When faced with a looming conflict regardless of scale we all have three choices for survival. We can run, stand our ground and fight or we can hide. Each option has it's own consequences with a variety of possible outcomes. When facing a bear in the woods your decision may be different than facing a bully on the playground. Standing your ground against the bear is not a good bet. Standing against the bully may hurt but it can earn you respect. Of course other elements are a factor as to which option you choose. With a weapon, say a gun, your chances of standing against the bear have greatly increased. I would hope a stick would be a weapon of protection against the bully and not a gun. The point obviously depends on several factors as to fight or flight.
As the leaders and citizens of our great country grow increasingly at odds with the idea of God and especially the God of the Bible we will inevitably be faced with decisions to run, stand or hide. Soon.
When tricked by his advisors king Nebuchadnezzar made it illegal to pray to anyone but him. Daniel disobeyed and continued to worship and pray to God. God protected him for his obedience to Him and not the King.
In Laos this year a group of Christians were thrown out of their village and left to die without food or water after they refused to "reconsider their decision to follow the Christian faith". The local government has continued to threaten them and are trying to remove them from the make shift shelters they are barely surviving in located on land outside their home village.
Sometimes God provides escape and other times he provides strength to endure. The common thread in these two and countless other instances now and throughout time is a faith that stands. A faith that doesn't run or hide. When confronted with demands to go against the principles of God, we are to stand. And though God may allow the bear to tear us apart we know that death has no hold over us.
Unlike extremist who desire death to accomplish acts of violence, Christians value life and freedom to worship. But when asked to follow mans rules that contradict the commands of the Creator, we follow God.
This attitude of Civil Disobedience scares government. They want absolute power. Our country was not established on ultimate authoritative government. The opposite in fact. Sadly as our leaders move further from God we are destined to suffer. (View a short video on this)
As possible persecution appears to loom in our future, be ready to stand. But do so in love and with a heart of compassion for those who are against God. Their day will be dreadful. Perhaps some will come to our Savior through our faithfulness.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 (ESV)
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—