Persecution of Christians around the world is at an historic and all-time high.
While there is great cause for concern for their plight, one thing we can be
quite confident of is that the Christian religion will live on. Christianity has
outlived every tyrannical regime, stretching from the Roman Empire, to the
Soviet Union. It will also outlive the murderous Islamic regime of Sudan, and
the totalitarian Communist tyranny of China.History has repeatedly shown that
brutally attacking the Christian, whether through imprisonment, torture, or
execution, has never served to undermine faith. Persecution only serves to
strengthen the Christian faith.Every time in history, and in every culture, when
Christianity has been assailed, the faith of its victims is bolstered, and the
gospel then spreads like a wild fire. A contemporary example of this is China,
where perhaps the greatest expansion of the gospel in history is taking place,
under the constant harassment of a brutal Communist regime.Modern enemies of the
church are not altogether ignorant of this phenomena, and at least some have
recognized that much more effective means are available for curtailing the
expansion of Christ's kingdom.In his seminal treatise on the political doctrine
of the separation of government powers, The Spirit Of the Laws (1748),
Montesquieu notes:"Therefore, one does not succeed in detaching the soul from
religion by filling it with this great object, by bringing it closer to the
moment when it should find religion of greater importance. A more certain way to
attack religion is by favor, by the comforts of life, by the hope of wealth; not
by what reminds one of it, but by what makes one forget it; not by what makes
one indignant, but by what makes men lukewarm, when other passions act on our
souls, and those which religion inspires are silent. In the matter of changing
religion, State favors are stronger than penalties."This is precisely the
formula that has been followed by our own government, in recent years, as it
grows ever more hostile toward Christian values. Rather than attack Christianity
through various "penalties", the modern method is to render the church
"lukewarm" by doling out "State favors." The most prominent of "favors" today is
the tax-exempt license. But in reality, the granting of a tax exemption to the
church is a monumental con job.Churches are not merely "exempt" from taxation
because they make application to the IRS for that legal "privilege", they are
non-taxable because of the First Amendment. It's a matter of jurisdiction. The
government may only tax that which it has jurisdiction over.Interestingly
enough, even the IRS acknowledges that churches are tax-exempt and
tax-deductible without ever applying for that status. In their words, it's
"automatic" (Pub. 557 and IRC Sec. 508). Furthermore, contributions to churches
are also "automatically" tax deductible (Pub. 526). Why then do churches
subordinate themselves to the IRS, and thereby waive many important
constitutionally guaranteed rights? Why do they agree to the numerous
restrictions imposed on them by the 501c3 status? Certainly not because they
were well informed. It only happens out of ignorance."My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)Many a preacher is getting fed up with having
their tax-exempt status held over their head, and used as a mechanism for
restricting their speech. The 501c3 is a huge liability to all but the most
politically correct of churches.Churches generally organize as 501c3 at the
advice of their attorney; but those who did so only got one side of the story.
Just wait until you hear "the rest of the story."For materials on how to
unlicense your church, or to organize a "free-church", call 1-417-337-7533, ext.
1, or visit us on the web at: http://hushmoney.org. You may also request to have
a brochure mailed to you.Mr. Kershaw is a legal and historic researcher and
founder of Heal Our Land Ministries, and may be contacted through
http://hushmoney.orgFollowing the SpiritA K WhiteheadFrank Sinatra made famous
the song "I Did It My Way". It has become so famous that sometimes one even
hears it played at funerals - even Christian funerals. It is as though people
are so loose in their knowledge about what God wants of us that they see having
"done it" their own way as a real testament to the quality of their lives.But
the principle on which this song is founded is anathema to the Christian trying
to follow Christ. It is the last thing we should want as a summary of our lives
- that we did everything in our own way!We are called to live as Jesus lived.
One crucial aspect of his life was that it was led by the Holy Spirit. This was
at least from the start of his public ministry when, after his baptism in the
Jordan, Luke 4. 1 tells us that he was driven into the desert by the
Spirit.There are other scriptures which one could quote also if space allowed.
But the lesson is that, to live as Jesus lived, we also need to be led by the
Spirit. Easy to say. But how do we do it?First EssentialThe first essential is
to know that this is really what God requires of us. We all "know" it in an
academic way. We know it as a principle. But what we also need to have is the
conviction of it!If we do not have that already, there is only one way to get
it: by prayer. Preferably by prayer based on the scriptures.meditate on
selected, relevant passages, especially from the New Testament, and preferably
from the gospels. (This is discussed in detail by a book on our site: "The keys
to Christian Meditation"). For example, read the gospels carefully explicitly
looking for passages which have especial reference to Jesus being led by the
Spirit. You need to find them. They are not always overt, so look with care and
take your time.Meditate on these passages allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you.
Search for the realisation that we are to imitate the example set for us by
Jesus.The conviction may come in various ways: all at once, or as a gradual
process of a growing conviction which no one can give you the details for in
advance.Second Essential;Once we really know that this is really what God wants
of us, the second essential is to integrate it into our lives. Easy to say. But
how do we start?We start with the determination not to take decisions "off our
own bat", not to live as we want but as God wants. We want to end up saying "I
did it his way", not "I did it my way".You can begin in either of two ways.
Start with the really important decisions and work down to the daily ones; or
start with the small ones and work up to the big ones. This is a matter of
personal choice - but also of opportunityWhat the big ones? Changing job,
changing house, changing church and so forth. Maybe we are not facing major
decisions like this. So we then have no alternative but to start with less
important ones: joining a new club, where to go on holiday, take up some new
pastime.In all these matters it is not what we want but what he wants. And any
apparently small matter could turn out to be extremely important because we
never know where a decision will lead. Still less where it will lead when God
makes it for us! That is one of the things that makes being a (Spirit led)
Christian really exciting.So pray and ask for direction in all these things. The
Holy Spirit lives within every Christian. If we have the conviction of this,
then we ought to have little difficulty in turning to ask the Spirit's
direction. But...Third EssentialThe greatest problem we have in seeking God's
will is our own will. It repeatedly gets in the way. It is like trying to push a
ball down under the water. Every time we relax the pressure it shoots back to
the surface. So the third essential is that we must be sure we are following
God's will and not our own. We do not want to be looking for confirmations which
merely confirm our own preferences.One excellent method is given by Ignatius of
Loyola. He recommends that, whatever our own preference is in a given decision,
we should pray for the grace to want the opposite. If you have a desire to move
house, pray for the desire stay in your present house. As the grace comes from
God over a period, we shall eventually arrive at a kind of equilibrium position
where we are indifferent as to whether we stay or move. The we are in a position
to hear God speaking to us.Following Is ForsakingFollowing God's will is
forsaking our own. That is rarely easy, especially in the world we live in
today. The media, not least TV, constantly tells us in all manner of ways that
we need to fullfil all our own desires if we are to be happy. One current advert
tells us that, whatever we want, "You are worth it".But can you honestly say
that, however much you have responded to such adverts, you have actually been
truly happier as a result of buying the product? Most likely not, because
happiness is God-shaped and only doing his will, in big and in small things, can
really bring us happiness.850 wordsAbout The Author:A K WhiteheadWeb Site:
www.christianword.co.uk. Experience: Over twenty years in Christian healing,
teaching and writing. Qualifications: B.A., M.Phil., Camb Univ Cert in Religious
Studies This article may be reproduced on condition that it is unaltered and
that all this information is included.
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