Justice for the persecuted and the persecutor

     At the end of the battle of the brothers, i.e. Ishmael and Isaac and their descendants, justice will be given to both the persecuted and persecutor.

     It all began when Ishmael was in his mid teens and Isaac was about 2 or 3 years old.  Isaac’s mother Sarah saw Hagar’s son Ishmael scoffing at Isaac.  Scoffing in this context means to deride, mock, or make sport of.

     At that time Sarah said to Abraham:

     “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.”  Genesis 21:10

     Paul repeated these words to the church at Galatia 2000 years later.

     Persecutors are always ‘citizens of the world’ and the persecuted are God’s chosen.

     Persecution directed at the seed of Abraham and Isaac has increased during the centuries.

     The Biblical historical books reveal that just prior to the Babylonian captivity, apostate Jews persecuted God’s prophets to the extent that judgment was inevitable.

     “And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people… But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”  2 Chronicles 36:15-16

     Mocking, despising, and scoffing of the prophets by the unrepentant are the same actions that described Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac.

     Persecution of God’s chosen continued relentlessly throughout the history of Israel and the church.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their past and present hypocrisy regarding the persecution of the prophets.

     “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’”  Matthew 23:29-30

     Jesus unveiled their hypocrisy and confronted them with the truth.

     “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets…I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute…”  Matthew 23:31, 34

     The persecution of the church in the present age is basically a continuation of the persecution of God’s people in previous ages.  All persecution was/is focused on the Son of God and His role as King, Lawgiver, and Judge.

     Recall Stephen’s words just prior to his death.

     “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!  You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.  Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?  And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers…”  Acts 7:51-52

     Persecution has just been passed on to succeeding generations and will continue until the Object of persecution returns to end it.

     In God’s perfect timing His required wrath will be unleashed on the persecutors and rewards given to the persecuted. 

     Consider first God’s promise to the persecuted:

     “…we…boast of you…for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure…that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven…”  2 Thessalonians 1:4-7

     Now consider God’s required wrath on the persecutor:

     “…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God...  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…”  2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

     Every person is, by their own choice, a member of one of the two groups.

     On the global scene, is America now a persecutor of Israel?

     And in America’s internal political/religious climate, is the church the persecuted or alleged persecutor?

     Understanding the history of Isaac and Ishmael and their descendants will help define the mocked and the mockers.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com    

    

    

   

Dealing with the inevitable

     It has been established that persecution of Christians is inevitable and will persist until Christ returns to put an end to it.  The Bible teaches how to deal with persecution and the persecutor.

     “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11-12

     The Greek for ‘Blessed’ in the above passage means ‘possessing the favor of God.’

     To be reviled and persecuted for Jesus’ sake is evidence that one is in the hands of God.  The Christian is to rejoice while being persecuted with great confidence that such persecution will result in heavenly rewards.  The Christian is then told that others of God’s chosen suffered persecution prior to the church.  God’s chosen includes the ‘Apple of His eye,’ i.e. national Israel.

     Jesus then instructed Christians how to respond to their persecutors.

     “...But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”  Matthew 5:44

     The Christian is not to retaliate for the wrongs done to him; rather the response should be to invoke God’s best on them.

     The Greek for ‘bless’ in the above passage does in fact mean to ‘invoke God’s blessings’ on one’s persecutors.

     Later Paul expounded on Jesus’ teachings when dealing with persecutors.

     “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”  Romans 12:14

     “…Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat.”  1 Corinthians 4:12-13

     Paul confirmed Jesus’ teachings, i.e. Christians are admonished to love their enemies and persevere in the presence of persecution.

     In his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul revealed the source of persecution for God’s chosen.

     While the two divisions of mankind are generally defined as either belonging to the ‘world,’ or being members of the ‘kingdom,’ Paul defines the two classifications as either being ‘born according to the flesh,’ or being ‘born according to the Spirit.’

     “For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise…Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.  But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”  Galatians 4:22-23, 28-29

     Therefore, according to Paul, those born according to the flesh depend on salvation by works.  Those born according to the Spirit, i.e. children of promise, believe salvation is a gift based on the vicarious sacrifice of Christ.

     Note particularly that Ishmael represents the offspring of the bondwoman while Isaac represents the offspring of the freewoman.  Then Paul notes that Ishmael persecuted Isaac approximately 2000 years before the church, and such persecution existed during Paul’s day.

