(03/28/2017) The Peace to Endure?

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Director Mel Gibson with Actor Jim Caviezel

 

Today, focus is on how Christian believers are to respond to recurring insults and persecution in Social Media.  In the same way the challenges for maintaining security for data and files shared over  the Internet have become a major obstacle to its use, the difficulty of enforcing online user agreements, continuing genuine etiquette, and maintaining standards of common decency now discourage many from using the forums provided by the World Wide Web.  For those who are born again through Jesus Christ, concerns about communication, disappointments, false accusers, mockers, and frustration when seeking to teach or share with others should be carried to the Lord.  Increasingly, there are those (called “trolls”) who express anger, bitterness, imbalance, irrational hostility, malice, venom, and vulgarity.  Even though their behavior may be seen as arrogant, cruel, hateful, and without compassion, because mockers are deceived, they often are sure they will be amusing to others, will be well thought of, and will become popular.  When not clearly asked for advice and counsel, rather than seeking to tell the mocker what he must do, the response of believers must be their own return to GOD, and intercession for those who are victims of callousness.  The peace for Christian believers to endure the abuse by trolls also is called being grounded in sacred knowledge, faith, joy, longsuffering, divine love, strength, and trust.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers (New Zealand)” using the ID “JayNat” (Level 3 with 1,212 points, a member since March 01, 2017) posted the following:

 

What can be done to stop the "Romans sodomizing Jesus" questions once and for all?

I believe that initially just one person was asking that question. But now several trolls are continuing that trend.

Such questions are becoming more vulgarity and gross these days.

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  (Colossians 1:  9-18, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Passion of Christ? (03/16/2017); The Peace of Christmas? (12/25/2016); When GOD Never Forgives? (12/28/2015); Martyrdom and Tribulation? (09/30/2015); A Price for Religious Liberty? (06/30/2015); Guilt and Ignorance? (12/04/2014); Joined To Christ Through Faith (12/05/2014); Denying Oneself (05/17/2014); From Such Turn Away (05/18/2014)

 

“JayNat”, our continuing need, even as mature Christians, is for peace (the strength) that allows us to endure.  Until sin is completely eliminated and erased there will be those proclaiming error, exaggerated pride, ignorance, and lust.  Before his death as well as through the apostles, Jesus instructed believers to expect insults, opposition, persecution from government and religious institutions, concealed thrusts against the doctrine, and efforts to kill his steadfast disciples and followers.  Many who repeatedly post accusations, blasphemy, insinuations, and slander against Jesus Christ, his Church, and the Holy Spirit do so because they are apostate, immature, simple (i.e., underdeveloped), and capable of showing respect only to things carnal, inanimate, material, and social.  They are sinners and blind to the sacred spirit content in events, other persons, the holy writings, and themselves.  That these offensive writers justify themselves, and are not justified by GOD, is evident, for even by obedience to divine law, no man is justified before Deity.  Despite appeals, shared instruction, and warnings, these sinners can not comprehend that they are hurting many others who are sensitive people by their disrespect and irreverence.  Some are now enslaved as minions of the Adversary whose awareness and self-will are dominated by the operations of sin that generate death, destruction, nonexistence, and return to the conditions that were in place before Creation.  The recourse granted believers is that we focus more completely and correctly upon Christ through contemplation, duty, fellowship with other believers, prayer, study, and unselfish service.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  John 16:  1-3, King James Version (KJV):  1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  2 They shall put you out of the synagogues:  yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

(2.)  Matthew 5:  10-12, KJV:  10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:  for great is your reward in heaven:  for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

(3.)  1st Timothy 4:  1-2, KJV:  1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

(4.)  2nd Timothy 3:  1-5, KJV:  1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Galatians 5:  19-23, KJV:  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC