To Be Least

      In Acts, we are told about the early church. The Roman emperor at that time, Nero, persecuted the church often. When a catastrophic fire occurred in Rome, Nero blamed the Christians for starting it. After many Christians were convicted, Nero concocted cruel forms of death as punishment. I found this article that described what happened to the accused.

"And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps. Nero gave his own gardens for this spectacle and performed a Circus game, in the habit of a charioteer mixing with the plebs or driving about the race-course. Even though they were clearly guilty and merited being made the most recent example of the consequences of crime, people began to pity these sufferers, because they were consumed not for the public good but on account of the fierceness of one man."

      Despite this persecution, the church grew! It did not scatter and fall apart, contrary to Nero's aims. God is obvious about the fact that persecution develops the maturity of the Christian. Still today, many Christians are tortured and killed for their faith. This occurs often in countries like China, Vietnam, Cuba, Libya, Pakistan, Nigeria, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and the list goes on.

      However, in the United States and other developed countries there is little persecution for being a Christian. While the fact that we are free to practice religion is great, it has taken a toll of the condition of the church. Many have fallen into the habit of going to church, and of attending the different "Christian" events. They do all the right motions and say all the right things, but the miss the essence of what it is to be a Christian. Many believe the truth, but will that save them? Perhaps once they were "on fire" for the Lord, but now they have fallen asleep.

      One may ask, why is this? The answer is simple. We cease to see the need for God, for Jesus. We are secure in our future (if that is possible). Unlike many others, we have a house, good clothes and plenty of food. Even our expensive Bible we forget to read. Do we not realize that many Christians out there have one Bible per church? God has blessed us with prosperity and we take it for granted.

      All this luxury creates a sense among Christians that we don't need God, and that we don't need Jesus. Sure, we pull him out when facing some difficulty in our life, and when we want something for ourselves. We have become proud in our wealth, thinking that we are completely self sufficient. (Do we not remember the story of Job? How God took away his family, possessions and health in the same day. Let that story be an example to us.)

      The difference between the persecuted church and the church that is not persecuted is this. The persecuted church needs him, God is their only source of strength and hope. They have nothing apart from Jesus. They are broken, they are humble, they are exactly what God wants of a follower.

      We have everything. We have freedom, food, shelter, clothes, and our family. The reason why many have fallen asleep is that they do not see need of God. The church needs to realize that with our wealth and security, we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked in God's eyes.

      I realized I talked on a bit, but it is an important subject. I will close with these verses from Revelations 3.

¹⁴"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. ¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ¹⁹Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²²He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."