1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

Do you ever get the impression from seeing what appears in the news that the major problems faced by society and our culture include troublesome Christians?  There are crosses on federal land; government meetings that begin with prayer; peaceful protests against abortions; students wanting to pray in graduation ceremonies; providing Bibles for soldiers; and God forbid the problem of preachers and Christians wanting to talk about Christian values!

Then there are the problems in most of the Middle East and Southeast Asia where even the existence of Christians is an insult to their culture worthy of death.  I sure was surprised to discover from a major TV program recently that Israel is a serious player in persecuting Christians too (sarcasm).  You almost get the feeling that the world would be such a better place if Christians and Israel just ceased to exist.

Yesterday we wrote of the spiritual forces behind this opposition to Christianity because of the threat that Christianity is.  Here is a serious reminder of what we face,

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Eph 6:12 MSG)

Today’s admonition is critically important,

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.”

We cannot succumb to fear but must be the men and women that God enables us to be and requires us to be.  And to do it in love!”

In response to some of this treatment this past week we had Christian students walking out of an assembly.  They and the Bible were being insulted and scorned by a government representative who was there to speak against bullying.  A bully speaking against bullying!

Then we have Christian leaders opposing government policies being forced upon them by governmental fiat.  These policies significantly violate their faith.  The important thing is that Christian leaders are standing – and not giving in.

We must pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing these hardships – and for ourselves that we will respond righteously and faithfully to every such situation that we encounter.