Willing to Suffer Shame

How many people are truly willing to suffer shame for sharing and teaching about Christ? Not many in the American church I’m afraid. Even more, how many people would rejoice for being arrested and imprisoned for teaching about Christ? Even fewer I suspect. Not only are pastors preaching prosperity, happiness, and comfort, but millions of American Christians are biblically illiterate. First, there is a disparity between luxurious and comfortable suburban churches and an environment that trains a person to suffer for Christ. If all a Christian knows is self-centered, self-help preaching and superficial fellowship centered about social activities void of the word of God, then they will be extremely unprepared when persecution comes calling. Unfortunately too many Christians are pursuing career, hobbies, sports, and self at the neglect of knowing and suffering for Christ.

Consider a military Soldier for a moment. What would happen if the soldier arrived at basic training, was ushered into a comfortable seat and then given a 45 minute pep talk? What would happen if they reviewed the field manuals on how to fight a war, had another motivating speaker, graduated, and were then sent off to war without ever having been tested and tried? Is this how we train our war fighters who will engage in physical war? No, not even close. Military training is challenging, tough, hard, and involves a certain level of suffering. Its designed to prepare the soldier to defeat the enemy during military combat. Is spiritual training any different? No, a soldier of the cross is willing and yielded to encounter whatever the Lord brings into their life as they are prepared, refined, and tested for spiritual warfare. This is how they learn to put on the Armor of God.

The point is that comfort and ease are counterproductive to having the mindset that is willing to suffer for Christ. It was following Pentecost that the disciples began to experience the effects of their bold faith and preaching, and in Acts 5:12-42, the disciples were arrested and put on trial. Following their release and the command to not speak in the name of Jesus ever again, the disciples departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ” (Acts 5:41).

The disciples didn’t complain, they didn’t grumble, they didn’t plead to their governmental officials for help, they rejoiced! They viewed their suffering for Christ as a blessing. These men were commissioned and were on a mission. When a person has surrendered themselves to Christ they expect and then prepare themselves to suffer shame for His name. 

On Alert

In the military, personnel are often put “on alert” in preparation for pending deployments or when a threat is imminent or possible. Most Americans have heard of the DEFCON system to alert military forces of potential threats and most might remember the threat level being at DEFCON 3 immediately following September 11, 2001, which simply meant that military personnel were to be “on alert” above their normal level.

Being “on alert” means to be watchful, to be ready, to stay awake, and to be vigilant. Christians are to be vigilant about their faith, to include the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. When speaking to His disciples Jesus commanded them “…to be on alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). As Christians we are to observe the events that will unfold in this world as signs of His second coming, not to be afraid, but to be watchful and expectant that the end is near. Being on alert is the posture in which a soldier of the cross is to be in. Jesus said that we can expect false messiahs, false religions, wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, and a whole lot more. These things should not surprise a soldier of the cross who is “on alert.” Being in a state of preparation means understanding the orders of our General, Jesus Christ, while becoming more and more like Him each day. There is no better preparation than that. He increases and we decrease. He is exalted and we are humbled. He has already led by example and now commands His disciples to follow. He has suffered and now we are to share in His sufferings (1 Peter 4:13).

Perhaps most concerning of all is what will happen to those who are asleep and not alert to the events leading up to Christ’s second coming. For the unsaved who have rejected Jesus’ final payment for their sins or for the “evil servant” who has gone bad, they have been warned with the words of Matthew 24:50, 51. Jesus said “the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces…” Translation, they will spend eternity in hell apart from the presence of the One in which they rejected and failed to be “on alert” for.

The solution is to live everyday expectant of our Lord’s return and “on alert” as the general signs of His coming continue to unfold right before our eyes.

His Mission Is Not Part Time

When a military General issues an order, a soldier moves with purpose to accomplish and execute the order. A General operates in a realm of  significant influence and authority because of the rank they have attained. However, the rank, position, and power of a General is temporal, perishable, and carries no eternal impact. But what about the commands and orders of Jesus? The Lord of Hosts issues orders that require swift and immediate action or in some situations a willingness to “go” as we wait upon the Lord to reveal the plan of execution.

Following His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to “wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4) in Jerusalem, because it would be in Jerusalem where they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit for the first time. Jesus had already given them orders to carry out the Great Commission and now He spoke these words, “you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end to the earth” (Acts 1:8). These were not idle words, for they would become the marching orders and basis for biblical missions. This one verse is sufficient enough for every believer to “be a witness.” In fact, John Calvin said that “there is no believer whom the Son of God does not require to be His witness.” I would have to agree.

