Set The World Ablaze

TThe year is 64 AD, and Nero is Rome's emperor. The first major account of Christian persecution has just begun, and little did the Romans know, that it would carry over until present times.

Not many people realize it, but Christians today are few and far between. The world has fed us this world-view, that tells us that if we are a Christian we are not cool, nice, pretty,etc. The Bible Belt is slowly being worn down, and what used to be known as a predominately Christian country, has become a country full of non-Christians and skeptics. Quite honestly, I don't know why either.

As a Christian today, you may not realize it, but because of the newly acquired world-view in America, we are being persecuted.

Recently, I had a first hand experience with this. Likewise, this wasn't the first time it has happened to me. I was speaking with a C1 (classmate 1), and he asked me if I was the person who had told C2 (classmate 2) that C1 had stolen his phone. Naturally, I said "Yes." I wasn't going to lie about it, and I saw it happen. When asked why I told C2 that C1 had stolen his phone, I replied, " Because I am a Christian, and I have a good enough conscience to tell the truth. It's what I am supposed to do." C1, got mad, told me that I had lied to C2. Basically, I told him that I had seen it with my own eyes, and I wouldn't have told C2 if I didn't know beyond a shadow of a doubt. He replied (excuse the bleeped vulgarities) , " Man, f--- your baby Jesus. F--- him b----. I don't give a d--- who you pray to. You ain't going to heaven b----. F--- Jesus. Don't lie on me again b----. " Harsh treatment to a guy who was just doing the right thing. Still, it brought a slight tear into my eye.

In Philip Gourevitch's article, "What We Saw At The Holocaust Museum" he questions why God would allow such a thing as the holocaust to happen. A woman he asked inside the museum's cafe had this to say.

I put away my magazine and go to the museum cafe for coffee. There, I meet Virginia Slemker of Dayton, Ohio, and her sister, Sue Thornbro of Sterling, Va. The women, both in their 50's, tell me they share a longstanding interest in the Holocaust, a chapter of history, they explain, that is full of associations in the contemporary world.

"Abortion comes into mind for me," Slemker says, "because there are so many that are being killed and, I think, because of the innocence of the victims."

Thornbro agrees. Like the Germans who allowed the Holocaust to happen, She says, today's Americans "don't want to go and see and know what's happening in the clinics."

The sisters describe themselves as Protestants who believe that the Bible is the literal truth, so I raise the question that has provoked intense theological debate in the past half century: Where was God during the Holocaust?

I've thought about that," Slemker says. "You can't have a Santa Claus attitude toward God. He allows everything. He allows the tragedy and He allows the mountaintops. He was there. And some did come through, and that was him too. I don't know why. Ask God. Interview God."

"Sin brought it into the world," Thornbro says. "It was Adam who made the choice, and history will repeat itself. In America, we've been having religious freedom since we started, and now if you're a Christian, you're persecuted."

"You have a picture of Christ on your desk in the workplace," Slemker says, "you can get a lawsuit."

Even today,we are persecuted because of our faith. It makes me angry, but yet, I realize that I serve an Amazing God. Too often, there are people who doubt their faith, merely because the world practically commands them to do this. It creates a lot of havoc and mayhem in your heart and mind. However, God is absolute. He is there in times of doubt and need, and for me, that has been a mainstay in my mind.

In order to be strong in your faith, I believe you have to be tried. Rich Mullins' song said it best, "In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace, that where I am, there you may also be" We need to have a strong foundation. Christianity is no longer the "cool" thing. In school and life, people won't do anything without proof. Even the forums I speak on about Alabama Football, you cannot convince anyone of anything without a "link" to proof or a story. Likewise, people to want to be absolutely convinced, that Christianity is what is right. They want to know that it's true.

What these people don't realize is that Christianity is the most tried religion on the Earth. The Bible has been around since BEFORE Nero began killing Christians. It was burned back then. Hitler confiscated Bibles and burnt them, as did other societies. Still, the Bible is the best-selling book in the world. There's gotta be some validity to it, right? Right.

The proof is there in bold print, yet the world will not, absoLUTELY will not accept it.

The truth of the matter is, that we cannot change it. We can use ourselves as vessels in faith, for Christ. However, HE is the one who changes their hearts.

This world is lost, and the rate of survival is slowly decreasing. I urge you to pray. Stay strong in your faith. A lot of people will question it. If you don't know of this faith, feel free to ask me about it. I'd be glad to discuss it with you.

Christians: Be in prayer for the people of your school, your peers, and your family even. We need to set the world ablaze for Christ.

In an ideal world, America would be gathering to hear sermons in HUGE crowds, just like was done from the 1600s to the 1800s. Jonathan Edwards' sermon " Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God" drew an entire community in to listen. Imagine what the world would be like if it were like that again today.

That is my passion, my desire; to see the world revived in Christ. What an awesome thing it WILL be.