This is an exerpt from a lengthy article written by Pastor Bob Russell in response to the Supreme Court’s decsion regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The gap between the Christian and non-Christian is becoming more pronounced and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to straddle the fence these days. That’s good. Jesus said, “I’d rather you be hot or cold than to be lukewarm.” Either you stand for Christ and His Word or you don’t. Individuals and churches who attempt to gain favor with the world and twist the Scriptures to justify same sex marriage look foolish. It’s time for believers to fish or cut bait, or get out of the boat.
Christians should not be surprised that they are rapidly becoming the minority. We have been privileged to live in a rare place and time in America where Christianity was the norm. It’s not anymore. God-haters ridicule the Bible, the church and the institution of marriage, and they are determined to demonize anyone who stands for traditional values. Jesus, who was crucified for His stand for truth, said, ‘If the world hates me, it will hate you.” He said, ‘This is the verdict, light has come into the world but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
Beginning with the first century, believers in Christ have usually been in the minority. Jesus said, “Narrow is the way that leads to life and few find it.” The Apostle Paul warned, “Everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:12-14).
We can be encouraged by the fortunes of the early church. Rereading Acts 8, the church went viral in the first Century when persecution increased. We also see a rapid growth of Christianity in India, China and Africa where persecution is prevalent today. This past week my ministry hosted eight preachers from India who told specific cases of persecution against them; they also related accounts of their churches growing dramatically corresponding to the persecution. The Bible promises, “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20).
—Bob Russell
Via: Bob Russell