With terrorism becoming more apparent in Western nations and the threat of violence and death is becoming more abundant world wide, Christians NEED to respond the way The Lord God Christ Jesus calls all his elect to respond. As the 'western' civilizations become more secular; the social, civil, and physical persecution of The Gospel message will grow. How Christians respond to this is just as important as the identity of being Christian itself. This article is a comprehensive support and aid to those who are not sure how or what they can do or really understand what they, as Christian, are even called to do.
Matthew 5:43-48
This command from Jesus makes it a Christan DUTY to LOVE our enemies.
WHY?
Because we are called to show that we are not of this world, we do not think like this world, we do not hate like this world, and that our purpose and value is not from this world. Our new hearts MUST point to who is greater than this world.
Common Grace and more
God even shows terrorist and anti-Christian people common grace. He allows the sun to shine on them and waters their crops too. This is a kind of grace the entire world gets to experience. But the grace they NEED is greater than just that. It is THE kind of Grace that believers get to experience. That grace that saves souls.
Unconditional Unmerited favor is the DUTY of every Christian is to show their enemies. The same grace that God shows all those who believe.
The only way to declare and proclaim this Grace is through The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:14-15
The Gospel is not a lifestyle. It is a message! It is spoken news made public for all the sick to be healed and all the unbelievers to believe and to make the one true God known. Cute catch phrases like "you maybe be the only bible people read" or something along those lines sound nice but if you are not explaining The Gospel and preaching the Good News in words, than you are not proclaiming the gospel at all.
The Mission:
Christians need to proclaim The Gospel to all those who hate them. By proclaiming the gospel they are loving their enemies. Living the gospel is not preaching the gospel; you can't live the gospel or be a living gospel. The Gospel is a spoken message. Sharing cute facebook bible verses or changing your facebook image to "show support" is not preaching the gospel. For some it is a lazy attempted at seeming religious.
Christians need to be unashamed of The Gospel and fearlessly go to the people and places that need to hear the gospel. We need to be bold in the face of terror and willing to sacrifice ourselves by loving others so that the gospel is proclaimed!
Worth More Than Money
Your feet, time, and words are more powerful than any amount of dollar you donate. Peter saved souls without a single penny. If you can move from one place to another, and speak, and make time; you carry the message that is greater than silver and gold.
The Laborers to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ are FEW. The amount of people who need to hear the gospel far exceeds the number of people willing to preach it. People willing to share the gospel are needed!
Locally:
Get involved in community events and do community service and volunteer work. Google volunteer opportunities and community events to attend. Reach out to and serve people of other religions; especially more hostile community groups and religions.
Nationally:
Travel; get out of your conformable suburbs or warm and cozy home and go to other parts of the state or nation that need your help and service! Become members of organizations that equip and empower missionaries that proclaim the gospel in hostile regions of the world.
Internationally:
Go to a 3rd world country and see first hand how spoiled we are with material things. How spoiled we are with warm cozy living and safety. Experience parts of the world were The Gospel actually costs you something. Where the Gospel message can not be googled. Go to where there is so much hunger and need for The Gospel message but no one there proclaiming it; Go to where there is a harvest waiting but not laborers.
The Gospel Message is Offensive:
Be ready for people to call you "hateful", "judgmental", "bigots", and every single kind of negative word to shut you up. The natural human heart does not want to hear that they are sinners and can not save themselves. That they sin even if they disagree that what they are doing is sin. And that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin in their place. That they need him even if they disagree.
Laborers and preachers of the Gospel will be shouted down. Will be slandered. Will even be verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, and some even killed. But how much do you LOVE them? Do you LOVE your enemy and those who persecute you enough to sacrifice your self in the hopes they are saved? Jesus did and hes called you to take part in this.
When the society threatens jail time and its media slanders you; even when some "in" the church condemn your action of gospel proclamation; When you are socially persecuted, civilly persecuted, and then physically persecuted; will you cave?
Mission Complete?
World Peace is only coming when Christ returns. Christians are NOT bringing world peace. Jesus has already told us how the world is going to be when he returns anyway (Matthew 24). Then what is our objective?
Each person that hears, receives, and believes in The Gospel; the person and work of Jesus Christ, is a victory. The mission is for each individual person is given the opportunity to hear and receive the good news. The individuals acceptance or rejection of the Gospel is between them and God; but a reason why you know it and believe it is because you have been chosen by God to proclaim his message to them.
This is what our father in heaven has called us to do! Will you obey him?
How do you LOVE those who hate you and your belief? What do you do that shows your LOVE for others- even terrorists, militant atheists, and false christians that worship their own invented version of Jesus- who slander you as the "judgmental" and "hateful" one?
Terrorists, Militant Atheists, and False christians:
These people, who God shows common grace to whom he wants to come to faith in him need to hear the Gospel. Not just "basic" knowledge of this guy name Jesus but they need to UNDERSTAND The Gospel Message and how it relates directly to them. Relaying this message IS OUR DUTY and IS HOW WE LOVE.
What YOU Can Do Now:
1. Make a list of people who you think need to hear The Gospel; plan a lunch or coffee date with them with that goal in mind.
