Committed To The Faith

"Faith takes God without any ifs." D.L. Moody

"The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials." George Muller

According to the respected and reliable OUP World Christian Encyclopedia (2001), there have been many more Christian martyrs in the 20th century - over 45 million - than in all of the preceding 19 centuries of Christianity. Of that number, some 32 million were killed by "atheists" and over 9 million by Muslims. The "atheists" denote, overwhelmingly, Soviets and their Communist cohorts and satellites, but also include Nazis and their allies.

The other day while I was preparing for the day, I kept having a question going through my mind. Why was the early church so committed to the faith? I asked God and waited as usual. Most of the time when I ask God for an answer to something He makes me wait and then confirms the answer more than once. The answer usually comes when I have forgotten I even asked the question. This time I received the answer almost immediately. The answer to my question was, the same reason that Christians in other countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and most of Africa are so committed to the faith. Then a scripture came to me. Luke 7

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:36-50 (KJV)

I was amazed and I completely understood. They are so committed because their faith has saved them. I know our faith has saved us too, but why don’t the people here appreciate it as much? These people have been on the wrong road and they know they are sinners. They know they have been worshiping false gods. We make excuses for our false gods. See people used to call false gods, gods. Now we just call them hobbies, entertainment, comforts, etc. When these people in the early church and these people from these Godless countries found the truth and realized they were in the wrong, everything made perfect sense. You know we have something inside of all of us that tells us that God is God. This is natural. Now that these people have found the truth and they have found what their GOD has done for them they are willing to give all glory and all praises only to Him who deserves it. They are willing to sacrifice all they have. They are not worried about what people think about them. They are willing to die if need be. The people in this country are not willing to give up their fashion, or comfort, or pride because God has not told them to stop worrying about themselves. YES HE HAS!!! Ok back to the passage we just read. The woman was willing to embarrass and lower herself to worship her Lord among all of these high level important people. Now Peter was already saved and he was used to being around Jesus. He was comfortable with Jesus. Peter did nothing wrong. However Jesus said that those who are forgiven much will love much. This is where the answer to the question led me. The majority of Christians in this country do not love God as much as the people of the early church or the persecuted Christians in these other countries. Why do we not love God as much? Either we have not sinned as much as these other people or we do not think we have sinned as much as these other people. Regardless of what you think I believe we have sinned as much as these faithful Christians. The people in this country do not love God as much because they have not admitted they are sinners. They truly believe they are better than those poor wretched people in those godless countries. This woman in the passage above was so humble, because she knew how much of sinner she was. The Pharisees already looked down on her so she wasn’t worried about losing her standing in the community.

21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 1 Tim 5:21 (KJV)

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:1-10 (KJV)

Here are two different passages where we as Christians are told not to show favoritism towards people. In this country we are told that we should show favoritism towards others. One way is when we are told that a good person will wear a certain brand of clothes or a suit. Good respectable men wear suits and ties. Yeah like politicians. This is just one example of how we judge good people by showing favoritism. If someone pulls up in your yard with a 1978 van with 5 kids and 3 dogs, most people will say, oh my who are these people? I wander what they want, lock the door. If two men pull up in a brand new black Lincoln Town Car, most people will automatically wander what they themselves look like so they can make a good impression on these fine gentlemen. The best example I can think of how so-called Christians show favoritism or partiality it this. When you go out in pubic and you see people that are your friends or family or church body and you do not speak to them because you do not think they are dressed properly or they are not driving the right car that day, YOU ARE A PHARISEE. It is impossible for any person on this earth to call themselves a Christian and not be humble. Did you ever notice that the only people who were proud that Jesus walked, talked and ate with sinners were the sinners? The reason I went over this is because another reason the people of this country do not have the commitment that the people in the early church had is because they show too much partiality towards the things of this world (false gods). I have recently received the Remnant, which is a publication from Charity Ministries. They have an article in it that is called the Anti-Church. I will use some of the material from this article. Another reason why the people in this country do not have the commitment the early church had or the commitment that the Christians in these other countries have is because of our church leaders and the churches that we choose to attend. The Sermon on the Mount tells us that God’s blessings belong to those who are poor in spirit, meek, and hungry. Why do we fill our pews with proud, self-satisfied members? The Sermon on the Mount says the road to Heaven is strait and narrow but our churches teach us that anyone who says a certain prayer is saved and will certainly go to heaven. We are told that man cannot serve both God and mammon but our churches tell us that God wants us to be rich in earthly possessions. (The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Charity Ministries, 2009) It goes on and on and on. We live in a society where God has left the churches because he just gets in the way of the people’s will. We have no reason to want to live a poor, meek, humble, separated life for God when we can have all the money and possessions we could ever want. We are rich!!! If you live in the United States of America you are rich compared to all of these other people are talking about.

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. James 5:1-5 (KJV)

I wander if this is what is happening to our country right now. Maybe the tribulation will start in a couple of months or maybe the problems we are having is because God wants us to be as committed to the faith as the true Christians throughout history who were willing to die peacefully for the faith. Sure some people are willing to die for the faith here with their guns blazing and a shout but what about dying for the faith with peace and love. I believe the test might be right around the corner. I think now is the time to get committed. Now is the time to be one of those obnoxious Christians that all they do is talk about Jesus all the time. You know those people that praise God when bad things happen also. Let’s be the loving Christians that irritate Satan and all of his people by showing patience and love and showing mercy and grace. Let’s show just how committed we can be to our Lord.