Freedom in Christ

[artsylady]

Preach

Prison

Perish

but not

Pretend

They are absolutely risking their lives. I don't know if they'd make it any further than the security check.

What good would they do anyone to enter the country to then be killed? Should countries like these be completely forgotten about? I don't plan on going myself, mind you, but I admire those who do and believe God is with them and they will be blessed, even for trying to blend in and be unnoticed in order to meet people and talk to them about the living God.

[Vickilynn]

Shalom,

Our "freedom" IN Messiah?

Our "freedom" is to serve Him, however HE calls us to. And in that, we may die.

OR, we trust Him to protect and lead us where He has called us.

Either way, our "freedom" in Messiah means that we are HIS bondslave.

We are freed from sin, but we belong to Jesus and exist to do HIS will, not ours. THAT'S freedom.

[Emily~Anne]

Preach

Prison

Perish

but not

Pretend

They are absolutely risking their lives. I don't know if they'd make it any further than the security check.

What good would they do anyone to enter the country to then be killed? Should countries like these be completely forgotten about? I don't plan on going myself, mind you, but I admire those who do and believe God is with them and they will be blessed, even for trying to blend in and be unnoticed in order to meet people and talk to them about the living God.

Acts 7:54-60

54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 9

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5And 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.

6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

If we die for the sake of the gospel, God is still able to use us to his glory. We are to have faith. God sees the whole picture that we do not. We are not to ever deny or be ashamed of Christ.

[Vickilynn]

Freedom in Christ to me is the ability to stop sinning. As an unbeliever, I already had the ability to do things that were wrong or questionable. I could smoke, drink, dress like I want, curse, tell dirty jokes, gossip, follow a horoscope, keep my hair long, get a tattoo, etc. I could do what I pleased. It took the power of Christ to truly set me free to be able to live a life pleasing to God, so that to me is freedom in Christ. It is not freedom to do things, but it is freedom to live for God.

What I find is that many people want to put all the emphasis on how they can do "things," and call that freedom in Christ. Since when would a person need freedom in Christ to get a tattoo for instance? I see sinners do that all the time. Why would a person need freedom in Christ to dye their hair purple? Sinners can do that. I just think there is a false idea about what freedom in Christ really is. When it comes to individual things, they can be debated separately on their merit, based on what the Bible says.

Shalom Butero,

I agree. And what I find really sad is when I see people who place their FREEDOM up on an altar and make an idol of it. And some people worship their "freedom" to do whatever they want above others in the Body who may stumble at seeing a Christian drink, smoke, curse, women wear pants, listen to Christian rock music, having a Christmas tree etc.

It is not a real freedom unless we are willing to lay it down rather than make our brother stumble. Otherwise, "freedom" can be an idol.

[Emily~Anne]

Surrendering our ALL to Jesus is freedom!

[jackie d]

But what if Christians are always killed? A woman without a hijab would be immediately arrested and killed in this country. Are there not times when Christians need to go undercover? Not many times, mind you, but in situations like this?

Richard Wurmbrand was a Christian who lived in Romania during the early days of the communistic rule there. It was required of the Christians to either go under cover or face sure imprisonment and possible death. Many times they would pretend to be doing one thing when in fact they were delivering tracts to people to bring people to the Lord, there was an endless list of activities they performed under the radar of the communistic party in order to preach the Gospel to the people. Those who did not go underground were either put into prisons and tortured to death or they were forced to sign over their allegiance to the communistic party who would dictate to them what could and could not be said during worship services.

For over 14 yrs Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned and tortured by the communists for his unbending faith in Christ, and was finally ransomed for 10,000.00 (the highest ransom paid for any prisoner as Wurmbrand was a great threat to them) and forced to leave the country by the communistic party. He came to the US and died here in the 1990's. While he was here he wrote several books on the things that he went through and many others during those terrible days of persecutions and executions for Christ. One of his most profound statements to me was that there were many communists who came to Christ, because of all of the these people who were undercover and pretending to the outside to be something they were not....Richard Wurmbrand is the founder of "Voice of the Martyr's"

There is a war going on...when there is war there are things that are done to infiltrate the enemies camps....it was done in the OT and it was God who dictated what and how they would trick the enemy. Nothing has changed, war is war and I believe God gives people the ideas needed to get His word to people and gives them the plans to make it work.

So my answer to you artsylady, is yes I believe it IS okay for Christians to go undercover...it they are serving the Lord and doing it to carry His message, then by all means go undercover if needed.

(there is a book that he wrote called "tortured for Christ" and can be ordered online through "voice of the martyrs" and other Christian book stores, it is a wonderful read and it has caused me to look at things much differently than I used to, I recommend the book to everyone)

[Vickilynn]

Surrendering our ALL to Jesus is freedom!

Shalom Emily Anne,

Yup. And being willing to go where He calls and walk through what He has ordained, even if it is to die for our faith, rather than sin.

[Smalcald]

Yes it is interesting.

I think butaro has it right on the scriptural meaning of Freedom in Christ.

But there is a joy that comes from self denial and a joy in having the power and freedom to not sin or live for only our flesh. It seems we have lost a little when we don't talk about that. What God wants for us is not burdensome, but in fact healthy for us in every way.

[Treasure]

Tortured for Christ is also available on e-sword.

[jackie d]

Tortured for Christ is also available on e-sword.