I was praying this morning and as I prayed (I tend to do it as a journal) I found myself writing that, "its just scary down here." And you know, it is.
Now perfect love casts out fear - we don't have the spirit of fear - yes, I know all that - but it's still scary down here.
Fear is natural or sinful. To not fear is to give up some part of being human. to allow fear to keep us from serving Him is to give up some part of being His - that's sinful fear.
But fear is an emotion (?) - a judgement we make about conditions and circumstances that are very real. Fear tells us something is dangerous - potentially harmful - probably damaging - etc. So this natural fear can't be a no-no but it can not be the boss either.
Having said that - it is scary down here. Politics is always scary - the power of government is always liable to abuse. I worry about that. I worry about my brothers and sisters who own businesses or have ministries and the possiblility that they may have to close, capitulate their consciences to the law or take a stand against the law and suffer the conseqences. I fear for our religious freedom - especially the religious freedom of Christians.
See, it's coming to a point where we are being put in a position where we are required to do things that violate our consciences. We are being required to do (or not do) things that pertain directly to our faith (beliefs) and though in most cases it's subtle - it's here.
At some point - and I worry that the time is closer that we think - we will have to start saying "No." We've tried to say no in the political arena but that's "their" home field - so we've said "Ok" to the point that we will soon have to say "No!" and when we do we will suffer for it.
Where we have enjoyed the freedom to express our religious beliefs we are no longer as "free" as we were. When folks are getting cited and sued for having home Bible studies - we are in trouble. When the government can force us to pay for things that violate our faith - we are in trouble.
Well - it's scary down here. But that's OK - it can't help but be. However - we need to begin NOW to pray for a holy boldness to stand upon our faith and refuse to give way. That will look different for different people - and that's sad -! It shows that we have indeed not grown as He desired and we have especially not grown to be one.
So many of us will find ourselves standing alone. Criticized and even vilified by those who claim our faith but don't know Him. The tares and the goats and the wolves will have a very good time. Our stubbornness in our faith will cost us much - for some of us it will cost everything but what he guards for us.
I am not a pessimist - I am a believer - and the One I believe makes it very clear that we will suffer for Him - for being His. I wonder if I'm ready? I don;t feel ready - but then, that's what the Holy Spirit is for - right?
Pray for yourselves and your brothers and sisters that they might see and understand the depth of hate the world and the devil has for us. Pray that they may grow ever more sensitive in their consciences so that they do not suddenly realize they have "allowed: and "tolerated" and "compromised" to the point of a near surrender.
We must remember - "to live is Christ, to die is gain." Paul "got it," when did we let it go?
No comments:
Post a Comment