Today,
guidance and thoughts are shared on oppression, persecution, and
suffering endured by followers of Jesus Christ. Spiritual
discernment must be used to obtain relief from persecution, and to
recognize and respond to the victory of Jesus Christ over
persecution. Governments may operate as a godlike, invincible, all
powerful, unseen actor. Persecution occurs as a conflict among two
or more powerful belief systems (e.g., a religious and a government
power). More than simply bribery, petty crimes, dishonest behavior,
and misrepresentation by individual sinners who work in government
should come into view, for during persecution official policies and
procedures are altered in order to systematically destroy and
suppress alternative belief systems. As a form of belief system
themselves, nations and states are vulnerable to manipulation by
religious powers because, only by abiding in obedience and genuine
respect to godly law do nations escape confusion, self-destruction,
ruin, and sin. The Constitution of the United States extends freedom
of conscience to those acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Savior as
well as to those who are atheists, to disbelievers in Christianity,
to Satanists, and to those committed to other belief systems and
forms of faith. Even so, all Americans are held to the same
standards for co-existence, peaceful exchange, public order, and
shared respect. When Christians focus more on tribulation spoken of
in prophecy, rather than on the soon coming of Christ, many are quick
to sound an alarm against persecution. Developing Christians, and
those who are not members of the church, complain and make false
accusations that the church is now enduring persecution and
suffering; and they protest that the church will not be able to
survive within the present World system that relies on carnal reason,
philosophy, science, secular
knowledge, technology, and
violence. While the church is to
be vigilant, life experience on the earth demands that the living
regularly engage in meaningful activity, be nourished, work, and
rest. That we exist within communities composed of multiple ethnic
groups, of those who use different languages, and of those on varying
levels of economic, intellectual, and social growth is not a
condition of oppression and persecution. That we as individuals are
not immediately rewarded or shown favor for every act of kindness we
perform; that we encounter seasons of hardship; that we must go to
school and pay for education, tools, and training; that we are
required to work long hours; and will be held accountable for finding
and maintaining necessary food, shelter, and clean water for
ourselves, family, or other companions are not examples of
persecution or suffering. Neither is it persecution that many of us
come under obligation to fulfill unpleasant duties; are pressured to
divulge secrets and speak truth continually; and may daily come under
various forms of challenge, judgment, review and testing. It is
written: Galatians 4: 28-29, King James Version (KJV): 28 Now we,
brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then
he that was born
after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even
so it is
now.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: The wicked in his
pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that
they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s
desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom
the LORD
abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will
not seek after
God: God is
not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments
are
far above out of his sight: as
for all his enemies, he
puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I
shall not be moved: for I
shall never be
in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:
under his tongue is
mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the
villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his
eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as
a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth
catch the poor, when he draweth
him into his net. He croucheth, and
humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath
said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will
never see it.
Arise, O LORD;
O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. (Psalms 10:
2-12, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Kings, Popes, Priests, Prophets? (09/22/2019);
Suffering Among the Saved (03/12/2019); Divine Fruit From Suffering?
(12/19/2018); An Account of Persecution (12/03/2018); Fear Them Not
Therefore (12/29/2017); Testing and Divine Process (06/12/2017); A
Price for Religious Liberty? (06/30/2015)
Cases
of persecution on the earth must be tried in the higher courts of
heaven. Ordinarily, we think of government and religion as contrary
to one another, and like oil and water, should not be mixed. In the
same way “hate crimes” are easy to recognize, yet are very
difficult to prosecute in courts on the earth, government damage by
offenses against divinity and from “persecution” may be strongly
felt by Christian believers and throughout a community of faith, yet,
credible cases and claims demanding relief are difficult to bring
before the courts maintained among mankind. Mature Christian
believers acknowledge persecution as more than simple human bullying,
meddling, incompetence, or hidden interpersonal conflict anchored in
the meanness, exaggerated pride, and selfishness existing between
individuals who are known to one another. During periods of
persecution, confusion, deceit, distrust, fear, helplessness, and
hopelessness may prevail. Thrusts that on surface are acceptable,
justified and legitimate are made against the continued existence of
divine law, against operations of the Holy Spirit, and against the
church as a living sacred presence.
When
there is persecution, a strong religious coalition influences,
manipulates, and uses human government as a tool to suppress the
doctrine, growth, and practice of other religious groups.
Persecution is a form of widespread lawlessness that encourages bias,
despair, discrimination, inequality, irreverence, prejudice, and
racism. To disrupt ongoing operations of a targeted assembly, the
government is used to cover up and disguise malfeasance and fraud,
decree malicious legislation, authorize excessive law enforcement
practices, pursue espionage, and seize the belongings and property of
others. Individuals in positions of authority, leadership and trust
within the targeted groups may be assassinated, corrupted,
incarcerated, publicly tried and executed, slandered or tortured, and
their families may be divided and separated. Consider again the
following that uses language from the Bible, and a selection from the
music ministry of Dietrick Haddon with Donnie McClurkin:
(1.)
Matthew 5: 10-12, King James Version (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.
(2.)
2nd Timothy 3: 12, KJV: 12 Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(3.)
Acts 13: 49-50, KJV: 49 And the word of the Lord was published
throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and
honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their
coasts.
(4.)
Ephesians 6: 10-13, KJV: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (5.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v0GNf6haCIA.)
Even
so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according
to your faith.
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THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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