I wrote a blog on being despitefully used as a Christian that might begin to answer that fine line...
Its rough times for the despitefully used Christians was written in 2005. At the bottom of the blog article is a link to the end story that occurred in 2006 (Make sure you read that too!). It's important that we remember as Christians that sometimes God allows some of our greatest enemies in our path for that one last chance to connect with Him.
On the other hand, Christians that pray for each other, and pat each other on the back, and uphold just their own, are not portraying the love of Jesus Christ, who notes that...
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48 av)
On the other hand, sometimes when Christians face persecution, while prayer for their enemies should remain spoken, there is nothing against the Word of God that prevents them from stepping out of the way. In fact, we are instructed to separate ourselves from the wicked and profane...
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 av)
On the other hand...(I seem to be running out of hands!)...Many of the strongest workers for the LORD God that I know have been persecuted tremendously by their families, and have had to leave everything behind to ensure that they could walk firmly and progressively toward the LORD God. At some point, the drama and the hatred of our persecutors overwhelms our spirit so greatly, that we can no longer reach for and receive the blessings of God.
If your focus is more on your enemies than on your God, then you must choose. What seems impossible, sometimes is a blessing, and Jesus Christ especially takes extra care with those sheep who have ran from the wolf in search of a flock. The Great Shepherd is watchful over all of his sheep, not only those in the biggest and whitest flocks!
On the other of my many hands, we must always take care to never deny Christ in the midst of persecution, as I wrote in my article "Denying Christ with a Gun Pointed at You, is Still Denying Christ!"
When is persecution too much? When should our prayers change from expressing love to resorting to asking for curses to be rained down upon our enemies? (Gasp - Can a Christian actually think such thoughts)
This is the rule I use...I pray for my enemies amidst the persecution, because that is what Jesus has asked me to do. But I also tattle on my enemies when they are preventing the Works of God, and He resolves those issues so His Will can continue, be fruitful and multiply. (Usually, when prayers reach the tattling stage of the Christian faithful, it is not very good for God's enemies.)
I hope these different thoughts help you form a line of spiritual health, that allows you to know when to pray, when to endure, when to stand firm, and when to move on. It's difficult times for all Christians, and persecution is brought upon many. We all must consider the measure of these things, so when it comes to us, we respond effectively in accordance with His Word.
David "Bucker" Becker
Its rough times for the despitefully used Christians was written in 2005. At the bottom of the blog article is a link to the end story that occurred in 2006 (Make sure you read that too!). It's important that we remember as Christians that sometimes God allows some of our greatest enemies in our path for that one last chance to connect with Him.
On the other hand, Christians that pray for each other, and pat each other on the back, and uphold just their own, are not portraying the love of Jesus Christ, who notes that...
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48 av)
On the other hand, sometimes when Christians face persecution, while prayer for their enemies should remain spoken, there is nothing against the Word of God that prevents them from stepping out of the way. In fact, we are instructed to separate ourselves from the wicked and profane...
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 av)
On the other hand...(I seem to be running out of hands!)...Many of the strongest workers for the LORD God that I know have been persecuted tremendously by their families, and have had to leave everything behind to ensure that they could walk firmly and progressively toward the LORD God. At some point, the drama and the hatred of our persecutors overwhelms our spirit so greatly, that we can no longer reach for and receive the blessings of God.
If your focus is more on your enemies than on your God, then you must choose. What seems impossible, sometimes is a blessing, and Jesus Christ especially takes extra care with those sheep who have ran from the wolf in search of a flock. The Great Shepherd is watchful over all of his sheep, not only those in the biggest and whitest flocks!
On the other of my many hands, we must always take care to never deny Christ in the midst of persecution, as I wrote in my article "Denying Christ with a Gun Pointed at You, is Still Denying Christ!"
When is persecution too much? When should our prayers change from expressing love to resorting to asking for curses to be rained down upon our enemies? (Gasp - Can a Christian actually think such thoughts)
This is the rule I use...I pray for my enemies amidst the persecution, because that is what Jesus has asked me to do. But I also tattle on my enemies when they are preventing the Works of God, and He resolves those issues so His Will can continue, be fruitful and multiply. (Usually, when prayers reach the tattling stage of the Christian faithful, it is not very good for God's enemies.)
I hope these different thoughts help you form a line of spiritual health, that allows you to know when to pray, when to endure, when to stand firm, and when to move on. It's difficult times for all Christians, and persecution is brought upon many. We all must consider the measure of these things, so when it comes to us, we respond effectively in accordance with His Word.
David "Bucker" Becker
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