America: a cursed nation
I love our pastor. I honestly don’t know how anyone could listen to him and not feel totally in awe, inspired and converted by his words; the presence of the Lord is obviously so strong in him, and I give thanks for a pastor who is willing to confront the congregation with the painful subjects. But that’s another post in itself. Right now I am going to focus on America, and why it is a cursed nation. (Many thanks to our Pastor Phil who inspired this post.)
Blessings: physical or spiritual?
“We are so blessed to have such a nice home.” “We are so blessed to live in comfort.” “We are so blessed to live in America…” “We are so blessed…” Blessed we are, and very much indeed; in a physical sense. We are surrounded by luxury, comforts, security and thousands of choices. We are given freedom of speech and religion; we have very few, and even less significant restrictions, struggles and persecution. We are, physically, a blessed nation. Few, except those who fight to protect our rights as a nation, bear the scars of faith fought for and defended; we know hardly anything about the true sufferings that bring a man to the level of a dog; an animal. Our sufferings, though often grossly exaggerated and overrated, are of so little significance. We tend to see ourselves as the only picture of suffering when being “persecuted”, and thus fall into a ridiculous, childish state of self-pity, never even pausing to imagine how small and silly our struggles are in contrast to those who live in a country where speaking the name of Christ is strictly prohibited. Physically, we are provided abundantly with every object and satisfaction our little hearts could desire. Blessed richly are those in America who live only for things, money, or comfort… but the man who lives and breathes solely for Christ in America is cursed. What is a home, but to make us rely upon it’s comforts? What is a job, but to cause us to be self-reliant? What is money, fame, freedom, entertainment and acceptance, but to make us feel powerful, proud, independent, and perfected? To live constantly surrounded in a world that worships these things and still be totally dependent on God and long for His complete dominion and intervention in our lives, is near impossible. Why? Because we are a materialistic nation.
Materialism
Christ created the world, and things, for our pleasure. He takes delight in us, He finds joy in our pleasure and rejoicing, as we use things to bring Him glory. Yet very seldom are our objects and things used to bring Him glory; we often find that our fulfillment and joy in Him is greatest when we learn to let go of earthly things. A.W. Tozer, in the book “The Pursuit of God” states that “Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and “things” were allowed to enter. Within the human heart “things” have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.” America is so centered around possessions that we replace God in our hearts; and we begin to worship materialistic things… things that will eventually lead to our own destruction if we allow our hearts to take this drastic turn. We are cursed with our possessions; they often lead to a slow, lonely, and painful destruction in our spiritual quests.
Why not China?
Are you looking for a place where you can grow spiritually through sweet, very intimate times with God? China is the place for you. Known for it’s harsh persecutors and strict laws, many Christians find it a place where they can find complete fulfillment in Christ; they come closer in a relationship with Him through suffering in prisons than they would in a cushy home in the States. In his sermon last Sunday our pastor recalled, with deep emotion in his voice and tears in his eyes, how martyrs in China would beg him to tell Americans not to pray for them; they want more persecution, so that they can be closer with Christ… in an intimate way that can only be found through suffering with Him. You won’t find any pew sitters or “neutral” Christians in China; all who would proclaim His name as their Savior in such a place are truly and without a doubt His children.
The curse of little suffering
When feeling as if we have been abandoned or cursed by God, what is our first response? To rejoice? Certainly not! Our human nature demands that we curse God back, making everyone around us miserable because of our “afflictions” that seem to hinder us from living a fruitful or abundant life. But if we take but a moment to ponder, we find that it has been and always will be our afflictions and suffering that has changed us, caused us to grow, and brought blessing and evangelism into our lives. Without suffering, we would not know the sweet feelings of peace, surrender, courage, and a closer relationship with God. Suffering at our level is hardly ever accepted or welcomed as it should be; we Americans have a hard time recognizing those times when God, and we, were stronger than ever before. We are cursed in that we do not know the tremendous feeling when we share in Christ’s most painful suffering. We are cursed in that we have little suffering at all! We are cursed in that our nation, though the most free, independent, strong one there is, is the most unable to receive and learn from lessons that other persecuted Christians live for.
May America learn to welcome suffering… may we, as martyrs for Christ, show our country how Christ can make us warriors in our persecution.
