warrior12 Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 53 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,410 Content Per Day: 0.88 Reputation: 1,507 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted October 12, 2016 2 Timothy 3:10King James Version (KJV) 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The above states that all who strive to live a godly life would suffer persecution. So my question is, what is persecution and when will this happen. Is it to happen in a christian normal life span or in the tribulation period or other. But then, if you are raptured out, then you cannot be persecuted. Some thoughts please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyAngeL Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 23 Topic Count: 155 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 7,464 Content Per Day: 1.02 Reputation: 8,810 Days Won: 57 Joined: 03/30/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/12/1952 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Good Scripture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 265 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,172 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,478 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Hi warrior12, Pleased to meet you. Now this is an interesting & quite relevant topic I believe. So...persecution, (to harass with unjust punishment) We know that there are believers around the world right now who are being physically persecuted to the point of death. Then there is the emotional abuse, persecution that many believers have from family members to the point of not accepting them any more. There is persecution at work places - ostracising a believer, passing over them for a higher position, - at schools - cruel names, & mocking, etc, etc. Evil spirits know who are believers & will incite others to persecute them in many & varied ways. I see that people often think that they have to go through the Tribulation so as to do the `hard yards,` as it were. But scripture says - `though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me little. `(1 Cor. 13: 3) That `agape,` type love is Christ`s love & only comes through `dying to self` as the Apostle Paul says, which is a daily activity through the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 15: 31) regards, Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,990 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,688 Content Per Day: 11.84 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted October 12, 2016 Question: "How should a Christian respond to persecution?" Answer: There is no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living the Christian life. Christian persecution is to be expected: the apostle Paul warned that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus said that, if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute His followers (John 15:20). Jesus made it clear that those of the world will hate Christians because the world hates Christ. If Christians were like the world—vain, earthly, sensual, and given to pleasure, wealth, and ambition—the world would not oppose us. But Christians do not belong to the world, which is why the world engages in Christian persecution (see John 15:18–19). Christians are influenced by different principles from those of the world. We are motivated by the love of God and holiness, while the world is driven by the love of sin. It is our very separation from the world that arouses the world’s animosity (1 Peter 4:3–4). Christians must learn to recognize the value of persecution and even to rejoice in it, not in an ostentatious way but quietly and humbly because persecution has great spiritual value. First, the persecution of Christians allows them to share in a unique fellowship with the Lord. Paul outlined a number of things he had surrendered for the cause of Christ. Such losses, however, he viewed as “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8) or “dung” (KJV) that he might share in the “fellowship of [Christ’s] sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). The noble apostle even counted his chains as a grace (favor) that God had bestowed upon him (Philippians 1:7). Second, in all truth, Christian persecution is good for believers. James argues that trials test the Christian’s faith, develop endurance in his life, and help develop maturity (James 1:2–4). As steel is tempered in the forge, trials and persecution serve to strengthen the character of believers. A Christian yielding graciously to persecution demonstrates that he is of superior quality as compared to his adversaries (see Hebrews 11:38). It’s easy to be hateful, but Christlikeness produces kindness and blessing in the face of evil opposition. Peter says of Jesus, “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Third, Christian persecution enables believers to better value the support of true friends. Conflict can bring faithful children of God together in an encouraging and supportive way they might not have known otherwise. Hardship can stimulate the Lord’s people toward a greater resolve to love and comfort one another and lift one another to the throne of grace in prayer. There’s nothing like an unpleasant incident to help us reach a greater level of brotherly love. Even in the face of Christian persecution, we can press on. We can thank God for His grace and patience with us. We can express gratitude for those whom we love in the Lord and who stand with us in times of distress. And we can pray for those who would accuse, misuse, or abuse us (2 Corinthians 11:24; Romans 10:1). https://gotquestions.org/Christian-persecution.