Is There Hope for Christianity as It is Attacked on Every Side?

 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived. 

2 Timothy 3:12.  (NIV)

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19. (NIV)

            Christian beliefs and ideals are being attacked on every side.  The ACLU has brought more law suits against Christianity than any other entity I know.  As clients they have the atheists who say there is no god and many other kinds of religions and individuals as they seek through our legal system to stymie the very roots and foundation of our country.  We are a country founded on Judeo/Christian beliefs.  It is written into our original documents and carved on the buildings in our capital. Our laws have their beginnings in the ten commandments.  All of this is under attack.

           

            Much of the world seems to hate us.  Radical Islamists have vowed to wipe out our country as well as Israel because we believe in the one true God and get our belief system from the Bible. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:18-19. (NIV) Why does the world hate us? Because it hates Jesus.  That is not going to change.

            Christians are not perfect by any means, but they follow a perfect Savior who teaches things that are contrary to human nature, and are indictments that make them feel guilty and takes the fun out of a lot of the activities they want to indulge in. Sinfulness is no longer acknowledged in our country by many.  For example, look at the movies and popular songs that glorify every sin. Our heroes are movie stars, athletes and singer/songwriters who glorify sinful lives in many cases. Our mantra is, "If it feels good, do it!"

            What can we as Christians do?  Stay close to Jesus.  Pray. Study the Bible. Live by its precepts.  Prayerfully intercede for others.  Witness to them.  Stay faithful.  Pass our faith on to our children and grandchildren.  Ask the Lord's help.

But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:24-25. (NIV)   Be able to say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 3:7-8. (NIV)

Pat Eppler