The word witness is vital in this command. It’s where we get the word martyr. A martyr is a believer who chooses to suffer death rather than forsake their allegiance to Jesus Christ. A martyr is a believer who bears testimony to the truth of what he or she has seen or knows as a witness would during a legal trial. A martyr is willing to sacrifice to advance the kingdom of God. Finally, a martyr is willing to endure severe suffering for their Lord and King Jesus Christ.

So, can a Christian separate their faith from their public life or at their workplace? Not without complete unfaithfulness to Acts 1:8 and to their General, Jesus Christ. A believer is a “witness” no matter where he or she walks, no matter where he or she lives, no matter where he or she works, and no matter what laws forbid evangelism or proselytism.

Jesus is the General giving the orders and it’s our responsibility as His soldiers to move out and execute His orders.  

Islam: Spawned in Hell

Anyone who believes that all religions are the same or compatible are dangerously deceived. Concepts such as interfaith, pluralism, and religious diversity have been embraced with dangerous spiritual consequences. Our nation has been battling Islam since 1801 when the First Barbary War was fought. In fact we have a monument in Annapolis, Maryland in honor of those who died during that war. However, the battle against Islam will never be won with snipers, bombs, and military might, but only by the blood of Christ. America and the world want to label ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and other Muslim groups as radical or extremists, but are they truly radical? Like any subject or issue, one must consult and properly interpret the source of which a group derives their beliefs.

For the Muslim, there are three sources, the Sunnah, the Hadith, and most importantly the Qur’an. The Sunnah is the authority for Sharia Law and for all legal rulings among Islamic states, the Hadith narrates the life of Muhammad and describes to the Muslim how they are to live every part of their life, and of course the Qur’an is their so-called revelation from Allah.

It is essential to understand that a Muslim can’t even understand the Qur’an without understanding the Sunnah and the Hadith. It’s also essential to understand that Islam teaches that the Qur’an is an exact word-for-word copy of Allah’s final revelation. But for the purpose of this short article I will only examine what the Qur’an says about jihad and killing infidels (non-believers in Islam).

A faithful Muslim is actually what the media labels a “radical or extremist.” A “radical” Muslim is only seeking to obey the teachings set forth from their sacred books and their prophet Muhammad. A Muslim who engages in jihad (warfare or struggle against those who refuse to convert to the Islam) is obeying the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith. Here is the proof in the Qur’an:

Sura 3:85 –“If anyone desires a religion other that Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him”

Sura 4:89 – “…until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden) and turn as renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them.”

Sura 4:101 – “For unbelievers are unto you an open enemy”

Sura 4:102 – “For the unbelievers Allah hath prepared a humiliating punishment”

Sura 4:13-18 – “…when you meet the unbelievers in hostile array…it is not you who slew them’ it was Allah.”

Sura 9:29 – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor in the last day”

Sura 9:30 – “…the Christians call Christ the Son of God…Allah’s curse be on them.”

…and what about those who die in jihad fighting for the advancement and cause of Islam?

Sura 4:74 – Let those fight in the cause of Allah, who sell the life of this world for the hereafter….in the cause of Allah, whether he is slain or get victory soon shall we give him a reward of great value.

While the grammar of the Quran is poor, the suras are clear; jihad is encouraged and commanded by Allah. In summary, any Muslim not striving for jihad is not obeying the Qur’an. It’s like a liberal Christian who refuses to obey the Bible or view it as inerrant and authoritative. Faithful Muslims believe in the words of the Qur’an and although they certainly do not obey it all, they take very serious the suras which command them to fight for Allah and kill the infidels (Christians and Jews). 

Soldiers of the Cross

The apostle John wrote that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). The implications of this verse are not to be taken lightly by the follower of Christ, even though we belong to God and should live with complete confidence. Why? Because there are still spiritual battles to be fought for souls. While light exist inside of believers, darkness exist inside of non-believers. The ancient battle of light versus dark still wages on. As a believer there must always be awareness and acknowledgement of the spiritual warfare within. With the victory secured by Christ, Satan has no power over us, unless we allow him. “If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Since our flesh is crucified, Satan has no power in our lives. But when we drift into carnality we become like the world and give ourselves over to the world’s way of thinking, thus relinquishing control to Satan.

