Bullied ,Battered and Blessed.

 

The church or the body of Christ is being persecuted in many nations today.  As Pastor Abedini Held in Iran. Regardless of the charge, the world knows it is because he is proclaiming true Christianity.  One can read the stories from "Voice of the Martyrs" and realize this is not some happening of the first to third century terror on Christians. It is happening as we speak or should I say while I sleep.
                                                                    SUCKER PUNCHED
  In the U.S. It is much more subtle.  I suppose it has always been there. We can bet the loathed censoring in the early days of television kept it to a minimum and for many years we had been seen as a Christian nation  and people of faith were looked at with approval.  The followers of Christ in the west seem to be on the end of verbal and/or political bullying, where elsewhere in the world it is actually being battered.
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  The body of  Christ continues to grow!  The message of God is still being spread and producing heart and life transformation.  How can something with imperfect followers and so harassed,bullied battered and persecuted in whatever form, thrive?
                                                             STRIVING YET THRIVING
  The letter from the Apostle Peter speaks to the persecuted church.  This word of inspiration, encouragement and comfort in bad or good seasons, tells the Christian to:

  1.  Arm yourself with the mind of Christ.  As The true Bible believing Christ follower spends time in prayer, and looking into God's Word will soon realize the mind of Christ, who said to love God and your neighbor as you love yourself and also to love your enemies.  Christ suffered and endured the pain on the cross looking forward to the ones who would believe on him as well as his returning to life and eternity back with God.
Peter tells the suffering Christians to have that same mind and thinking of Christ.

  2.  Live the new Life   The condition of the place in where the disciple lives may be difficult but the position of the believer is in Heaven. HOW? "In Christ". We are to then live a life that will be a lifestyle of worship and be pleasing to God. The Apostle Paul writes about the life we "once conducted or once walked".  The believer has peace with God. This relationship with God brings us great JOY whatever the situation. The Bible says "old things are passed away and have become new"  that describes the persons spiritual position as well as the way they conduct  themselves during prosperity or poverty, peace or war kindness or persecution. This results in living the true "Good life".

  3.  Being a profitable member of the community. The community of the church goes into the community God has placed them in and begins to "show and tell" the good news of Jesus Christ.  Having the mind of Christ (loving God and loving people) and looking forward to spending eternity with God while living a "New Life" empowered with God's Spirit strives to see Godly community development.. All the while being Bullied, battered and  yes  Blessed! ----------Check out Acts 5: 39-42.