Remember Them

"Does God judge the apparent foolishness of a particular Christian witness and the absence of immediate, tangible fruit?  Or does He look at our intent, our heart, our desire to follow Jesus' mandate in the great commission?"

The words of Tom White, Director of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), in the July newsletter brought conviction upon me as I read about the heroes I so often forget.   I say "heroes" because that's exactly what our brothers and sisters are who face persecution in ways that most of us in the west are unable to understand or comprehend.  It's not enough to just read about them once a month.  They must be remembered and the images of their faces and their stories burned upon our hearts with a scorching iron as a constant reminder that "there, but for the grace of God, go I."

Many churches in the United States refuse to stand with organizations like VOM who choose to enter the spiritual battle against the dark forces that hold believers in chains.   They look upon them as violators of the laws of the states in which these people reside, preferring instead to remain neutral in order to keep what they consider a peaceful relationship with the heads of these oppressive nations.   They choose to forget the words of our LORD Jesus Christ when He sent His disciples out to carry His message of salvation to a world lost in sin and the warnings He gave them that persecution would most certainly come upon them.

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,  and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles..."  (Matthew 10:16-18)

Often, the restrictive or hostile nations allow certain denominations to remain, mainly because of the compromise these churches maintain with them.  To me, it becomes obvious they have little regard for the command they've been given by Christ to make disciples of all nations.  Instead, they align themselves with those who oppress the very people whom they are sent to minister unto and forsake the Gospel.  Even more obvious is their refusal to heed the LORD'S admonition regarding what His purpose was in sending them out and what He expects from His followers:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.  Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."  (Matthew 10:34-39)

The people we read about in VOM's newsletters are living the LORD'S words and the sting of the "sword."  And they are "worthy," not only in the context of Christ's words, but also  "worthy" of our recognition.  Their understanding of this passage in Scripture is a brutal reality to them as they are forced from their homes and possessions, their jobs, their villages and towns, and the pain they feel as their families and friends turn their hatred of Jesus upon them.  Many are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the faith that sustains them.  Far too many suffer physically, often by the hands of their own family.  And a multitude have died horrible deaths because of their refusal to deny Him.

You may call them "foolish" if you believe they are.  You can disagree with their willingness to violate the man-made religious laws of their nations and condemn them for doing so.  You can sit back in complacency, apathy, and condemnation, preferring to be obedient to your own  selfish dictates.  Or you can stand with them in solidarity and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.  You can pray that their tireless work for the LORD will bear "immediate, tangible fruit" that will bring honor and glory to Him.

When the time comes for God's faithful to receive their reward, whose do you think will be greater?  You by your refusal to stand with and defend the persecuted church?  Or will it be those who are daily taking up their cross, in spite of what they may suffer, and are fulfilling the Great Commission as mandated by the LORD?  Those who fight against the persecuted church through compromise with the enemy do nothing more than bring increased persecution.  The cost to believers in these nations is great.  But what is even greater is the cost brought about by those who stand in opposition to the persecuted.  They have inflicted great damage upon the LORD and His kingdom through their ignorance and blatant refusal to make disciples by fearlessly following their example.

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."  (Mark 8:38) 

I pray the same conviction I felt from my failure to always remember will also become yours.  Not just when you're reminded on occasion, or once a month from VOM's newsletter, but always.  Our brothers and sisters in hostile and restricted nations are asking from us the same thing Paul asked the Ephesians:

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."  (Ephesians 6:19-20)

May the "heroes" who "fearlessly" stand for Jesus Christ remain faithful and obedient in the face of their oppressors.  And may they remember the words of encouragement from the LORD when they do:

"So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven."   (Matthew 10:26-33)

And may we, their brothers and sisters around the world, remember them in prayer and help bear the burden of their cross for our LORD Jesus' sake, and for His eternal kingdom.

 

Book Review: Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life On Truths That Last, by Joshua Harris

Whether you are an unbeliever seeking answers for the first time, or a seasoned Christian needing a refresher course, this book contains something for you.

By drawing on his and his family's own life experiences and shortcomings, Joshua Harris effectively causes us to consider what the foundation of our faith is built upon. Is that foundation on dangerous ground, or does it stand on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel of Grace?

Harris begins by gently defining the often troublesome catchwords that can sometimes confuse or trip up those who are trying to build a solid relationship with the Lord: orthodoxy, doctrine, theology, justification, sanctification, to name a few. His simple and direct approach leaves his readers with a clear and basic understanding that all of the above are vital in creating what is required for a good foundation on which to build your faith.

As I moved through the book, I found myself wanting to linger and contemplate Harris' words. I applied them to myself and realized my own failings or lack of consideration on certain points. Perhaps the most convicting was the final chapter, "Humble Orthodoxy", and how we relate to others. Harris convinces us that, in spite of our perceived level of maturity in Spiritual Truth, fervent study, and determination to be "right", "Every one of us will have a lot to apologize for."

