Attacks on Christianity?

Jeremiah 1:19 (NRSVue) - They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”

This verse is part of God’s call and commission of Jeremiah.

God reminds the prophet that people will oppose him.

God also promises never to abandon Jeremiah.

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples.

Jesus prays for them and not the world.

John 17:9 (NRSVue) - I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.

I find it amazing that these verses were on my mind at this time.

This was at the same time of the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics,

Many people, especially Christians, were outraged by the spectacle,

Both Christians and political pundits were quick to refer to the ceremonies as an attack on Christianity.

Many Christians took this personally.

But when you think about it, is this really an attack on Christians?

If anything, it was an attack on Christ, not an attack on Christians.

As Christians, we would do well to remember the words of Christ.

We would do especially well to remember His words from the Sermon on the Mount.

When Christ spoke to His followers and others, He was telling them (and us) how to live.

His words indicated He wants us to live a life of discipline.

Christ instructed us to love.

This means loving our enemies,

It means loving those who disagree with us.

His words should instruct us to live a life of love instead of a life of retribution.

Will we take those words to heart?

Or will we instead feel personally threatened and attacked by those who mock Christ.

We know we belong to Christ.

We know we are precious to Him.

And we are assured that Christ is always with us.

And, hard though it may be to believe, Christ loves those who are still lost,

Instead of feeling threatened by the lost, we should demonstrate the love Christ commands of us.

Love, not retribution, is the key to reaching those who are still lost.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, August 9, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, August 16, 2024