     And then Paul confirmed that the church consisted of children of the freewoman, but the offspring of the bondwoman was to be ‘cast out.’  The two divisions had nothing in common.

     “Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?  ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.’  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.”  Galatians 4:30-31

     Now remember Ishmael and his bondwoman mother was sent to the East as was his offspring.

     In these days, where is the greatest persecution of God’s chosen, the church and national Israel, being perpetrated in the world today?  Is it not in the Middle East?

     Such gross persecution will be present as long as the brothers continue to battle.

     “He (Ishmael) shall be a wild man, his hand shall be against every man…and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”  Genesis 16:12

     Do America’s leaders really have a grasp of the significance of the conflict in the Middle East, or do they naively think those nations can be reconciled via diplomacy?

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

Persecution - a sure thing for Christians

     There are few absolutes in this chaotic world, but it is certain that Christians will experience persecution.  Once again we’ll see that the world’s majority are the persecutors while the kingdom minority is the persecuted.

     Inasmuch as New Testament persecution is directed towards Jesus Christ, and Jesus is the head of the church, the church (Christians) will likewise be the object of persecution.

     “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”  John 15:20

     Paul confirmed that Christ’s followers would be the recipients of persecution.

     “…and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  2 Timothy 3:12

     The Greek for ‘persecution’ in the above passage is dioko.  The basic meaning of a persecutor is one who pursues another with repeated acts of enmity.  Additional synonyms include, distress, press, crush, against, and/or to follow after.  Persecution then, is ongoing, relentless, hostile activity.

     Persecution against the early church was poignantly illustrated by the activities of the Pharisee named Saul.  At the time of Stephen’s death, the church was experiencing great persecution.

     “At that time (of Stephan’s death) a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem…As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”  Acts 8:1, 3

     Saul was shortly thereafter confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus relative to his activities.

     “Then he (Saul) fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…’”  Acts 9:4-5

     As the story unfolds, Jesus revealed that the chief persecutor of the church would become the chief persecuted of the church.

     “…for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  Acts 9:15-16

     Saul was a ‘chosen vessel’ which means he and his mission was appointed before the foundation of the world.  His Hebrew name was subsequently changed to his Roman name, which is Paul, and we know the rest of the story.

    Saul persecuted Jesus and the church before meeting Him and the Father.  Jesus had forewarned His disciples that such would happen.

     “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.  And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.  But these things I have told you that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”   John 16:2-4

     There were many then and there are many now in the church that have been deceived, i.e. they are not really the called of Christ.  Such will not endure persecution and their true identity will be revealed.

     Jesus taught the multitudes four different classifications of those who would hear about the kingdom of God.  The different groups were referred to as ‘soils.’  Some seeds (God’s word) would fall by the wayside, some would fall on stony places, and some would fall among thorns and some on good ground and would yield a crop.

     Of current interest in the context of persecution is the seed that fell on stony places.  Jesus later explained the meaning of the parable to His disciples.

     “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises…immediately he stumbles.”   Matthew 13:20-21

     Thus, of the four types of soils, the seed prospered in just one type, i.e. the ‘good ground.’   And remember, Jesus taught His disciples that the path leading to life was narrow while the path leading to destruction was wide.

     The Bible explicitly tells how the Christian is to deal with persecution, the rewards awaiting those who suffer inevitable persecution, and the punishment for the persecutors.

     More next week.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

     

    

Rewards for Suffering

     Christians have either suffered in the past, are suffering in the present, or will suffer in the future.  Suffering for the Christian is a gift to all true believers. 

     Many examples of suffering are illustrated in the Bible.  Consider Peter and the apostles in the early days of the church.  After refusing to cease speaking the truth about Christ, they were punished repeatedly by the Sadducees led by the high priest.

     After one such beating, Peter and the apostles’ response was:

     “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  Acts 5:41 

     Later Peter expounded in great detail about suffering as he addressed the dispersed church in Asia, which is present day Turkey.

     “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings…for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you…if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”  1 Peter 4:12-14, 16

     The ‘world’ considers this passage to be utterly foolish.  But for the Christian to suffer is to partake in the sufferings of Christ.   Such suffering confirms the presence of the Holy Spirit and in turn glorifies God.

