Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Our Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls

In the past, I have heard haters of Christianity who often happen to be atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and usually on the far-leftist spectrum of ideology use some of the verses of 1 Peter 2:13-25 as a hammer to tell Christians to "submit to civil authorities" of any kind - even if they are evil and dangerous. At the time that this book of the Bible was written, the people of that era (including Peter, a strong disciple of Christ), were under the harsh authority of Nero. They were persecuted and often caused to submit to unjust suffering.

It is believed that Peter was martyred by Nero. He was to be executed just like Christ, but Peter didn't feel worthy to die in the same way as his Lord and Savior. Therefore, he wanted to be crucified upside down.

I see many parallels in today's persecution of Christians around the world. Even in America, we see this current scandal ridden, America destroying, lying and godless administration use their power of authority (and their freedom to choose to do terrible things with such power) as a cover-up for evil. Many at the top levels of our government do absolutely alarming things that don't make sense (unless one realizes that it is by intentional design to destroy our Constitutional Republic and replace it with a globalist Marxist Islamo-Fascist, anti-Christian, anti-Israel dictatorship kind of government) and do not show proper respect towards our people, our allies, and especially our best friend in the Middle East, Israel.

1 Peter 2 shares reasons why we must endure the suffering inflicted by such a government.

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

But it also shows that such an evil government does not actually deserve its' people to submit to the current civil authorities because of the evil being inflicted upon its people. Such evil is often caused by the rejection of Christ:

1Pe 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--

1Pe 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [fn]

1Pe 2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, [fn]" [fn]

  1Pe 2:8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." [fn] They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

  NIV Footnotes:
  (2:6) Isaiah 28:16 (2:7) Or cornerstone

  Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

  Further down in the 1 Peter 2:13-25 verses, we find that being conscious of God makes it commendable for us to endure it. I think that this is what millions of Christians in America and  around the world are doing today; despite the awful and terrible conditions that they are suffering under due to corrupt and evil governments.

When Christians suffer unjustly, we recall that Jesus Christ suffered for us; which stands as an example on how we can endure it. We should follow in his footsteps.

This is why the majority of TEA Party Patriots, many of whom are Christian Conservatives, protest and work against our unjust governmental practices in peaceful ways.

1Pe 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

  When a governmental authority seems to get away with so much corruption and evil, it is difficult to endure it by human effort alone. That is why we need Christ - as our Cornerstone - in our lives. Many Christians (including me), are continually praying for patience while enduring the knowledge of how outrageously bad this current government here in America really is!

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

Jesus told us that in this world we will have many trials, tribulations, and sorrows. But we are to take heart because He has overcome the world!

Jhn 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Admittedly, it is hard to submit to rulers who are evil and unjust. The Bible says that such rulers are ignorant and foolish:

1Pe 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

  And, 1 Peter 1:24-25 helps to put them (and even me) in their place. It shows the reality of the fact that our time on this earth is like a brief breath compared to existence in eternity!

1Pe 1:24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

1Pe 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." [fn] And this is the word that was preached to you.

  Studying the Bible helps Christians realize that worldly wisdom is only earthly. It is an nonspiritual and demonic type of wisdom.   The desires of such "wisdom" take us away from God's Word, wisdom, and purpose in this life.  That is why the "world" can proudly claim that abortion is O.K. and that "gay" behavior and same-sex marriage isn't wrong.

Studying, applying, and sharing God's wisdom from the Bible brings reasonableness. It is wisdom from the Lord that brings truth, salvation, and peace in the hearts of all believers.

 No matter what transpires on this earth, NO ONE can take away the joy of God's elect!

 Although we are like strangers in the world, we praise God for His mercy, grace and love; and for Him having chosen us "out of the world" according to the foreknowledge of God. Through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, we become more obedient to Christ because of his sacrifice of blood for our sakes and for our salvation.

I often praise God in prayer for the great mercy he has given me via the new birth (See John 3) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. His historically undisputed  resurrection to life on the third day proves who Jesus really is and the inheritance that he offers his own can never perish, spoil or fade. It is kept in heaven for me by God's power until salvation which is to be revealed in the last days.

As God's children, we are purposed to "be holy, because God is holy."

I recently looked up the definition of "holy" in the dictionary. Most definitions include some version of the following:

 "dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion. Saintly, godly pious, devout. Having a spiritually pure quality. Entitled to worship."

  However, according to the Word Origin and History book, "holy" means:

 "that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated."

That definition explains exactly why Christ came to this earth to die for our sins on the cross at Calvary. That is why God the Father turned away as all of the sins of the world were heaped upon Jesus while on that cross. That is why Jesus, who usually referred to God as his "Father" cried out, "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was Jesus in his humanity, who for the first time had to suffer a time of separation away from God the Father as he bore our sin in his body in order to redeem those of us who repent, confess, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!  This affords us the opportunity to be forgiven and reunited with God for all eternity!

