings,

The persecuted Chinese underground house church, the real church in China, like the early New Testament Church, has had a phenomenal growth and each day, thousands more people come to Christ in China. Nothing can stop these Chinese Christians even unto death itself. What a glorious testimony to our risen Lord. When the communist regime ordered all western missionaries out of China and kicked Christianity out 50 years ago, the church of Christ in 50 years has grown to`110,000,000 Christians in China, an increase of 100 fold. And it just keeps growing. We can learn alot from these Chinese Christians. May God continue to bless them abundantly 100 fold.

Persecution is coming to the church of Christ in America. Like in China, the door to our freedoms that we once enjoyed, is being closed as Americans have depended upon the American Constitution to save them. But with each passing day, we lose more and more of those cherished freedoms, and we now have a president and a congress that serves only themselves, like in China.

Is this what it is going to take to wake up the sleeping church in America? I believe God will allow whatever it takes to bring those He loves to their knees, and He is gathering a people all to his own. The early New Testament Church was persecuted for their faith, and as the OP stated, Christians are now being persecuted around the world for their faith in Christ. To think the western and American church will not suffer the same fate is an arrogant, self righteous attitude to have because if you and me are doing the work of the Lord publically, we will suffer persecution right here in America. People in America have already been arrested for preaching the Gospel on the street. If America didn't have a freedom of speech law written in its Constitution, and lawyers to fight for us, we would be in the same boat as communist countries. We would go to jail, be beaten, refused medical care, starved and forgotten about. But that day is soon coming. As it is now, you can't even speak to a co-worker about Christ on the job without being reprimanded. Are you willing to lose your job for Christ? And trust Him to help you and take care of you until you have another job? These are things I think we all need to examine ourselves on.

Jesus said to count the cost:

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:25-35

Nikki