A House Divided

A new church member continually dwells on a perpetual stream of negatives bombarding his household. He lives with his wife and son, along with her adult son from a previous marriage, and his aging and ailing mother.

He constantly requests prayer for the extensive list of negatives plaguing his household, yet appears defeated while asking. He also wonders why he cannot find “victory in Jesus” and the “joy that passes understanding” he hears others talk about.

However, when others (myself included) tell him to spend time in introspection along with asking God to reveal any lessons needing to be learned or any obstacles that are hindering the household from experiencing the joy of Christ and His blessings, he immediately becomes defensive. And the defensive attitude always surrounds the issue of Islam.

His wife and step-son, though not members of any mosque, choose to read the Quran: at the urging of the son. Their youngest son attends church with his father. And the elderly mother apparently keeps clear of both sides.

It is true that God allows each of us to go through trials. Trials strengthen the faith of those who endure and trust God to see them through. However, not all trials we face in life are God-ordained. Many trials are self-inflicted: the consequence of personal choices.

Therefore, there comes a time during periods of spiritual drought (a time of prolonged trials and lack of blessings) when individuals need to reconsider personal choices. Pray for guidance and discernment. Compare decisions and actions with God’s Word. Keep an open mind and spirit in order to accept His divine answers. And be strong enough to accept responsibility for choices and actions.

When the church member immediately gets defensive about a specific topic – especially prior to that topic being brought up by anyone – it is a clear sign that he is already aware and concerned about the issue. The unction of the Holy Spirit is doing a work in him, and he’s probably already giving the topic a lot of thought.

Unfortunately, we humans often prolong our trials by our reluctance to confront problematic issues beyond thought: especially when action may be needed. For instance, people with addictive personalities have a hard time confronting their addictions because they believe the addiction (alcohol, drugs, etc) fills a void within them.

The church member is well-aware of the problems that can arise when diverse belief systems reside within a family confined to a single-dwelling. And what makes it worse is that the beliefs are not compatible or equally tolerant. Unlike beliefs such as Christianity and Judaism, which worship the same God and have similar core values, Islam specifically calls for the subjugation and/or death of infidels (anyone who does not accept 

Islam).

The Quran states the following in Sura (or chapter) 9, verse 29, regarding war against non-Muslims:

“Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e., Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

Sura 47, verse 4 begins with the following:

“So when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e., take them as captives).”

Naturally, God is well-aware of the complications that can arise in households with diverse beliefs. In 2 Corinthians 6:14 the Bible states the following:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

As you can see Jehovah is not a vindictive God. He is a loving God. He knows human nature will bring about conflict when those with diametrically opposed views reside in close proximity, but He does not tell the Believer to kill or enslave the Unbeliever, as we see in the Quran. The Bible simply gives a stern warning as a caution to believers and non-believers that such incompatibility is a recipe for problems, and should be given due consideration.

In Luke 11:17 we see another confirmation from a different perspective:

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falls.”

Do the above passages suggest Christians separate or divorce spouses with different beliefs? No, they do not. They are warnings to consider primarily before entering long-term relationships and marriage. However, if the different beliefs are accepted after a couple joins, God would prefer the union remains intact; unless, of course, appropriate reasons for divorce (adultery, abuse, etc) are involved. For God knows that the believing mate can have a positive influence on the other mate, and every soul is worth saving, if possible.

In 1 Corinthians 7:14 we see the following:

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean: but now are they holy.”

And God shows His desire to save as many unbelievers as He can throughout the Bible; such as 2 Peter 3:9:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

In God’s eyes, the new church member is the spiritual head of the house. It is his responsibility to engage in spiritual warfare (fasting and prayer, etc), and to take further action if necessary, in order to allow God to confront the obstacles within the household. Unfortunately, his present defensive attitude creates additional obstacles and barriers that hinder God’s plan and blessings for their lives.

Have you built barriers that hinder God’s efforts on your behalf? Are there areas in your life where you get overly defensive with little or no provocation? If so, perhaps it’s time to acknowledge God’s efforts to get your attention regarding those issues. Remember, even God’s worst is better than our best. But He desires the best for each of us.        

A different holiday consideration

     Yesterday, St. Patrick's Day, was not a day for wearing the green in Boynton Beach, Florida. Black arm bands would have been more appropriate for an evening prayer vigil to honor two young street preachers who were gunned down January 30th while evangelizing.