Jennifer
Philip. 3:10
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
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9 comments:
Jen - wow! I have been reading in Philippians 3 where Paul tells us how he considers all things rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. The verse you gave follows. Such an amazing chapter! Thank you so much for the thoughts you have given!
"...and thus fall into a ridiculous, childish state of self-pity, never even pausing to imagine how small and silly our struggles are in contrast to those who live in a country where speaking the name of Christ is strictly prohibited."
I love that...it is so easy to think that just because so-and-so "did-some-pathetic-thing-that-threatens-my-existence if we endure it with love etc. that we're doing really great, when really we haven't a clue what real suffering is. We shouldn’t even care! It’s funny how we feel that the offender should be honored that we “choose” to forgive them, when in reality it should be an honor if the offender actually accepts our “mercy” or “grace” (I can’t think of a better word!)
This truly was a very inspiring post. :-)
I find it very hard to remember to rejoice and give thanks when something doesn't go my way, but if I would just remember that whatever my problem is it isn't anything compared to the problems our brothers and sisters in China (or practically any country for that matter) are going thru.
Also, I can choose to accept the problem and plow thru with a smile on my face or I can choose to complain and blame- either way I choose, the problem is still there and I’ll have to handle it one way or the other. It would be so much easier if I would just smile…but sad to say that’s rarely the case.
For some odd-duck reason, my mind seems to think that if I complain and whine, it’ll all go away. That is hardly ever the case; in fact we usually end up with more problems if we take this route.
Oh yes, Tait is my brother and I (Esther) just used his web address. Sorry for the confusion.
Okay…that was a long, odd comment! Which if you wanted to you could pick it apart and find that it’s just another one those comments that are written from the emotions and at 2 am :->.
Your pastor sounds like a very Godly gentleman.
Great blog, keep it up!
Jlapp;
My family and I belong (well, we are going to become members this Sunday) to the PCA church. Yes, I am very thankful for our pastor and his willingness to address the hard subjects!
Esther;
I love comments, especially the long ones. :) Glad you visited my blog; and I have to admit I was rather confused on why your brother would call himself "esther". :)
God bless!
Jennifer
Haha. Poor Tait!
Charles Caleb Colton once said, "The three great apostles of practical atheism that make converts without persecuting, and retain them without preaching, are health, wealth, and power."
In the United States, we have all three of those in abundance, in comparison to other countries.
It is no wonder that even the church grows atheistic in these times of seeming peace.
You've inspired me to write a blog post. I think I will.
In tribulation is the real test of our faith in God, just as Job was tested by Satan, Satan trying to say that once all of Job's blessing have vanished and even the lives of his children taken, that Satan swore to God that Job would curse God, but when Job lost everything, Job was still faithfull, "The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away". And then Satan said to God that if Job's health was taken, that Job would curse God, so God said, take his health but not his life, and when Satan did so, Job still said, Even if the Lord takes my life, I still honor God.
It is the same as those who volunteer to go over seas to put their lives on the line for the rest of us, so that we can live freely. When that person is being shot at, does that person still believe in America, yes. When that person dies, does that person still believe in America, yes. For even Christ said, There is no greater love than one who lays down his life for his friends.
Job and Satan were at war over a test of loyalty to God, and Job glorified God even during his worst trials. So are our men and women who lay down their lives for the rest of us against evil as well. God gave us tremendous freedoms, and we are showing Him that we will defend those blessings, with His help.
Because of that, for the first time in the known history of man, God has blessed men tremendously. Only in America, did man learn to fly, only in America did man build an automobile when for thousands of years, animals were used. Only in America did man find a way to go to another planet and walk on the face of that planet.
Because of our deep faith in God, even during our tests, trials and tribulations, God is faithfull in return, blesses us, and in turn, God has made America a blessing to the rest of the world.
In God We Trust
RG; you need to start a blog!!!! I really enjoy your comments; you should consider blogging.
John Moore;
Hey, if I inspired a post I better keep writing! Thanks for commenting.
It's easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for ANY man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
The point of that verse, was that the man being turned away was considered by everybody at the time as the most qualified man to go to heaven. The point was that, if HE couldnt' get to heaven, nobody could.
The verse closes with 'but with God, all things are possible.'.
We mustn't forget that through God alone do we find the guts- pardon me, the 'instestinal fortitude', to conquer the earth.
In Christ, John.
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