Please take a minute to read this article, which reports of an anti-bullying conference for high school students that turned out to be a Bible-bashing during which many students walked out. I cannot understand why society chooses to be tolerant of everyone's beliefs and lifestyles except those of Christians. It is wrong. The article says the host of the conference didn't even apologize to the students; instead, the host claimed that as journalists the students would have to listen to things they didn't agree with, but this is way beyond a difference of opinion. This is someone bullying Christian teens while other teens cheer him on. Terrible.
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/anti-bullying-speaker-curses-mocks-christian-teens.html
I've also read recently about a pastor in Arizona who has been PUT IN JAIL for holding Bible Study in his home. The officals claim that his Bible Study makes his home a place of worship, which violates zoning laws.
This persecution of Christians is the result of too much tolerance on the part of Christian Americans. Over the years, we have stood by and allowed our beliefs to be compromised, and our reward is to now be persecuted in our own "Christian" nation.
I challenge you to read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the messages to the churches. Here are a few excerpts that should really hit home:
Revelation 2
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 3
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
These passages are taken from the messages to the seven churches. Repeated throughout these two chapters is the phrase, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
I pray that we hear and take to heart what He is saying to us today.
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