April 5, 2013

Dear Friends,

I have been thinking what will happen when the Supreme Court makes its ruling on the “gay” marriage issue. Considering their past ruling on abortion, I will not be surprised if they go with the noise of public outcry instead of the Biblical standard of “one man and one woman” (see Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5, 6). I hear a lot about “love” between the “gay” crowd, but the Bible says it is just lust (see Rom. 1:26-28; 1 Cor. 6:9). The “gay” crowd says we “hate” them because we disagree with their lifestyle. But, the Bible says in John 3:16 “that God so loved the world.” These folks are part of the world, so, we should have love and compassion for them, also. We can agree with Biblical standards and still be kind toward others. May our Lord help us be good witnesses for Him.

But, that is not what I want to write to you about. I want to share with you something that I hoped would never happen in America, but I am afraid is here, and will get worse, and that is suffering for being a Christian and standing for Christian values. It is not my intention to unduly frighten you, but to remind you of some things that our Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples. Jesus had instructed His disciples (those who were following Him), “The servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16). He had said to them, “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). He announced in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

My intention is not to give us all a “martyr complex.” It is, however, to prepare us for the possible hate and animosity of the worldly people around us who do not understand, nor know, that we that love the Lord endeavor to live by the dictates of His Holy Word, the Bible.

Being a Bible-believing Christian can cause us the anger and hate of the world because our lifestyle is in opposition to the way they live and believe. We should live, however, by the practices and principles found in God’s Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:112, 105).

Brethren, the Lord Jesus has given to His followers the armor that we need to be able to walk each day in this old world and be able “to stand against the wiles (methods) of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). That armor is listed with its purpose in Ephesians 6:13-18…look it up and read it prayerfully, for we live in a wicked world, and we need to “Put on the whole armour of God” (Eph. 6:11).

The Lord Jesus’ last words to His followers in the book of Matthew (28:20) reminded them, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The ascended Lord Jesus told Paul in Corinth, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee:” (Acts 18:9b-10a). Then, there are those wonderful words of Jesus recorded in Hebrews 13:5b, “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Folks, no matter what happens in our world, no matter how ungodly it becomes, no matter how people treat you as a Christian, the Lord Jesus is here with you each and every moment of each and every day, and one day will take you home to glory and present “you faultless” (Jude 1:24-25) to the Father in Heaven.

Live for the Lord every day. The world desperately needs a true Christian witness.

Your fellow sojourner,

 

 

Pastor Frederick W. Carroll