Food for Thought: Persecution

Sunday night we heard the heart wrenching story of the missionary family from India. We heard of the father and his two young sons being martyred as they sought to minister the Gospel to the lepers. Jesus promised persecution, but here in America we face so little. Is this a blessing or is it because we don't look different enough from the world for them to care. Is the reason why there is not more persecution because much of the church (youth included) are too concerned about American Idol, the latest clothes, the newest games, the accumulation of stuff and our own comfort and entertainent? R.B. Kuiper has some interesting throughts, he sais that if the church "were strong and active, as it ought to be, the world would oppose it much more vigorously. Persecution by the world is a badge of honor for the church. Did not Jesus pronounce blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and does not that beatitude apply to all faithful followers of the Lamb (Matt. 5:10-12)? But by and large the church or our day and our land has lost that badge and forfeited that blessedness. And that is another way of saying that the church's most immenent peril (aka biggest problem) issues from its own household." The darkness hates the light, persecutes the light...Is the reason You, me us as a youth group and a church are not opposed more is that we are not letting our light shine? Pray that the Spirit of God would give you boldness and holiness! Let your light so shine before men! I love yall! Remember JESUS IS WORTH IT!!!