Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | bowler | 206750 | ||
What exactly does it mean to suffer as a Christian and how far in obeying Christ should we go? What if obeying Christ means our whole lives would be ruined? What if obeying Christ means dying because you don't retaliate, "and if you are struck, don't strike back"? At what point do Christians say enough, when it gets dangerous, or very impossible to keep going without losing everything? blessings abound, bowler |
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2 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | remorse2 | 206762 | ||
We must suffur unto death. The example of Christ on the cross and Shadraq Meshak and Abednigo and the firey furnace are awesome examples. I must point out the legal authorities were persecuting them. Understand the difference is the persecution because of Christianity is different than someone trying to beat you up because they are mean. Here in the U.S. the law does not allow someone to strike you for the fun of it. That means a Christian can call the cops and have them arrested and brought to trial. Of course you will need to forgive them but obeying the law of the land is our obligation as well. So you may need to testify in court. Remember God forgave Moses but God still punished Moses for his fits of rage. Now will your whole life be ruined. Probably. It especially looks like it from your perspective. The disciples thought their life was ruined when Christ died on the cross. Well don't quit. After three days of waiting things looked better. I don't know how long you will need to wait. The new life you will lead will be NEW. Look at it as an adventure. Many modern day Christians in Iran, China and Sudan escape from persecution to safer countries. If you are in the states there are some houses of refuge in the big cities. Look at my profile and email me directly if you need any furthur clarification. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May his countenace fall upon you and give you peace. Albert. |
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3 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | bowler | 206778 | ||
remorse2 Thank you for your most graceful answer. The reason I asked the question is because I have been coming across other Christians who are facing circumstances where they would have to choose between having a nice life living the way they are and truning around and obeying Christ instead. If some of them, not all of them, were to do this they would have to leave evertything behind that they have worked so hard to have and their lives would definitely be ruined. Some of these cricumstances are life style arrangements and are not suffering for the sake of proclaiming the gospel. Others have been attacked out in the street and some fought and some didn't. As a Christian it is hard to know what to do becuase the laws of society say you can defend yourself, but the Bible says turn the other cheek. That sounds like a no brainer on the surface, just obey the Bible, but if we take Romans 13 as part of obeying the Bible, it is possible to consider defending yourself. Of course I would take the Bible over the law as long as I didn't break the law, but others may not see it that way. So its not really from my perspective that I am asking, but that I know people who either will have to choose to suffer to follow Christ, or who choose not to suffer for Christ and obeyed the law, but disobeyed Christ. By the way, your profile does not contain your email! :) blessings abound, bowler |
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4 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | Val | 206781 | ||
Bowler, Are you saying in your first paragraph that obeying Christ does not provide "a nice life". Your statement "they would have to leave everything behind that they have worked so hard to have" is difficult to understand. Are you saying professors of Christ should have no possessions? Your statement "Their lives would definitely be ruined" is difficult to understand as well. Your further statements are hard to understand as well without details. From your perspective it seems you think you are the only one who is on track. That is a Pharisee attitude is it not? Matt 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 3 Matt 7:4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 4 Matt 7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. |
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5 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | bowler | 206826 | ||
Val I must respectuly say that I am confused about your post to me. I don't think I have all the answers and am the only one who is on track. If you would realy like to know the circumstances that occassion that comment please just ask, these are people I know personally and as far as they are concerned their lives would be ruined by "turning around and sinning no more" as they put it. What I have tried to do in my post is not volunteer information that is so specific as to make the question have to be about a specific narrow paritcular subject as I know three people with different life situations this would apply to. In the name of blessed Jesus, why would you say to me that I have a Pharisee atitude? I will qualify my statment in the first paragraph for you - No, I am not saying Christ does not provide a nice life. I am saying once you have built your entire life, your house, your family, your job, on things that are the direct result of sin - if you then turn around and walk away from the sin that is the direct source of keeping these things, in obedience to Christ, you may have to be required give up the house, parts of the family, the job - and that could ruin your life. That is what my friends are saying to me, not me, but them. Christ may very well give them "a nice life" sometime afterwards, Christ is good, Christ is great. That does not mean these people will not at first have ruined lives and suffer for a long time before Christ rebuilds their lives. Hence the "suffering for Christ", hence the "ruined life". You seem to leave out the part where I say there are different ways to look at suffering and that the law could also be being obedient to Christ and that others may see things differently. Your post to me seems to be implying by your scriptures that I am standing in judgment of others and am a hypocrite, which I most respectfully and most certainly am not. Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to perserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. blessings abound, bowler blessings abound, bowler |
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6 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | azurelaw | 206834 | ||
Dear bowler, I believe Val will speak for herself in replying to you. However, I would like to agree with Val's observation as to your post 206778 which I, too, find it conveyed the idea as Val has asked. It is good that you have explained it now. May I also point out some of the puzzles that I have in regards to your post? 1/ You say: ... these are people I know personally and as far as they are concerned their lives would be ruined by "turning around and sinning no more" as they put it... But in your post 206778, you say : I have been coming across other Christians who are facing circumstances where they would have to choose between having a nice life living the way they are and truning around and obeying Christ instead... It appears that you are talking about the same group of people. So, if they refuse to turn away from sin for fear of ruining their lives, are they really Christians? Turning away from sin is not "suffer for Christ" but a demonstration of our faith in and obedience to the Lord. (Matt 16:24, Rom 6) 2/ What kind of life is ruined? How would you interpret "ruined life" in a biblical sense for Christians? John 10:9-10, 15:1-6 Matt 7:13-14 2 Cor 2:6-10 I urge you to pray for your friends instead of querying about their sinful lives. (John 21:22) Shalom Azure |
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7 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | Wild Olive Shoot | 206839 | ||
Dear Azure, I wish I could have put my thoughts to this as clearly as you have. Thank you. Stand in His grace, WOS |
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8 | How Far Are We To Suffer For Christ? | 1 Pet 4:16 | azurelaw | 206849 | ||
Brother WOS, Thank you for your kind words. In fact, I have learnt a lot from reading your posts. Shalom Azure |
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