As I had stated in my previous post - what could possibly be better?

People these days stumble over Christ. They reject what they do not know or understand.  They often mock, ridicule, disparage, and hate Christ and his followers. They are utterly foolish to reject God's provision for salvation!

Jesus is so precious to those who believe in him!  He is precious to God the Father. However, Psalm 118:22, which was quoted by Christ in Matthew 21:33-42 tells us:

"the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

Someone (Jesus) who is so "marvelous in our eyes" was rejected by those who refused to believe that he was (and is!) the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament!

  Paul informs us how to fight against "the weapons of the world." Our weapons are the Bible, prayer, and the Gospel of Christ!

2Cr 10:3  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

2Cr 10:4  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2Cr 10:5  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The truth is, the only hope of the lost - those who do not yet know the Lord Jesus Christ - is the Gospel message.

I love the way Peter ends the second chapter:

1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1Pe 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

5 comments:

GMpilot said...

(GMpilot raises hand)

Hostess! 'Scuse me! Christine!!

Would you please explain what you mean by 'a globalist Marxist Islamo-Fascist, anti-Christian, anti-Israel dictatorship kind of government'? Oh, I understand the 'anti-Christian' part; I know what Marxism is, and I don't care for a dictatorship in Israel or anywhere else...but Islamo-Fascist? Can you describe exactly what that is, so we'll know you're not just slinging fancy-sounding words around? The original Fascists were from a Christian country, you know.

CJW: ”People these days stumble over Christ. They reject what they do not know or understand. They often mock, ridicule, disparage, and hate Christ and his followers. They are utterly foolish to reject God's provision for salvation!”

“It ain't the parts of the Bible I don't understand that bother me; it's the parts that I do understand.”

”Further down in the 1 Peter 2:13-25 verses, we find that being conscious of God makes it commendable for us to endure it. I think that this is what millions of Christians in America and around the world are doing today; despite the awful and terrible conditions that they are suffering under due to corrupt and evil governments.”

How are American Christians suffering compared to, say, Christians in Myanmar? US Christians are a persecuted majority. You're not being singled out, despite what you think. In this country, Christians have all of the guns, all of the resources, and most of the money...but to hear you talk, one would think this is the USSR in the 1930s, or South Africa in the 1970s. You can claim that, but you can't demonstrate it. And like the first-century believers, you're still looking for your avenging warrior-king to arrive and save you.

Christinewjc said...

GM,

If you would go to
GBTV and sign up for the free 5 or 10 day subscription, then you could see today' broadcast of a documentary entitled:

Rumors of War III Target U.S. Then you would understand why I included the Islamo-Fascist description of this current corrupt and evil government under the puppet known at Barack Hussein Obama.

Description of documentary:

The infiltration of radical Islam (including within our government) and the consequences of denying hostile threats to America.

Christinewjc said...

More information about the documentary here:

The Blaze.com: GBTV‘s ’Rumors of War III’ Examines Strategic Islamist Penetration of U.S. at The Highest Level

GMpilot said...

Two hours of Glenn Beck's spittle is not an explanation of "Islamo-Fascism". I want your explanation, not his.

But, I'll give this a hearing, even if I have to make a trial subscription to GBTV. I'm funny that way.
I'll just make sure to flush my computer afterwards.

Christinewjc said...

I don't even need to explain the connection between radical Islam and Fascism. Pat Dollard exposes it!

Excerpt:

Excerpted from The Blaze: On Wednesday evening GBTV unveiled the highly anticipated special, “Rumors of War III, Target U.S.” The documentary examined how radical Islamist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood, are gaining a foothold in America, be it via the growing threat of Mexican drug cartels or the infiltration of Muslim Brotherhood mouthpieces in the U.S. government. Given that the Obama administration has essentially declared the war on terror over, it seems some have chosen to dismiss the power, reach and actual motivations of these militant groups. In order to understand the threat, however, one must understand who these Islamists really are — their roots, ideology and ultimate stated goals.

The Muslim Brotherhood: “Jihad is our way”

Founded in 1928 by Egyptian schoolteacher and staunch Adolf Hitler admirer, Hasan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood is no new-comer to the game of radical Islam. In fact, the Sunni group is considered the oldest and most powerful Islamist organization in the world to date. It is the ideological predecessor of Hamas, Hezbollah and even al Qaeda. Active in at least 70 countries around the world (some estimates claim 100), the Brotherhood’s long-stated purpose is to provide resistance to the secularization and westernization of Islamic nations by promoting the tenets of the Quran and its “legal” framework, Shariah law. Further, its ultimate goal was to be the destruction of non-Islamic states through jihad — or holy war — resulting in the establishment of an Islamic caliphate — one that would eclipse the whole of the western world and beyond.