The "non-essentials", those things that divide and cause dissension among believers and reside outside of God's grace (which is the only thing that really matters), will ultimately be answered in Heaven by the One with all the answers. Harris concludes that we will all find out how wrong we were about them and how little they mattered in relation to the bigger picture: Jesus Christ and His work to secure our salvation.

If you need a good book for your summer reading list, I recommend you add "Dug Down Deep". It's poignant, thought-provoking, Truth-filled, and often humorous. You may not agree completely with Harris (as I did with a particular point in Chapter 9), but one thing you will find yourself doing is picking up your shovel and digging down to the bedrock of your faith in Jesus Christ.

I can't think of a better way to spend your summer.


(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  Please visit their website and rank my review.  Thank you!)
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/9843/bmc:4

Small "g" or Big "G"

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain..."

Exodus 20:7

The above commandment is perhaps one of the most ignored in Scripture, even by professing Christians.

Forget the fact that unbelievers freely misuse the LORD'S name without forethought on a regular basis.  Their abuse of it demonstrates their ignorance of the One Whom they are blaspheming.   You can almost forgive them for it because of their lack of understanding.  However, those who claim to know God don't have an excuse for their gross negligence of His command and the disrespect they demonstrate by blaspheming His Holy Name.

I recently listened to a portion of a sermon that had been posted online.  I say "portion" because after less than two minutes into the recording, the pastor expressed his frustration with some "technical difficulties" regarding the sound equipment by using God's Name "in vain."  What was disturbing was how quickly and easily the words left his mouth and the little chuckle that followed.  To be honest, why would I want to continue to listen to the sermon he had recorded before his congregation if he had no more respect and reverence for the One he was going to preach about?  Needless to say, I didn't listen to the sermon.

When I hear others exclaim, "Oh, my God!", or misuse His name in other various ways, regardless of the reason, it literally causes a physical reaction within me; a discomfort and uneasiness, as though I had been physically struck, and it makes my heart ache.  My usual response is to say to them, "Yes, He is."  It's my hope that, somehow, this truth will sink in and cause them to rethink their words and their position in relation to Him.

He is God Almighty Who has absolute and eternal power, majesty, and sovereignty over ALL of creation, including us.  Isn't He more deserving of our awe, our respect, our reverence?  Isn't He the One Who, with Divine and eternal love has given us all things, including Himself as Father, Savior, and Friend, Who provides for and sustains us even in the worst of times?

When we fail to remember this vital and necessary truth about our God, we relegate Him to nothing more than a god with a small "g" - a god who deserves no more acknowledgment than we are willing to give Him; a god of our own creation, one that fits the mold we've chosen for Him and don't mind using His Name as a swear word.  We are telling Him that we are sovereign over Him and His holiness, and that our thoughts about Him don't matter.  He is a little god in our eyes and we refuse to magnify Him above ourselves.

God deserves a big "G" in the front of His Name.  Not only in the way we think of His Person, but also in how we speak of Him, especially if we claim Him as the One and Only God Who has brought us from death to life.  He is the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  The Everlasting and Eternal God Who deserves ALL our praise and worship and certainly doesn't deserve having His Name used as a profanity, especially by those who should know better.

Give His Name the honor and glory it is due.  Use His great Name to elevate Him above all things and self, and to proclaim Him to others in need of His saving grace.  For it was by His  grace that YOU also were saved and His Name should never be blasphemed or used flippantly or abusively by anyone so blessed.

Let Him know you haven't forgotten how important He is to you by reminding others that, indeed, He is our God whose Holy Name deserves our highest esteem.

If you don't, as His commandment above states, He has promised He won't forget, either.

Are We There Yet?

 (This summer is going to be a busy one while our grandson spends it with us and I try to keep up with his and his cousins' energy (and his laundry!).  I hope you don't mind an occasional "repeat" of prior posts while I attempt to reorganize my writing schedule.  This post is from June of 2009.  How time does fly!  I hope you enjoy it and are encouraged, even if you've already read it.  New posts won't be as often, but I promise to add as many as I can squeeze in!  Have a wonderful and blessed summer, everyone! ~~ Karen)

“Are we there, yet?” 

Every parent has heard these words uttered from the back seat of the car. I am unable to count the number of times my own children asked the question repeatedly on a long trip. At first, the question is asked in anticipation of being somewhere that fun and excitement awaits them; an amusement park, the beach, or just traveling to see family and friends. And during the first portion of the journey, the children obediently sit and talk about all they will do when they arrive at their destination. You have brought along games for them to play and songs are sung, which whiles away perhaps the first hour. But something happens after a couple of hours and the atmosphere dramatically changes, as do the tones of their voices. 

“When will we be there?”

