Featured What will you do when faced with persecution?

I think that it is naive to think that the Church will escape persecution.

 

I do not think that what you describe (re the U.S.) is not persecution, but harassment.

My own opinion.

 

RD2..., faced with a crazed killer(s) I'll do my best to usher him/her into eternity with as much effort or fire power that I can muster. Old Reverend Black might have turned the other cheek but I don't plan to if faced with death.

I found an article on World Net Daily this morning with some alarming facts. Course, it's advertising a book but the title of the article is, "America Succumbs To Viral Mystery Madness".

“Mentally ill” loners who slaughter a classroom of students before shooting themselves; young Americans, male and female, who travel overseas to join ISIS and become barbarians and sex slaves; people who amputate healthy body parts in a desperate attempt to become the opposite sex, or who purposely put drain cleaner in their eyes to blind themselves or cut off their own hand, all to “feel more comfortable” with themselves; entertainment idols who revel in wild sexuality and mock God; and of course, the latest outrages of a “transformative” president who supports America’s enemies, betrays her friends, and leads a lawless government that daily tramples the Constitution, encourages massive invasion of the American homeland and prosecutes Christians as criminals.

http://www.wnd.com/2015/10/america-succumbs-to-viral-mystery-madness/#DAzkyABpf43SkOxO.99

Other highlights of “The Snapping of the American Mind” include:

• How the left has succeeded in redefining not just “marriage,” but the rest of Americans’ core values, from “equality” to “justice” to “freedom”;
• Why America, unquestionably the least racist nation on earth, is now being portrayed as a deeply racist pariah state;
• Why the United States is intentionally being flooded with millions of needy, dependent, Third World immigrants;
• How a group that amputates healthy body parts and has a 41 percent attempted suicide rate is officially declared “normal,” yet new “research” suggests conservatives have malformed brains;
• Which of the two major U.S. political parties has a far higher incidence of mental illness;
• Why Americans today are more stressed-out, confused, conflicted and addicted than at any time in the nation’s history – and where this ominous trend is leading.

 

I don't know any premil, pretrip rapturists who believe that the church will escape persecution. It has happened since day one. All over the world Christians are killed by their governments for their faith. Sporadic killings by crazed killers is not persecution and being fined for not making a cake are not persecution.

 

Agree.

 

It definitely will not be easy. But those who are in Christ will stand up for God. It'd be even harder though if it was your own family turning against you, which the bible says will happen. And yes being fined for not making a cake IS persecution. Just because someone isn't getting their head cut off doesn't mean that people belittling and coming strongly against Christians isn't persecution. I'm tired of people saying that isn't persecution.

 

I disagree. But let me concede the point for discussion sake. What does the Bible say about how we should respond to persecution?

Love our enemies
Do good to those who do evil to us
Don't render evil for evil

What else?

 

I have never met or spoken with a Pre-Trib believer that thinks the Church will never go through any tribulation. Only The Tribulation. If you can find one that does, you will probably find a very new believer that has only heard a few messages, and to be honest, most Rapture messages are not all that good, lol.

God bless.

 

I have known several People who believed this.

 

Interesting. How do they explain the persecution of the church taking place all over the world today?

 

Yep. I never understood the logic either.

 

I am pre-tribulation. If Noah escaped the tribulation(s) of his day why should believers of today be treated any differently? Lot escaped? Two men in the field? Two women grinding? The ten virgins? Keep watch as you know not the day or hour.

Would any earthly father stand by and watch his children live through a tribulation? So why would our heavenly father stand aside? Yes, I'm pre-tribulation.

 

I am pre-trib.

But that doesn't explain the millions of Christians suffering persecution today or Jesus' warnings that we are to expect persecution. Christians do suffer today. Just because America and most of Western Europe escape most of it doesn't mean it is not real.

As someone said above. Christians are going to suffer tribulation, but I believe we will miss the Great Tribulation.

And no, I am not going to fight over this. I see the value of other views.

 

It's a false argument, really, until someone comes forward and actually presents that view.

Where are the quotes of these people?

I could say, "I've known people who believe that Christ will never return to the earth for any reason whatsoever," but if I do not provide quotes from people actually saying that...it's a false argument.

So, for those who have known these people...how about a quote?

Secondly, anyone on this forum ever done so?


God bless.

 

This is an argument that is rather weak, because we know that the Father will certainly allow His children to go through Tribulation. We have to separate the difference between the tribulation we are promised...


John 16:33

King James Version (KJV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


...and the Tribulation which is the specific period of time which is a seven year period, from which, we, as Pre-Tribulation believers, will be kept from.

Doesn't mean we won't ever face the tribulation that will arise in the Tribulation, but, it does mean we believe we will be raptured prior to that period.


God bless.

 

Could you expound on "the value of other views?"

I too am Pre-Trib, but I see no value in any view on any Doctrine that cannot be seen to be consistent. So your statement is curious to me.

And I'll have to check in later for our reply, as I have to get ready for work.


God bless.

 

As the years have gone by I have just learned how to not fight over this. I disagree with them, but see how they came to their conclusions. Have a good day at work brother.

 

I can understand that, but, I think as a Body our best interests are served when we maintain Doctrinal Purity and can come to dogmatic conclusions that Scripture affords us. Meaning, we are dogmatic as to how one is saved, right? So just taking a view that God gave us His Word so we would know His will, it seems to me that divisive issues are the first order of business, lol.

And there is no reason why we can't have opposing views with our brethren, yet still discuss those issues in a civil manner. Really, if we have a confidence in the Doctrine we hold to that should, above all other things, help us maintain self control, which is not just a fruit of the Spirit, but an expectation of God in our lives.

And thanks, C4K, may your day be blessed as well.


God bless.