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezra Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 134 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 8,142 Content Per Day: 2.36 Reputation: 6,612 Days Won: 20 Joined: 11/02/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted October 12, 2016 4 hours ago, warrior12 said: So my question is, what is persecution and when will this happen. Hi warrior12 and welcome. Persecution is attacks against Christians for their beliefs and their testimony, as well as for the preaching of the Gospel and Bible truth, and can take various forms, up to and including loss of life or limb. Christians have been suffering persecution ever since Christ was on earth, and in every part of the world (particularly where idolatry and occultism prevail). It can come from governments, non-Christians, even Christians, and certainly from Satan and all his evil hosts. It will begin the minute you become a genuine Christian, and will continue for the rest of your life. Sounds depressing, but it is better to know the reality than not know it. At the same time God watches over every child of God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 265 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,172 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,478 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted October 12, 2016 17 minutes ago, Ezra said: Hi warrior12 and welcome. Persecution is attacks against Christians for their beliefs and their testimony, as well as for the preaching of the Gospel and Bible truth, and can take various forms, up to and including loss of life or limb. Christians have been suffering persecution ever since Christ was on earth, and in every part of the world (particularly where idolatry and occultism prevail). It can come from governments, non-Christians, even Christians, and certainly from Satan and all his evil hosts. It will begin the minute you become a genuine Christian, and will continue for the rest of your life. Sounds depressing, but it is better to know the reality than not know it. At the same time God watches over every child of God. Good answer there Ezra. Marilyn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 76 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 566 Content Per Day: 0.10 Reputation: 349 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/15/2008 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/08/1985 Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) I don't even think we have a full grasp of true persecution in the US. Our lives are not endanger for worshipping or sharing the gospel. Not true in many countries around the world. We tend to get the "persecution" complex, where any tiny thing is turned into some wile of Satan meant to be an attack. So you got asked to move your Bible study group inside away from where it was blocking a fire exit? You got asked to not wear a necklace of any sort, but because it was against dress code, yet it was a cross so you scream persecution. Why? These are just a few examples I have seen over the years in the news. Our church group does a lot of work in Haiti and countries abroad. I have missionary friends in China, and they are in fear of arrest every time they meet for church. That is persecution in the truest sense. When they have to meet in secret, and teach others about Christ in secret- and even have Bibles with a fake front such as a cookbook cover, that's persecution. We tend to think in the US that if somebody says any little thing about our Faith, we run and hide and cry persecution. If a student is asked to not read his or her Bible during instructional time, they scream persecution. It's all a bit much, when our brothers and sisters in Christ are literally fighting for their life every time they meet with other believers. At least as of yet, that is not a legitimate concern in the US. We're blessed Edited October 12, 2016 by Hawkeye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Churchmouse Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 91 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 2,216 Content Per Day: 0.80 Reputation: 1,014 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/29/2016 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/02/1958 Share Posted October 12, 2016 4 minutes ago, Hawkeye said: I don't even think we have a full grasp of true persecution in the US. Our lives are not endanger for worshipping or sharing the gospel. Not true in many countries around the world. We tend to get the "persecution" complex, where any tiny thing is turned into some wile of Satan meant to be an attack. So you got asked to move your Bible study group inside away from where it was blocking a fire exit? You got asked to not wear a necklace of any sort, but because it was against dress code, yet it was a cross so you scream persecution. Our church group does a lot of work in Haiti and countries abroad. I have missionary friends in China, and they are in fear of arrest every time they meet for church. That is persecution in the truest sense. Took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you and God Bless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Daze Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Royal Member Followers: 9 Topic Count: 84 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 4,011 Content Per Day: 1.13 Reputation: 2,519 Days Won: 4 Joined: 07/17/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) 7 hours ago, Ezra said: Hi warrior12 and welcome. Persecution is attacks against Christians for their beliefs and their testimony, as well as for the preaching of the Gospel and Bible truth, and can take various forms, up to and including loss of life or limb. Christians have been suffering persecution ever since Christ was on earth, and in every part of the world (particularly where idolatry and occultism prevail). It can come from governments, non-Christians, even Christians, and certainly from Satan and all his evil hosts. It will begin the minute you become a genuine Christian, and will continue for the rest of your life. Sounds depressing, but it is better to know the reality than not know it. At the same time God watches over every child of God. Good response and I might add that persecution of believers comes from those who love the world. I see it as encompassing anything that is meant to cause someone suffering simply because they're believers. It can come from many different sources and take various forms as you say. At the heart of it all is the contempt by those who love the world toward those who have separated themselves from it. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:19 Edited October 12, 2016 by Last Daze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior12 Posted October 12, 2016 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 53 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,410 Content Per Day: 0.88 Reputation: 1,507 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) Please to meet you folks too. Thanks everyone for the replies and must say very encouraging words. This begs the additional question. Is persecution analogous to SUFFERING or is suffering the result of persecution. For the christian to suffer for the gospel, would he necessarily have to be persecuted or would he himself deny himself of worldly things and affairs ect. Thanks again for your mature insights and leadership skills i see in reading the forum topics. Edited October 12, 2016 by warrior12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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