As discomfort sets in, attitudes suddenly take a turn. Their voices assume a whining quality. Bickering between them starts over seat space. “He’s got his feet on my side!” Hands cannot be kept to themselves. “Mom! She poked me in the eye!” One of the children begins to tease another. “Mom! He said we weren’t going to get to go swimming when we get there!“ You give them “the look” and tell them to behave or Dad will stop the car. In the meantime, Dad sets his jaw, his hands are now choking the steering wheel, the radio volume goes up, and he pushes the speed limit just a little harder. There are moments of relief when the kids believe your threats and silence fills the back seat. But it is usually a brief moment because, sure enough, an offense will be committed and retaliation will begin anew. You suggest they take a nap "because the time will go faster." You are now at the point where you turn to your husband and ask, “How much longer?”

Children are incapable of distinguishing time. To a child, every day is today and tomorrow seems like a vast distance somewhere off in the cloudy future. If they are told that in a week they will be going on a trip somewhere exciting, a countdown begins as if they must convince themselves it is a reality. As they mature, their concept of time changes and a better understanding of it is learned. However, I have often mused on God’s establishment of time - the second, the minute, the hour, the day - and his purpose behind it.

The Lord set the precedent for time in Genesis 1 when He created the heavens and the earth. From a chaotic mass of matter and darkness, He formed them by His Word and by the power of His Spirit. 

“God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness He called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning - the first day.” (Gen 1:5)

He continued until six days were established and then rested on the seventh. By doing so, God distinctly defined time as we know it, even setting seasons and years. I believe His doing so was uniquely for our benefit, for there would be “times” throughout history that would be vital pivotal points in His plan for mankind.

We mark and measure our lives by the time God has given us. While we age, we attempt to look forward and ask, “Are we there yet?."  As I write this, the turbulence that is overcoming the world presses that question even more to the forefront. Prophecy, foretold hundreds of centuries ago and written in the annuls of history, is beginning to unfold before us. Like our children, we sit in the back seat and wonder why it is taking so long for the trip to end. Our discomfort causes tension, uneasiness, or an anxiousness for something we know will be far better than anything we have experienced. I long for the journey here to be over and to at last be at my final destination. But the time God established for us is unimportant to Him. As is often quoted, “God’s timing is not ours."

There will be a “time” when God will put things back in their proper order, when His Son will return and restore all of Creation back to its original purity and beauty and sin will be no more. It is not for us to know the hour (Acts 1:7), but we are called to recognize the signs of His return (Matthew 24, 25). In the meantime, we must cling to His promises, strive to be obedient, and remain in His will, no matter how impatient we are about the length of time it is taking.

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” (Romans 13:12)

As Paul comforted believers in Rome, I draw upon what I would tell my own children on a long and arduous trip:

“We’re almost there!”

When you're trying to deliver something of importance to other people, do you ever feel as though you are talking to an empty room?

The information you are attempting to convey leaves your lips but evaporates like vapor into the air instead of penetrating the minds and hearts of those to whom you are speaking.  Your words, whether spoken or written, seem to be carried on a barely distinguishable wisp of wind, and those they are intended for give no more recognition or response to them than a person who is deaf, dumb, and blind.

What's even worse is the lack of response you get from professing Christians.  Often, the world around them which they have created and how they perceive it is more important to them.  Either that, or they're so absorbed in their own minds and causes that they refuse to drag themselves out of the exclusive box they've built and actually open their eyes and ears to the possibility that something else is going on around them and which they refuse to acknowledge and give response.

What's wrong with this picture?

Every true Christian has (or at least should have) a passion to serve Jesus Christ in various ways.  Far too often, however, the self-absorbed Christian's passion becomes what they see as the only service of importance to the LORD, and what may interest another Christian who wants to share important news and make requests for their own passion or work falls flat when the self-absorbed Christian is presented with it.  These types of Christians' horizon becomes narrowed and their vision blurred.  They can't see beyond their own noses and the singleness of mind they're caught up in because they have become blinded by self-worth and only what they view as something worthy of their notice.

Whether you are reading or hearing about the on-going work to end abortion, the vile deeds committed against persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide, the degradation of the society in which we live, or any other myriad problems the world is embroiled in, every one of us should have a heart that is ready and willing to respond to other Christians when necessary.  Our own passions should be laid aside for a moment and notice given to the important work of our brothers and sisters and the requests they bring us for our immediate attention, action,  and prayer.

Instead of giving the impression that we are uninterested in those things outside our own experiences and interests, or giving mere lip-service to those who bring them to us, we should be showing that we aren't as shallow as some would believe us to be.  All it takes is a word or two of acknowledgment to reveal that we are truly listening and that we care about what others are bringing us.

We should ALL be united in one common cause: spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But we shouldn't fail to remember that the LORD also works outside the exclusive box some have erected around themselves.  When we do remember this, we are able to hear, to speak, and to see the needs we've failed to see in the past and respond accordingly.

Our reaction or response - or lack thereof - will reveal where our hearts truly lie, and the type of Christian for which we want to be remembered.

Are you listening?