"Counterfeit Persecution" Of Christians

The news headlines of the last several months over seas have been dealing with heavy persecution of Christians. For example: Take the Pastor who is in an Iranian prison right now for having bible studies in his home there.

Saeed Abedini, 34, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was sentenced to eight years in prison by an Iranian court last year for undermining national security by setting up home-based Christian churches in his native country from 2000 to 2005. 

Or 

Boko Haram kidnapping 50 people and holding them hostage, while their families agonize of their whereabouts 

Or

Islamic militant Isis group selling Nothern Iraqi girls into slavery. 

 

Or

Leader: ISIS is ‘Systematically Beheading Children' in 'Christian Genocide'

I could go on and on with the violent persecution that's happening to Christians all over the world, and more headlines.

 But for our purpose here; I want to talk to Christians in the United States.

I talk with a lot of Christians every week that have a lot of stories they like to share with me about all of their "Trials" they face daily. Most of which are not trials at all, but temptations. And it would seem more often than not they do not understand the differences between Trials, Persecutions, and Temptations and their desires. 

 

Dear Christian, I write this letter to you so  that you will fully understand the difference between "Temptation and Persecution".  

Dear Christian, in the West. Persecution is  not "A person who over eats all the time and they're over weight because of it, to where the keep falling into gluttony. Eating bags of chips and gallons of ice cream is not persecution. It's falling into temptation'

 Persecution is not when a person is slothful and lazy. Nobody can say.. "I'm persecuted, that's why I'm lazy and don't exercise, work, help others, look for ways to serve, etc... No. That's not persecution either. 

Persecution is not Pornography addiction. That's a lustful vice

Persecution is not one's "vices"! But Temptation is. 

Point for writing this, is many believers find themselves beat down by their own sinful temptations that they confuse "that," for being persecuted. 

In the Spirit of 2nd Corinthians 10:12..But when they measure themselves by one another they are without understanding... 

I think this is so true in the West. We compare ourselves with each and every average believer in the U.S and "Thus. The thing Paul warned against is paramount. 

Dear Christian, I write this to you so you will not confuse your sinful vices for what our dearBrothers and sisters are facing now in other parts of This world. 

He who the Son sets free is free indeed! John 8:36

I hope this was helpful and challenging for those of us that live in the west

 

For Futher reading: Ephesians 6:1-8