SIGNED UP TO SUFFER. The American gospel has taught men that they must not suffer and that if you suffer, you do not have enough faith. The message that has been preached is that God just wants you to be happy and to be nice. They preach, “Do what makes you happy! God just wants to bless you and give you your hearts desire! I don’t want to make you uncomfortable so be nice and never say anything to anyone that makes them uncomfortable.”
Yet, the gospel of happiness and niceness has not created godliness, but rather greedy and fleshly children. I’ve had many tell me, “we don’t suffer persecution in America for our faith”. Depends on your definition. Persecution comes in many forms, and Scripture declares, “Indeed, ALL who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” 2 Timothy 3:12
If you are not suffering for your faith, then maybe you are not living a godly life in Christ? Suffering for being a jerk is for a different day. The Christian must separate from the world and evil company- have you separated? The Christian must not have communion with unrighteousness- does your life look like the world’s? What then sets you apart? Do you hold fast to God’s Word, or are you clinging to your own desires? Do you chase after riches? Or the true riches? Do you just want to be nice and never make anyone uncomfortable? That’s not genuine faith.
The Bible tells us to be “gentle”, but this word means “affable- kind, easy to talk to, not quarrelsome”. If you bite off other’s heads all the time, then you are not affable. You can be gentle and be firm. You can be gentle and stand on the Word. You can be gentle and preach righteousness. You can be gentle and suffer for your faith.
There are things a Christian cannot participate with and still be in Christ, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”Galatians 5:19-21 ESVNot only are you to live differently, but you are to not tolerate or celebrate sinfulness with others. If you do this, you are partaking in their sin. Let no one deceive you with crafty words and “niceness”. It’s good and right to suffer with Him. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
