The Injustice of Persecution (Daily Reflections on Isa. 50:2-9)

I've been thinking a lot about the persecuted church around the world recently. There are injustices of all kinds that permeate cultures and countries. Hunger, poverty, sex trafficking, physical and sexual abuse, racial, cultural and gender discrimination abound throughout the world. But somehow the persecution of the Church seems to be ignored when we talk about Human Rights. The vast majority of the church in China still must remain underground. People are tortured and killed, church meeting places burned or bombed in places like India, Indonesia and Sudan. There are fewer Christ Followers today in Iraq because of persecution, torture and murder than under Saddam Hussein's regime. It's illegal to be a Christian in many middle eastern countries. Being a Christian in many of those countries is punishable by imprisonment or death.

Although in the west, especially in the United States, Christians do not face that type of persecution, there is a rising tide of discrimination in the media, government and cultural attitudes. Churches have lost their influence and Biblical values are being tossed aside with disgust and disdain. New laws are being in acted which fly in the face Christ's teaching and God's morality. Christianity is mocked openly in the media. Some lawmakers are targeting traditional Biblical standards and values for extinction. 

Jesus said that we could expect it. In John's Gospel, Jesus is quoted as telling His disciples that they would be persecuted. He said that because the world hated Him, we could expect that the world would hate His followers. In fact, most of the Twelve suffered a martyred death. The Apostle Paul found himself in prison for his faith on more than one occasion. He was beaten and stoned and even left for dead. But Paul's mantra, as recorded in Philippians, was "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

Throughout history, God's spokesmen have always been in danger of torture, persecution and death. They were often hated, ridiculed and run out of town on a rail. Many of God's messengers lived isolated lives because of their message. The warnings of the prophets often went unheeded, falling on deaf ears. Some were imprisoned or chained. Some beaten. Some impoverished.

In Isaiah 50, God talks about His displeasure with the Israelite people for rejecting Him. He poses a series of questions through Isaiah which call His people to recognize His power and faithfulness. Then Isaiah proudly proclaims His own stand for God as His messenger. He declares his eagerness to hear and speak the truths of God. But he also asserts his steadfastness of his faith and determination to continue to bring forth boldly the prophecies of God. He announces, "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced."

Isaiah has confidence in God. He knows that although he may be tortured and ridiculed that he will be proven right in the end. God's truth will reign. Isaiah says, "It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up." That's a great picture. The efforts to disavow, ridicule, persecute, torture, silence God's voices will ultimately prove ineffective. God still wins in the end and so do His children, His faithful followers.

As a Christ Follower we can expect mocking, ridicule and even severe persecution for our faith. Jesus promised it would happen. Martyrs throughout the history of the church have gone to the grave with the name of Jesus on their lips. In the last 100 years, probably the last 50 years, there have been more Christians martyred/murdered for their faith than in the previous 1900 years combined. Persecution is growing. Our voices should grow louder in denouncing this injustice. But we should also brace ourselves for what is to come. 

God will ultimately prove victorious. In fact we already have the victory in Christ. So we should cling to the mantras of Paul and Isaiah and hold onto God while proclaiming boldly His Good News. Maranatha!

God, I confess that I don't like persecution. I'm not sure that I'm very strong. I have a hard enough time when people criticize me for my belief or mock me for my faith. I don't like getting left out at times. I can't imagine being beaten, tortured, or imprisoned for my faith. I'm not sure how I would do facing death or watching a family member face death (or worse) for sharing your Good News about Jesus. But I lift up my brothers and sisters around the world who are facing severe persecution daily. Empower them. Stand with them. Protect them. Comfort them. Use their message and stand for you to ring out your truths, your glory even louder. Demonstrate your power through them. Give them justice. 

Fatalism, Determinism or Uniqueness, God's Plan for my Life (Daily Reflections on Prov. 20:24)

I do not consider myself a Calvinist nor an Armenian theologically. But when one reads passages like Proverbs 20:24, "The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?," it raises questions regarding fatalism, determinism and free will. What is Solomon saying here? That I don't have any choice? That my life is laid out for me? That everything in my life happens because God has already determined or ordained it? And how far does that go? Does that mean that God determines whether or not I get get cancer? Does He determine what job I'm going get or who I'm going to marry? Does that extend to what I eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? How much I drink? When I go to bed at night? Has God determined absolutely everything for me? Logical questions which raise even more questions. 

