Archive for the 'Bible Studies for Life' Category
Faith that Endures Suffering and Persecution
It seems with each passing day, more and more people raise the possibility of persecution of Christians in the United States. Many see religious liberty slipping away. Christians are beginning to wonder what the future holds.
Lesser in Number and Influence
For many years, it seems that Christianity has been the most dominant spiritual presence in the United States. While it some parts of our nation its influence is still great, most people would agree such influence is shrinking everywhere. A growing number of polls and surveys reveal majority positions with which evangelicals would disagree. As Christians, we are becoming lesser in number in proportion to the growth of the United States. This is resulting in ever-growing abuse being demonstrated toward Christians and our beliefs we hold dear in the Scripture.
When Suffering and Persecution occurs in Our Lives
Thankfully, we are not without instruction from God’s word on our responses to suffering. What happens when our inclinations as citizens collide with our responsibilities as followers of Christ? The first epistle written by the Apostle Peter was to believers who were scattered all over. Persecution, if it had not already started, was always a possibility. Nonetheless, Peter instructed them (and us), “Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.”1
God’s will is for us to submit to the authorities He has put in place over us. Sometimes, this will result in suffering. Peter is clear. If we suffer, we should suffer because we have done good and not evil (v. 20). Whether things are going well for us or whether we are in the midst of persecution, our orders are clear. As Mary Jo Sharp writes in the Summer 2014 unit of Bible Studies for Life, “Peter held up Jesus as their example, who Himself endured undeserved persecution by entrusting Himself to God, who judges justly.”2
When Jesus Suffered and was Persecuted
Consider for a moment, the suffering of Jesus. He never did a single thing wrong. Scripture calls Him the Lamb of God without spot and without blemish; Perfect, pure, and without sin. He never did anything to warrant persecution for doing evil, but suffered plenty for doing good. His sacrifice was not for wrong He had done, but for the sin of the entire world. The suffering He endured was, from a human perspective, unjust in the extreme. Yet, He never pleaded His own case.
How should we respond when Persecuted?
The Bible warns that the children of God will suffer. “In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”3
The presence of persecution is not the issue. We will face it. Let us, like Jesus and so many of His followers, remain true to Him through a resilient faith that overcomes suffering for His glory.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church General Editor, Bible Studies for Life1– 1 Peter 2:13-15, HCSB
2– Bible Studies for Life, Resilient Faith, Mary Jo Sharp
3– 2 Timothy 3:12, HCSB
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Faith That is Active
We seem to see quite a bit of passive Christianity today. There are many who claim Christ in the same way they claim to be fans of a particular sports team. They are “Christian” because they are not Muslim, Hindu, or Atheist. This is hardly the way biblical Christianity is portrayed in the scriptures.
Faith should look different
The Bible gives us a number of vivid images of active faith. In fact, the great “Hall of Faith” features many whose faith led them to great exploits for God. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Moses are well-known heroes of the faith. But, unnumbered and unnamed multitudes were also praised: women, men, those who were beaten and killed, those who were destitute and afflicted, and even homeless vagabonds. These in Hebrews 11 are praised for being faithful to the God who had saved them. Faith that is active results in lives different from the world. As MaryJo Sharp wrote,
“We all want to be accepted by others. This explains our tendency to follow trends and what’s ‘in’ at the moment. While many of these trends are amoral (neither good nor bad in a spiritual, moral, or ethical sense), the human desire to be like everyone else can lead us to compromise or to lose our distinctiveness as followers of Christ. God calls us to holiness–to live separate and distinctive lives, set apart from what the world calls us to do.”1
Faith requires sacrifice
One of the thoughts Christians often wrestle with is, “Is it worth it? Are the sacrifices I make for God’s kingdom worth it?” The answer, according to the Apostle Paul, is a resounding, “YES!”
Writing to the Romans, Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us…Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:18, 24-25). Peter reminds us that we should be obedient in accordance to our new lives, “But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
The Apostle James also makes reference to active faith. “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works” (2:18).
The New Testament knows nothing of a “faith” that ignores needs, closes eyes to injustice, and keeps one’s mouth closed to the truth of the gospel. Faith is not a state of mind or a box to check on a census report. Faith reflects a relationship with God that grows and is fruitful. That is the norm. What we consider exceptional faith today is what the Bible sees as normal faith.
Showing a light to the world comes from an active faith. Such faith demonstrates that God is real, personal and caring. Dead faith reveals nothing true about God, and likely hinders the lost from coming to faith in Christ. May we never cause the testimony of salvation to be misrepresented to the world.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
1– Bible Studies for Life, Resilient Faith, MaryJo Sharp
All scripture HCSB
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.