Everyone in the village knew the bible stories. Everyone in the village attended the local church about once a week or more. The people in the village were targets of the terrorists. The terrorists wanted every man, woman and child.........dead. The reason? They were a CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
Now, some may claim a certain popular "conservative" biblical man, makes a fine leader in a Christian community. But that, my friends is NOT how Christian community works.
God is NOT a respecter of persons. Never was. Never will be.
Rather he expects us to BE FOLLOWERS of JESUS! He is the source of the community. The community "leader" is not the source of power. The community "pastor" is not the source of spiritual strength. JESUS alone is the source of redemption in our HEARTS and MINDS!
Is there enough evidence that you would be evicted and murdered in your community if the terrorists came around and wanted to ruin your life or your family's life?
Have you forsaken all including family and friends whom you love dearly to follow Jesus alone?
That is the source of strength for the Christian Community.
It is not the number of women in your community that "dress modestly." Men can decide to look away, learn CPR for the local swimming pool, or find a better place and time to get swimming lessons. It is not the number of people that ignore listening to "pop-music." Even the elderly like to listen to "come away with me Lucille." It is not the number of people who cater to or ignore the number of men and women with "sexual impurity problems" in their own homes and daily lives. Anything that is ungodly is going to eventually fail anyhow, because God's love is stronger. It is not the number of large families in the community that make them a better hope for Christian community. Miscarriages and other diseases happen folks. It isn't the number of "years" a man and woman put into the marriage that makes it strong. No, a spouse could die and then remarry and be happier than ever due to making better choices the second (or more) time around. It isn't the skin-tone, eye shape, hair type or other distinguishing heritages that make the community run smoothly. Nope, every one of us have fallen prey to "evils" in our ancestral heritage.
Essentially, trying to "purify" a community and make it "Christian" on our own terms and strength will ALWAYS FAIL. This is what OTHER religious venues have tried for centuries. If a man claims him self "good," but walks by a wife in a wheel chair, who was also a veteran in the war, then the problem is obviously in the HEART of men.
Unconditional love is an essential element. Make sure it is in your community of believers and in your own heart and life. Essentially, the REAL Christian community loves to gather around the WORD. It doesn't pass false judgment on those outside, and knows that "temptations" can still occur on the inside ;) This is the foundations of such a community that will stand the test of time.
Review: Shadrach, Mishack and Abednego story.
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