Excuse me? Are you stinkin' kidding me!? She's a radical, spiritually minded Christian? ...you mean as opposed to some other kind?
As in the kind of Christians that just hold fast to the title, but not the person of Jesus? the politically correct, and therefore socially safe, kind that have no faith. hold no power. and see no breakthrough?
Are those the other type of "Christians" that you speak of? Just wanting to be clear here. You know, so I can intelligently follow along with your pathetic line of reasoning.
I'm sorry but comments like these enrage me.
Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry. I think we, as a nation, are where we are today because of too many "sorry" Christians.
Christians who apologize for not being tolerant enough. who apologize for not embracing everyone's ridiculous notions of right and wrong... or the lack thereof.
Christians who apologize for keeping other Believers accountable to the Truth. Christians who, ultimately, allow themselves to be silenced from speaking the Name of Jesus, resigned to allow the "Majority" make the new and improved rules of conduct.
I'm not sorry. But I am mad.
Because it's mindsets like these (that are even in the Church) that can make the "radical" Believer feel like they need to just hop off the mothership and get a grip on reality.
"Earth to Christian. Do you read me?"
Uh...? Totally correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the only thing that's going to be of "Earthly good" is if we get our minds set on the things of the Spirit. So we can pull down Heaven into this realm.
Does "...Your Kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven..." ring a bell?
One thing that I decided this week is that I refuse to raise "American Christians". Children who grow up thinking lukewarm is the norm.
I want my children to know that there is life outside of our little corner of the planet. That there are Christians around the world risking humiliation, torture, and death. just so they can praise Jesus and embrace the title of Christian.
instead of casually throwing it around like it's some club where you piously pay your weekly dues by sitting on a pew.
Richard Wurmbrand, in his book, "Tortured for Christ" says:
"It must be understood that there are no nominal, halfhearted, lukewarm Christians in Russia or China. The price Christians pay is far too great. The next point to remember is that persecution has always produced a better Christian- a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet."
I want my girls to understand this from the get-go. to intercede for our Christian Siblings who are risking everything to lift up the name of Jesus.
I don't want them to take for granted that we have a hundred Bibles at our finger tips. and a church on every corner. and worship music on the radio.
I want them to understand that we are in a battle. whether we see it in this realm/land (yet) or not, it's there. They need to know this. so they can be equipped. so they can be BOTH spiritually minded and of earthly good.
You know, like Jesus was.
*****
If you are interested...you can get a kid-friendly newsletter version of Voice of the Martyrs. For free.
I just signed up today so I don't know what all it includes. But I do know that the Voice of the Martyrs newsletters (adult versions) we've received come with maps outlining the nations where Christians are considered illegal. or endangered.
Those maps will hang above our map of the world. on the wall of our dining room. so my girls are reminded to pray for them daily. as am I.
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.kidsofcourage.com/
