war or peace

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10: 34,37-39 NIV

Current events have caused me to again look at this passage. There is fighting again between Israel and the Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. Two rockets were launched at the city of Tel Aviv. Yesterday a terrorist attacked two Mosque in New Zealand and also some people on the streets. It would seem that a festering of war is slowly happening between the Judeo-Christian community and the Muslin community. In Nigeria the two Muslin bands have been working systematically to destroy the many Christians communities. The government has tried to help but there is little stopping the slaughter. Over 8800 Christians have died. Is this the war that Christ is talking about? Is this a war that will not end? What do we do as Christians about these conflicts? Will these conflicts eventually affect us?

First looking at our text we have to understand the thought that Christ is applying to His followers. Christ is talking about giving our all and our complete selves to Him. He doesn't want us part time, but all the time. He does not say do not love your family, but the love to Christ Jesus is foremost in our lives. We put the world and worldly emotions on the back burner, so that our love and service to Christ is first. At some point this can seem like a battle is going on for our attention. A fight is going on between us and the people around us, but we are standing firm on the Gospel of Christ and there is no other. So the battle lines are drawn, but it is a spiritual battle more than a physical battle. So we have peace in the Gospel of Jesus, but we have a war with the things of this world.

The war and battle for our souls will never end while we are on this earth. The devil is constantly recruiting for more followers, through the world and all its pleasures, religions, and treasures. The conflict some times is physical. We hear about Christians in other parts of the world being persecuted for their beliefs. Convert to Islam or die is a vast repeated theme. The doubters can deny this all the time, but an easy search and you find many stories of persecutions and imprisonment and even death. You don't hear about the stories of Christian being persecuted on the main stream media, to learn about the Christian persecutions you have to look for the stories, and there are many.

Pray, Pray and pray some more. This can be the start of our help for other Christians around the world that need our help. A general prayer is always helpful, but if you have read a story about a specific group pray for them. Pray for the Christians in Nigeria, pray for the Christians in prison in China, pray for the Christians in hiding in North Korea. Sadly, there is no end to the prayers needed for our fellow believers around the world.

Will these conflicts come to us? Yes!! The conflicts and persecutions are already with us. The political correctness is the most open persecution. The combative LGBT community is the first battle line, the second is the open rights and force acceptance of the Islam "religion". We all know that Islam is more than a religion, it is a way of life and government that allows no other beliefs. Look around you and see the battles going on in our communities.

The love of Christ and His strength is with us. We can be bold in our faith and know that if we confess Him before men, He will stand with us. The way will not be easy or light going forward, but I pray with you that Christ is and will be at our side. As Martin Luther said, "Here I stand"

Until next time GOD bless....

David G Spietz