To: Sopater
I suppose all the Christian bashing doesn't bother me, at all. If nothing else, I rejoice in it.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
1 Corinthians 4:9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
AND, I sorta expect it. 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Sure, I get that initial tinge of "OUCH! That's just wrong and they are bashing my beliefs!" But, then I get over it and say, "Oh, well, I don't need their approval to love and worship... God will sustain me."
I'm actually sort of bothered that there is a Anti-Defamation committee set up by Christians.
17 posted on
01/05/2009 1:56:29 PM PST by
raynearhood
("I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels" -John Calvin)
To: raynearhood
Amen! This world is not our home! If the world hated Him, they surely will hate us!
21 posted on
01/05/2009 2:47:26 PM PST by
LetMarch
(If a man knows the right way to live, and does not live it, there is no greater coward--Anonymous))
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson