What do some Christians hope to accomplish when they petition a company or a government? Do they believe they are going to convince the company or government to become Christian? There is no such thing as a Christian company or government. Do they believe they are going to bring nonbelievers into the Kingdom? I hardly think that strong arming a company into doing something is a good witness. Instead the world sees the Christians as a band of bullies, demanding their way yet again. What happened to being the face of love? Do we only love when things are going our way? That sounds like the way of the world, not the way of Christ. In fact, Jesus tells us himself that we will be persecuted and hated:
"If the world hates you,1 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 you2 out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19-19
But even more important is this word from Jesus:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
So we should REJOICE in bad times and times of persecution. We know it's coming, Jesus told us to expect it. And how we react is important. When our Lord was persecuted, did he ask his apostles to petition the soldiers or the Roman government or the Pharisees? God tells us to petition HIM, not the world:
Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace will be with you.
Phil 4:6-9
His name is Friedrich Nietzsche. He was a German philosopher in the late 1800s. He was the son and grandson of pastors. He despised the Christian concept of God. He asked the question, “What is more harmful than any vice?” He gave the answer, “Active sympathy for the ill-constituted and the weak—Christianity.” He disdained Jesus as God on the cross. He believed Christianity was man’s greatest misfortune. He said the church left nothing untouched by its depravity. He defined good as all that heightens the feeling of power. Weakness was bad.
Another aspect brought up by Father Jonathan Morris on FOX this morning is how signing these petitions is like saying you are speaking for all Christians when in fact, you aren't. Petitions and boycotts are negative, punitive acts that diminish what Christianity is all about.
We need to respond to troubled times in a positive, loving way which is hardly found through petitioning and boycotting. Encouragement and prayer for those being persecuted are positive ways to respond. Pray that they would be faithful and obedient throughout their ordeal. Pray that it would bring glory to God. Pray that God's will be done.
Finally, the Robertson family will be fine. They don't need nor have they asked for our petitions. Their faith seems solid and I doubt the father is going to retract his statement. Could he have said things in a more loving way? Possibly. But no matter how he said it the world was going to find it offensive because the world doesn't get it. If dropped from A&E the Robertsons will probably get offers from other networks who see dollar signs in their duck calls. We should be praying that the Robertson family would hear God loud and clear concerning what direction He would have them go at this point. And pray that OUR family's response would be pleasing to God and glorify Him in the highest.
"If the world hates you,1 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 you2 out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19-19
But even more important is this word from Jesus:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
So we should REJOICE in bad times and times of persecution. We know it's coming, Jesus told us to expect it. And how we react is important. When our Lord was persecuted, did he ask his apostles to petition the soldiers or the Roman government or the Pharisees? God tells us to petition HIM, not the world:
Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace will be with you.
Phil 4:6-9
His name is Friedrich Nietzsche. He was a German philosopher in the late 1800s. He was the son and grandson of pastors. He despised the Christian concept of God. He asked the question, “What is more harmful than any vice?” He gave the answer, “Active sympathy for the ill-constituted and the weak—Christianity.” He disdained Jesus as God on the cross. He believed Christianity was man’s greatest misfortune. He said the church left nothing untouched by its depravity. He defined good as all that heightens the feeling of power. Weakness was bad.
He used
the word “Übermensch.” It can
be translated “overman” or “superman.” The Nazis and Hitler co-opted the word
and used it racially for a superior white race. But for Nietzsche Übermensch or superman was a
counter value to God. Man becoming superman no longer needs God. Our goal in
life is to be superman. What use then do we have of God? He would say none. God
is dead. He is superfluous. In some ways Nietzsche is similar to Ann Rand and her
coldly objective survival of the fittest. Only the strongest have a right to
survive.
The
point of all this being, Nietzsche’s response to hurt, insult, and persecution
would be retaliation; the use of power because power is good and weakness is
bad. The conclusion is that anytime we respond to insult, to a hurt, to
persecution, with retaliation of any kind, we are more like Nietzsche than
Jesus.Pastor
Michael Wheatley, West Chester Presbyterian Church
Another aspect brought up by Father Jonathan Morris on FOX this morning is how signing these petitions is like saying you are speaking for all Christians when in fact, you aren't. Petitions and boycotts are negative, punitive acts that diminish what Christianity is all about.
We need to respond to troubled times in a positive, loving way which is hardly found through petitioning and boycotting. Encouragement and prayer for those being persecuted are positive ways to respond. Pray that they would be faithful and obedient throughout their ordeal. Pray that it would bring glory to God. Pray that God's will be done.
Finally, the Robertson family will be fine. They don't need nor have they asked for our petitions. Their faith seems solid and I doubt the father is going to retract his statement. Could he have said things in a more loving way? Possibly. But no matter how he said it the world was going to find it offensive because the world doesn't get it. If dropped from A&E the Robertsons will probably get offers from other networks who see dollar signs in their duck calls. We should be praying that the Robertson family would hear God loud and clear concerning what direction He would have them go at this point. And pray that OUR family's response would be pleasing to God and glorify Him in the highest.
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