I wonder what I'll notice that I missed the first time.
As a Christian, I have not been blind to the rising tide of animosity and vile attacks on my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Around the world Christians are being persecuted and martyred at increasing rates. In the U.S. the persecution has mostly been a slow eroding of liberties mixed with rising targeting by those that want Christianity abolished. Atheist groups, pro-homosexual groups, and anyone else ticked off enough have delighted in waging all out war against Christians in the courts and in the media. There has been a lot of flopping opinions by those that want votes or public approval.
God's Not Dead helped. Most Christians hold no hatred toward the groups that hate us. We know Jesus said we would be hated, but we are to pray for our enemies and those that persecute us. We may not like being targeted. But the early church was persecuted to a much greater degree, as are many Christians around the world. Some of us may falter, but many will draw closer to God and reach out more. The fact proven again and again is that persecution brings growth in the spreading of the gospel.
There are many potent scenes in God's Not Dead. One of the most riveting for me was what happened to a Muslim girl who was following Christ in secret when her secret was discovered by her father. In some countries, she would have been killed. In America, in the movie, while her life wasn't taken, the life she had known was. It got to me.
Has being a follower of Christ cost you anything?
It has me. I lost some friends, but losing a family member was devastating. Oh, she's still there. We occasionally talk where we once were close. I know I am different. She sees a person that represents a faith that has been outspoken against the lifestyles of some of her friends. She looks at me with a veiled tolerance that says she wishes I wasn't a Christian. We love each other, but the closeness we once shared is not there. She seems to have little use for me. She smiles and is polite, but distant. She isn't silent about her veiled disgust of Christianity, but she tries to not be blatant.
It hurts. I have cried. I pray often for her. I purposely stand for what I believe, but I try not to provoke. I pray and cry out, because I know God can work here. Christianity cost me one of the closest relationships in my life. But to know Jesus...
Is there anything better?
In God's Not Dead, the pastor talked about feeling unchallenged in His work for The Lord. He later learned he is in the trenches.
We are ALL in the trenches of battle. There are physical battles we must fight. There are, more importantly, spiritual battles that can't be left to chance. These battles are fought through prayer and through the Bible.
If you haven't seen God's Not Dead, I encourage you to do so.
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