     The Greek for ‘suffering’ in the above has many synonyms including sickness, misery, affliction, or wounds.  Therefore, suffering is much more than persecution; it includes physical pain.

     Peter then tells those to whom he is writing that the suffering they are experiencing is being experienced by the Christian Brotherhood throughout the world.

     “Be…steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”  1 Peter 5:9-10

     The apostle Paul reinforced Peter’s message in his letters to the church at Corinth.

     “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ... because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”  2 Corinthians 1:5, 7

     As Christians partake of the sufferings of Christ, they will likewise partake of the consolation (comfort) which abounds through Christ.  The Greek for ‘consolation,’ or comfort, is parakletos which was the term used by Jesus when He announced the coming of the Holy Spirit to His disciples.

     The apostles stressed the glory involved in suffering for the sake of Christ, and Paul also put that suffering in perspective within the big picture.

     “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

     Therefore, what are the implications for the Christian who suffers for Christ’s sake?

     “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…”  Colossians 1:24

     The enemies of Christ hadn’t had their fill of persecuting Christ so they turned their persecution on Christ’s followers, the church.

     But consider the end result.

     “Him (Christ) we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”  Colossians 1:28

     The objective is for every follower to be perfect in Christ.

      The Greek for ‘perfect’ means complete, whole, finish, and goal.  In other words, suffering for Christians will fulfill God’s purpose for which they were created.

     It is all part of the plan for the Christian set out before the foundation of the world.

     “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame (perfect) before Him…being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…”  Ephesians 1:4, 11

     Therefore, the Christian should be prepared to experience suffering and endure all suffering with deep confidence, peace and joy.

    

 

The Biblical view of multiculturalism

    On September 20, 2015 Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press, asked Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson if Islam was consistent with the constitution.

     Dr. Carson replied that Islam was not consistent with the constitution and he wouldn’t advocate a Muslim being president of the United States.

     Fellow presidential candidate Lindsey Graham said Dr. Carson should apologize for his statements.

     Several Islamic groups immediately voiced their opinion that Dr. Carson should remove himself from candidacy.

     The Bible has much to say about multiculturalism.

     The Bible stresses that Israel was/is God’s chosen nation.  As such God revealed His laws and statutes to Israel.

     It began with the fledgling nation of Israel preparing to enter and possess the land of Canaan.  God provided explicit instructions concerning the existing occupants of the land Israel was about to possess.

     “You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.”  Exodus 23:24

     The occupants were to be completely overthrown (destroyed, ruined) and all semblance of their religion was to be ‘broken down.’

     “You shall make no covenant (treaty, contract) with them, nor with their gods.  They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me.  For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare (trap) to you.”  Exodus 23:32-33

    And when God’s law was delivered to the Israelites He told them their new law was also to govern any subsequent aliens in the land.

     “You shall have the same law for the stranger (alien, foreigner, visitor) and for one from your own country, for I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 24:22

     God acknowledged that one day in the future the nation of Israel would want a king to rule over them.  God described the future king He Himself would choose.

     “…you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses…you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother…Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law…and he shall read it all the days of his life…”  Deuteronomy 17:15, 18-19

     And then, recall Paul’s words in the New Testament written 1,500 years after God delivered His immutable laws and statutes to Israel.

     “Now all these things happened to them (Israelites) as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:11-12

     Now with that bit of history, let’s address the present issue of Islam in American politics and the constitution.  The best way to understand Islam is to listen to what they say.

     The parent organization for the majority of Islamic activities in the United States is the Muslim Brotherhood.  Their agenda is straight forward and transparent.

     The following statement was made by the founder of CAIR, the same organization that is demanding Dr. Ben Carson remove himself from being a candidate for president.

     “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant.  The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”

    

     Below is another example of the Islamic agenda:

     “The Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood’s name for itself) must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within…”

     Several questions arise:

·        Why is Christianity the most persecuted religion in America?

·        What would be the chances of a Christian becoming the Supreme Leader of an Islamic nation?

·        What might happen in America if an Islamist was president armed with a pen and telephone?

     Everyone should use their freedom to consult their Bible and Islamic literature and then decide if Dr. Carson’s words were out of line or if Lindsey Graham should apologize for his naiveté.

     Multiculturalism and political correctness present far more dangerous threats to America than the unfounded fear of global warming.

     What in the ‘world’ are we thinking?

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com