     Tite Sufra, 24, and Stephen Ocean, 23, had witnessed to Jeriah Woody, 18, for fifteen minutes before the latter received a phone call and departed. However, Woody returned, and when Sufra went to greet him, he was hit point-blank with a shotgun blast. And when Ocean attempted to flee he was shot in the back, and then finished off execution style with a shot to the head.

     "The increasing demonization of Christians in our culture makes some feel its open season on Christians," said Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, according to the Worthy News North American Service.

     Cass further pointed out that not one national news organization reported the incident. And he additionally suggested that if it had been two Muslims, two feminists, or two homosexuals, the media would be all over it.

     Unfortunately, he is right.

     What happened to Sufra and Ocean is a tragedy, and we need to pray for their families and congregations. However, praying is not enough.

     Too many Christians have become complacent. And when complacency becomes status quo we see a continuing loss throughout the Christian community: a loss in faith, a loss in political standing, a loss in education, parenting, and every other area of concern.

     Everyone who claims to be a Christian and refuses to get involved in Christian issues shares responsibility for the negative consequences.

     Think about that the next time you ask God to answer your prayers.

     Instead of living the secular version of "what have you done for me lately?" try asking yourself "what have I done for God lately?"

(Some information and quotes for this article were acquired from Worthy News.com)

Just another face on Christian persecution

     But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. --- Luke 18:16

    
     I'm sure by now you have heard the news story regarding the 8-year-old boy from Taunton, Massachusetts who was sent home after drawing a stick figure of Jesus crucified on the cross.
     All of the facts have not been made available from both sides, and what has come to light naturally shows contradictions between the two parties: the family and the school administration.

     One thing is certain, the boy was sent home, though the school representative claims he was not suspended. This appears to be an official statement playing on semantics. Perhaps there was no "official" suspension, but the child was sent home and not allowed to return until a psychological evaluation had been done. And the boy was out nearly a week prior to being cleared to return after passing the evaluation.

     Another contradiction surrounds the actual drawing that was released to the press. The boy's father claims it is the picture his son drew for a class assignment regarding the upcoming holiday.

     The school's representative, however, has apparently made two claims (as reported in the media)  regarding the submitted drawing. First, they claim the drawing is not the same drawing handed in to the teacher; and secondly, they claim it has not been verified whether it is the actual drawing or not (thereby contradicting themself).

     Likewise, the school's representative claims there was no class assignment regarding the upcoming holiday. Which, as you can imagine, is hard to believe, since every elementary school in America shows interest in every main holiday throughout the school year. And if there was no assignment, as the school representative now claims, then why would the child have turned the drawing into the teacher as stipulated? And why, per the representative's own admission, would there be any need to verify if the circulating drawing was the original submitted to the teacher?

     Even the mayor, Charles Crowley, wants Julie Hackett, the School Superintendent, to apologize to the family. Crowley also ordered the school to pay for the psychological evaluation the child was forced to undergo.

     Now let's put this in perspective. Several college-educated adults, beginning with the teacher, take a look at a stick figure drawing by a special-needs 8-year-old, and deem it "appropriate" to oust the youngster from school, and demand the parents submit the child to a psychological examination. Decisions that were made merely because the stick figure drawing represented Jesus on the cross, and had X's for eyes.

     The boy's drawing did not have any weapons or blood drawn on it, just X's for eyes. That was the alleged basis for considering the young boy to be a "violent risk" in need of psychological evaluation in the collective opinions of these so-called educated adults in positions of leadership within our school system.

     Sadly, the only thing this incident truly shows is the extent of the humanistic anti-Christian philosophy that permeates the American education system. A belief that has unfortunately spread like an infectious virus throughout this once Godly nation: A fact clearly seen within the political, judicial, and financial arenas, along with the mainstream arts and media.

     However, these actions are nothing new, they are merely repackaged attempts to persecute Christians. Since the beginning of Christianity, two-thousand years ago, there have been continuous hate-filled attempts to stamp it out. These persecutions were expected and foretold in God's word. Even Jesus warned of the coming persecution:

     And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. --- Matthew 10:22

     Prophetic words that have, and still are, coming to pass. A topic that will be touched on more in coming posts.

     With regard to the above incident, allow me to leave you with more of Christ's words to ponder:

     Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. --- Luke 9:48