When we understand that the whole world is under the influence of Satan it opens our eyes to why bad things happen. When you combine the wickedness of the human heart with the darkness of Satan’s schemes, we have genuine understanding of why Boko Haram has and continues to slaughter thousands of people, why ISIS is beheading Christians in Iraq and Syria, and why evil seems to be increasing at such a rapid pace. So can a follower of Christ just stroll around casually in this world? Not if he or she wants to effective for their King and the kingdom of God. We are called and expected to be soldiers of the cross. Time is short and there are battles to be fought on our knees and for souls. There is work to be done and as soldiers we must be trained and combat ready.

Satan can’t stand against a combat ready soldier of Christ. However, he will still come to tempt, corrupt, lie, destroy, accuse, and deceive. On this earth, enemy forces come to conquer, kill, enslave, and lay waste to everything in their path and it is essential that we understand that God is permitting and allowing Satan (our enemy) to do only so much until he is thrown into the abyss.

A soldier stands ready and watchful for enemy activity and then responds according the training they have received. Unfortunately very few Christians are prepared and equipped to “stand against the tactics of the Devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Satan caused the fall of the human race, but was defeated on the cross. Nevertheless he is loose on earth and is causing havoc through his world system. 

Encountering Jesus

Have you encountered Jesus? If you have truly encountered Jesus and truly believed you will have an inward desire to tell someone if not everyone you encounter. How can you not, He changes everything about the lives of those who believe. An encounter with Jesus is life changing and leaves a person overwhelmed with emotion because of genuine truth and love. The Bible is full of stories of people who encountered Jesus and were never the same. There is one particular story of a demon-possessed man who lived in the country of the Gadarenes. This man walked around naked and lived in different caves. This man’s demon possession was so extreme and powerful that attempts were made to keep him under guard, bound with shackles and chains, but he would break them and flee to the wilderness unable to be contained due to the power of the demons inside of him. But all this would change when he encountered Jesus.

The day most likely started as any other for this man, until he encountered Jesus. His life was about to change. The demon inside of him immediately recognized Jesus and then cried out and fell down. Examine this response closely. The demons, not the man, recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. The demons feared Jesus because they recognized Him from His eternal existence. They recognized Him as God in the flesh and they trembled. 

So what was the end result of this man’s encounter with Jesus? The demons departed, he returned to his right mind, and was sitting at the feet of Jesus. But it was this man’s belief that led to his faithfulness and eagerness to share Christ and discover his new purpose in life.

Jesus’ last words to this man were “…tell what great things God has done for you,” and what was his response? He obeyed Jesus and “…went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39).

Why not resolve this new year to proclaim the great things Jesus has done for you?

Life: Like a Shadow

Each year time seems to move faster and faster. For the disciple of Christ this is a blessing to embrace as we move closer to our eternal home in Heaven. The scriptures speak to the brevity of life because life on earth is short and God does not want us to be uninformed about this critical issue. King David wrote that “man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4). David wrote this while he was referring to God’s protection and preserving power over his life. The Message translation uses the words “all we are is a puff of air.” David, as we must, acknowledged how insignificant he was compared to God. It really is amazing that God cares for us and loves us so much that He would come and die for us, but He does and He did. Nevertheless, life is brief and to God our Creator, our lives are transient and seem like a breathe or a puff of air to Him.  

Earlier in the Psalms David wrote “…certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow…” (Psalms 39:5, 6). Stop and think how short a vapor lasts or how fast a shadow can pass by. Life is truly brief when you pause to reflect on its fleeting nature. How are you using the brief time you have been given? James wrote that “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Despite being a vapor, a breath, a flower, grass, or a shadow, God still loves us and has promised that we will reign with His Son Jesus forever (2 Timothy 2:12).

You could choose to pursue greatness on this earth or your could choose to abandon all for His glory as you live “as a shadow.” Christ doesn’t leave this up to debate, He said “for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it” (Matthews 16:25). Those who seek to gain the whole world, will lose their brief life forever.

Never become complacent in your life or with the time you have been given. It could end when you least expect it. We have no reason to believe we are going to live eighty or ninety years, nor should we ever desire to live one moment longer than our Creator has determined us to live. What we must do is seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and pursue Christ with the breath we have left in our lives.