Sometimes when God teaches me something that seems radical I can get kinda freaked out wondering… “God, is this really what You said?” For about 6 months or so, God has been teaching me a lot about how huge the need is at this time in history to be teaching others to do what is right no matter the cost. (I'm writing about it in my bible study and have the opportunity to face it with adopting an embryo) So I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I hear godly, well respected leaders saying the same thing. It gives me more confidence that I am not making things up, but that God really is teaching me. And it causes me to be amazed at Him and how He can orchestrate things.
So, when I heard about this Manhattan Declaration… wow! Go God! Just yesterday I started reading Malachi and the intro was talking about how God used one man to bring reformation (like Ezra who God used to bring people to worship Him and Nehemiah who God used to get people to help the poor, keep the Sabbath and tithe.) For some reason that always shocks me. I have a built in thought that one person cant make a difference. Well, God showed me that is a lie, one person can be used by God to bring significant change. Let our generation be willing to stand up and fight for what is right and not sink to the lies that we cant make a difference. And the reality is… even if change doesn’t occur the way we hoped, doing what God says is right is always what’s right because doing what is right is ultimately about glorifying God. The act of standing up for what is right is in and of itself a success, not the outcome that makes something successful (man, did God speak to me a lot about that watching the movie Valkyrie. I guess I should right about that sometime). So here is what the Manhattan Declaration is about, Christian leaders are calling us to stand up for righteousness no matter what it costs. The health care plan that is being talked about says that the public would have to pay for abortions. It would come out to be $1 a month. Dr. Dobson said him and his wife will not comply with paying $1 a month to help fund abortion. If they have to pay fines, go to prison or leave country, they are prepared to do it. What a great example of someone that has more to loose than most of us willing to lay it down for the sake of doing what God's Word says. When it comes to doing wrong or suffering wrong, let’s choose suffering wrong. "It could get very costly to follow this Christ" Dobson I hear it said often that "if it works out, it is God’s will". And most of the time that is said, it is implied that God’s will is that there will be no pain and no inconvenience and even no trying. But Jesus said “in this world you will have trouble but take courage I have overcome the world” John 16:33 Suffering for doing what is right is part of being a Christian. 1 Peter 4:12-14 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Just because there might be pain or inconvenience or suffering or you have to fight for it, does not mean it is not God’s will. God’s will is that we suffer for doing what is good. Torrey’s new Topical Textbook definition of Martyrdom is- Death endured for the Word of God and testimony of Christ. (Rev. 6:9, 20:4) That means being killed for saying and doing what God’s Word says is right and true. I use to think that being a martyr was someone who died because they wouldn’t renounce they trusted Jesus with their life. And though that is also part of it, it is not the whole. Truly understanding what a martyr is expands my perspective of how highly God values people standing up for what He says is right and true. So much so that He…. He, the God of the universe, will honor them. That shows how much He values standing up for what He says is right… righteousness. Matt. 23:35 says Abel was the 1st martyr. Abel did what was right in giving His best to God and was killed for it. What are we willing to endure for the sake of doing what is right according to God’s Word? Be thought and talked bad of? Loose tax exemption? Go to prison? “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” Matt 24:9-13 It makes sense that in the last days many would turn away and not be willing to endure persecution unless it was a blatant “deny Jesus or we’ll torture you.” But to stand up for what God’s Words says is right is like not killing babies and not condoning sexual immorality (like homosexuality)… or be persecuted… I can see many not willing to endure persecution for those things.
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9/20/2012 09:44:40 am
Just taking a quick coffee break and wanted to post a hello
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