Purpose

As Though

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” – Hebrews 13:3

 

The call to remember those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake is pretty strong. The passage doesn’t just say to pray for them, or to work for their release, but to remember them as though we were in prison ourselves. As the passage makes clear, if one part of the body of Christ suffers, then the whole body should consider that suffering their own. What does this mean practically? I’m not sure I have an exhaustive list, but if I was imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel, here are some of the things I would desire:

1) Prayer for my release.

2) The use of every available government and diplomatic channel to work for my release.

3) Prayer that God would use my time in confinement for the purpose of His Kingdom.

4) People who would care for my family when I could not.

5) Books to read.

7) Visits and encouragement from those who were not so confided.

8) Information about what was happening in the outside world.

9) Letters from those who could not visit.

10) Access to biblical teaching to continue growing in my faith

As I look through the list I realize that it is far too easy to hear about those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ, and set it aside as something that happens in a place far, far from home. Yet, the body of Christ is not bound my geographic boundaries or locational proximities. And I must ask myself – when I hear about those who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel, do I respond as if it was my own suffering that was at stake? Am I bringing their needs before the throne room of God as I would if my loved one was in their place? That’s what this passage in Hebrews calls us to do. That’s what our Savior commands.

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Bits & Pieces (9/14/12)

 

  • How Can I Believe in God & Pain? – “Maybe the reason we question God’s moral character when bad things happen is that we live our lives largely independent from God on a daily basis. In other words, we struggle to trust God in times of trouble because we do not really trust God when things are going well.”


 

  • Ministering During Suffering – Written for pastors, this post contains some good reminders for all those who are ministers of the gospel and must navigate how to minister during times of personal suffering. (H/T)

 

  • Is Election Unfair? – “The issue is complicated when we consider that God chooses to grant this saving grace to some but not to all. We recall that, in the first place, He owes it to no one. Once someone has sinned, God owes that person nothing. Indeed, even before sin, God owes the creature nothing. It is the creature who is indebted to God (for sustaining if not also saving grace), not God to the creature. But what is often assumed is that if God grants grace to some, then He must grant the same measure of grace to all if He is fair and just. Here we must stop for a moment and ask why this should be so.”

 

  • Being Authentic Christians – “[W]e need to identify more with who we are in Christ than our current struggles. We are not primarily defined by our anger, lust, impatience, or discontentment. We are defined by the fact that we are united to Jesus Christ, and that Christ himself lives in us!”
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