However, I think the bigger question has to do with the impact of your life. Have you ever noticed that everyone is different? I know that's a dumb question. Of course we know that everyone is different. Even identical twins are different. Just like every snowflake is unique, so are we. That's God's designed. God crafts each of us with our unique blend of gifts and talents and passions and skills and bents. And with all our uniqueness comes a unique purpose for our life. God's plan for me is totally different than God's plan for you. The people you impact, influence and do life with are different from the ones I impact, influence and do life with.

Notice our paths take us different places. That too is God designed. Our gift mix, personality, passion, experiences are all used by God, when we surrender it to Him, to accomplish His purpose and plan for us. Surrendering it to Him, that's the rub. God has a unique plan for each of our lives. We will only be able to fulfill God's plan for our lives when we are open to His leading and live each day for Him.

The problem is that many of us, okay most of us seek to live our lives for ourselves. We try to make a life for ourselves. We map out plans to take us to where we think we want to go. We read self help books, listen to inspirational or motivational speakers, push ourselves all in an attempt to get something we think we want. I heard one speaker say, "What if we spend all our energy, time and effort climbing the ladder of success only to get to the top of the ladder and find that it's leaning against the wrong wall?" 

I'm not saying that we should never plan or set goals or work hard to achieve success in our field. But, if we are honest with ourselves, this kind of pursuit of life is really all about us. What do I want for myself? It really gives little thought to the eventual impact of our life. It definitely avoids the questions, "Why am I here?" I really don't believe that God put us on this earth just to take up space, breath, use up some of the earth's resources and die. I believe that God has a specific plan for all us.

When Solomon writes these words, he indicates the uniqueness of every one of us. Instead of asking ourselves, "What do I want to accomplish in my life?" We should be asking "What does God want to accomplish through my life?" We don't have the vision to be able to see how our life will impact others not only in our lifetime but in the future. A life we impact today may influence someone else who in the future may impact thousands. We can't see that. We can't even see how our life affects those around us really. Our shortsightedness keeps us from understanding how God could use and is using us.

I struggle all the time with trying to figure out how my life is making a difference to anyone. I don't have visions (or delusions) of grandeur. I know that I'm not a rockstar pastor. But I do want my life to count to the people around me. I do want to impact them, to influence them for Christ. However, I can't even see if I'm really doing that. I really don't understand how God is using me.

And that's Solomon's point. God determines our path. He knows how he wants to use us. We haven't got a clue, really, what the total impact our life is having on others. So instead of killing ourselves trying to accomplish our dreams, why not live to allow God to accomplish His purpose for us. What does that look like? I don't know for you, but I do know that it involves people no matter what profession you hold, gifts you have, place you live, or education you have. When I release myself into the hands of God and let Him use my life fully, every day, then I don't have to worry about climbing a ladder to success or accumulating lots of wealth or being tops in my field. All I have to worry about is focusing on the people God brings around me to serve and care for. If we make serving Him our priority and giving Him our best at work, with friends, with neighbors, with family, in our community, then I believe that God will place us in positions that we can best be used by Him.

I think one the joys of Heaven will be that we get to see how God's plan was worked out through the influence of our lives. People we never met on this planet will be giving testimony of how our lives ultimately influenced them, especially in their relationship with God. I know of an older lady that taught a high school Sunday School class for years in a small town in North East Oklahoma. She loved her kids, had them to her house, always had cookies for them, listened to them, shared her faith with them and encouraged them in their walk with Christ. When they went off to college she would mail them cookies and send them notes. Through her service as the High School Sunday School teacher, she saw over thirty-five of her students become full time ministers and missionaries. Through her influence thousands of people have come to Christ all over the world. 

God, help me to focus on the people in my life today; of being a witness, an encouragement to the people in my life today. God, I want to live for you today. Sometimes chasing after big dreams or future aspirations wear me out and frustrate me and just bring me stress. I want you to handle the big picture, Lord. I know that my measly plans are nothing compared to what you envision. I just want to be used by you, however you want to use me.