2. Google local, national, and international organizations to partner with and learn how you can help.
3. Talk with other friends and organize community outings.
4. Use your social networks as a ministry tool to share the gospel and organize bible studies.
5. PRAY for the hearts and minds of all those who God leads directly to you; so you can share The Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
Please KNOW The Gospel message for by it we are saved! Read Essentials of The Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
" “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
This command from Jesus makes it a Christan DUTY to LOVE our enemies.
WHY?
Because we are called to show that we are not of this world, we do not think like this world, we do not hate like this world, and that our purpose and value is not from this world. Our new hearts MUST point to who is greater than this world.
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."
Common Grace and more
God even shows terrorist and anti-Christian people common grace. He allows the sun to shine on them and waters their crops too. This is a kind of grace the entire world gets to experience. But the grace they NEED is greater than just that. It is THE kind of Grace that believers get to experience. That grace that saves souls.
Unconditional Unmerited favor is the DUTY of every Christian is to show their enemies. The same grace that God shows all those who believe.
The only way to declare and proclaim this Grace is through The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:14-15
"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
The Gospel is not a lifestyle. It is a message! It is spoken news made public for all the sick to be healed and all the unbelievers to believe and to make the one true God known. Cute catch phrases like "you maybe be the only bible people read" or something along those lines sound nice but if you are not explaining The Gospel and preaching the Good News in words, than you are not proclaiming the gospel at all.
The Mission:
Christians need to proclaim The Gospel to all those who hate them. By proclaiming the gospel they are loving their enemies. Living the gospel is not preaching the gospel; you can't live the gospel or be a living gospel. The Gospel is a spoken message. Sharing cute facebook bible verses or changing your facebook image to "show support" is not preaching the gospel. For some it is a lazy attempted at seeming religious.
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;"
Christians need to be unashamed of The Gospel and fearlessly go to the people and places that need to hear the gospel. We need to be bold in the face of terror and willing to sacrifice ourselves by loving others so that the gospel is proclaimed!
Worth More Than Money
Acts 3:6 "But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!"
Your feet, time, and words are more powerful than any amount of dollar you donate. Peter saved souls without a single penny. If you can move from one place to another, and speak, and make time; you carry the message that is greater than silver and gold.
Luke 10:2 "And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
The Laborers to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ are FEW. The amount of people who need to hear the gospel far exceeds the number of people willing to preach it. People willing to share the gospel are needed!
Locally:
Get involved in community events and do community service and volunteer work. Google volunteer opportunities and community events to attend. Reach out to and serve people of other religions; especially more hostile community groups and religions.
Nationally:
Travel; get out of your conformable suburbs or warm and cozy home and go to other parts of the state or nation that need your help and service! Become members of organizations that equip and empower missionaries that proclaim the gospel in hostile regions of the world.
Internationally:
Go to a 3rd world country and see first hand how spoiled we are with material things. How spoiled we are with warm cozy living and safety. Experience parts of the world were The Gospel actually costs you something. Where the Gospel message can not be googled. Go to where there is so much hunger and need for The Gospel message but no one there proclaiming it; Go to where there is a harvest waiting but not laborers.
The Gospel Message is Offensive:
Be ready for people to call you "hateful", "judgmental", "bigots", and every single kind of negative word to shut you up. The natural human heart does not want to hear that they are sinners and can not save themselves. That they sin even if they disagree that what they are doing is sin. And that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin in their place. That they need him even if they disagree.
John 3:19-20 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
Laborers and preachers of the Gospel will be shouted down. Will be slandered. Will even be verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, and some even killed. But how much do you LOVE them? Do you LOVE your enemy and those who persecute you enough to sacrifice your self in the hopes they are saved? Jesus did and hes called you to take part in this.
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
When the society threatens jail time and its media slanders you; even when some "in" the church condemn your action of gospel proclamation; When you are socially persecuted, civilly persecuted, and then physically persecuted; will you cave?
Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Mission Complete?
World Peace is only coming when Christ returns. Christians are NOT bringing world peace. Jesus has already told us how the world is going to be when he returns anyway (Matthew 24). Then what is our objective?
Each person that hears, receives, and believes in The Gospel; the person and work of Jesus Christ, is a victory. The mission is for each individual person is given the opportunity to hear and receive the good news. The individuals acceptance or rejection of the Gospel is between them and God; but a reason why you know it and believe it is because you have been chosen by God to proclaim his message to them.
This is what our father in heaven has called us to do! Will you obey him?
How do you LOVE those who hate you and your belief? What do you do that shows your LOVE for others- even terrorists, militant atheists, and false christians that worship their own invented version of Jesus- who slander you as the "judgmental" and "hateful" one?
Terrorists, Militant Atheists, and False christians:
These people, who God shows common grace to whom he wants to come to faith in him need to hear the Gospel. Not just "basic" knowledge of this guy name Jesus but they need to UNDERSTAND The Gospel Message and how it relates directly to them. Relaying this message IS OUR DUTY and IS HOW WE LOVE.
What YOU Can Do Now:
1. Make a list of people who you think need to hear The Gospel; plan a lunch or coffee date with them with that goal in mind.
2. Google local, national, and international organizations to partner with and learn how you can help.
3. Talk with other friends and organize community outings.
4. Use your social networks as a ministry tool to share the gospel and organize bible studies.
5. PRAY for the hearts and minds of all those who God leads directly to you; so you can share The Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
Please KNOW The Gospel message for by it we are saved! Read Essentials of The Gospel
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