"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
It's funny that Merriette just posted something about this verse; I had worked out what I wanted to say about it last night during my dad's Thursday Night Bible Study (and a lot of this comes from what he said, so I can't take full credit), and then when I logged on today I saw her post. Mine, however, is looking at a different part of the passage and is really something of a continuation of my last "real" post, 'No Walk in the Park.'
The premise of those thoughts was that following Christ is no walk in the park - it's a race, a marathon. The author of Hebrews addresses that poignantly in chapter 10, where he instructs the Christians in Rome to hold fast to their confession and endure and to have faith in Christ. Those people were facing a great deal of persecution - physical and verbal - and were tempted to go back to the old ways of the Jews in order to avoid that. The author's whole point is to show them that they must not fall back, but must persevere. "Do not cast away your confidence," he tells them, and adds that they "have need of endurance." Don't we all?
Some of the worst persecution comes from unbelieving family members and former friends in the early years of being saved. It's difficult and painful to have your loved ones turn on you and mock what you believe, and that's part of what the audience of the book of Hebrews were facing in Rome from other, unbelieving Jews. It's the kind of persecution that we usually face today; we don't get fed to lions or drawn-and-quartered or hanged or burned at the stake, but we do get laughed at and shunned because of our faith. The author of Hebrews, however, tells his listeners to remember those days when they were persecuted in that manner (verses 32-34) and take comfort from that. How?
There's a certain something that comes with remembering being mocked or ridiculed for the faith. They're often sad memories, and sometimes bitter ones as well. It's hard to take delight in remembering a time when your mother or father scoffed at you, or your best friend started making fun of you. And yet there's something else that comes as well, which is what the author was pointing to when he tells them to remember those times; because when you look back (or around, if you're still in that situation), there's a knowledge that it's worth it.
The bearing of your cross and the undergoing persecution in various ways, shapes, and forms is all worth it when you consider what will result from that. Would the persecuted believer rather have Christ as their Heavenly Brother, or keep the friendship they once had with someone at school? Would they rather have the acceptance of their parents, or the secure knowledge that God is their Father? Would you rather be comfortable in this world, or know that you are following in Christ's footsteps? That's really the main point right there. Even when you're in the persecution, there is a realization that Christ was also ridiculed, mocked, abused - by His own family, too. When a believer faces and endures persecution, they are sharing with Christ in that - and I have no doubt that they would rather share persecution with Christ than have worldly comfort without Him!
There is no greater honour for a Christian than to be persecuted alongside Christ. Paul, that great apostle, thought it so; so did Peter and John - and the writer of Hebrews. To be persecuted for Christ's name is to put you in the same category as Abraham, Moses, and David, those great men of God whom we look up to. It is to place you alongside the Puritans in England, the Reformers, and the early Christians. It is to deny the world and follow Christ, as He commanded. It is to have you say like the man Athanasius, "If the world is against me, then I am against the world." Those are but a handful of those who are part of the "cloud of witnesses" that the author of Hebrews talks about, that surround us and support us and, in a sense, cheer us on.
Persecution is not merely something to be pushed through and borne: it is something to be seen as a gift. It probably will not last forever, as the believer's Christian acquaintance grows and it is no longer necessary for them to spend so much time with unbelievers; but no matter in what form it comes or for how long it lasts, persecution is a blessing from God - even though it doesn't seem like that at the time.
Literary Tag
Now, I don't go in for tags in general, as I told Merriette, but since this one was literary I thought I would give it a go. It was created by Mandy, not me, myself, or I.
1. What is your favorite book?
Difficult question, as I have a great many books that I am fond of. I would say that The Knowledge of the Holy is my favourite nonfiction work, and either Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis) or Ben-Hur (Lew Wallace) is my second favourite.
2. What is your favorite character in that book and why?
The Knowledge of the Holy doesn't have an actual character, so that doesn't pertain. In Till We Have Faces I love all the characters - Psyche for her purity and beauty, Orual for her human struggles. In Ben-Hur, Judah is my favourite.
3. If you could spend a day as a character in the book who would it be and why?
Certainly Psyche in Till We Have Faces, as she was the god of the mountain's bride, and probably Esther in Ben-Hur because of her faith.
4. Would you rather read Pride and Prejudice or Little Women?
Pride and Prejudice, hands down; I like the latter, but Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy hold a special place in my heart.
5. Where is your favorite place to read a good book?
In bed, just before lights-out. It's the most peaceful time and place.
There. Now, perhaps tomorrow I'll have time to write a longer and more thoughtful post. Thanks for the tag, Merriette!
1. What is your favorite book?
Difficult question, as I have a great many books that I am fond of. I would say that The Knowledge of the Holy is my favourite nonfiction work, and either Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis) or Ben-Hur (Lew Wallace) is my second favourite.
2. What is your favorite character in that book and why?
The Knowledge of the Holy doesn't have an actual character, so that doesn't pertain. In Till We Have Faces I love all the characters - Psyche for her purity and beauty, Orual for her human struggles. In Ben-Hur, Judah is my favourite.
3. If you could spend a day as a character in the book who would it be and why?
Certainly Psyche in Till We Have Faces, as she was the god of the mountain's bride, and probably Esther in Ben-Hur because of her faith.
4. Would you rather read Pride and Prejudice or Little Women?
Pride and Prejudice, hands down; I like the latter, but Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy hold a special place in my heart.
5. Where is your favorite place to read a good book?
In bed, just before lights-out. It's the most peaceful time and place.
There. Now, perhaps tomorrow I'll have time to write a longer and more thoughtful post. Thanks for the tag, Merriette!
No Walk In the Park
A friend of mine has been having a very hard time lately with having her faith laughed at, frowned upon, and basically treated badly. She knows who she is, and some of you do too. I went to comment on her page, but as I began to type out my thoughts I realized that they would fit much better in a post than a comment box; so this is dedicated to her, though I hope others who look at it may also find it encouraging.
When we as Christians in the 21st Century think of persecution, we usually think of the great martyrs of past ages - the apostles Peter and Paul and James (and many others); Christians sent to the arenas in Rome to be killed by wild animals; Protestants burned at the stake during the Reformation. This is automatically what our minds turn too, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It is certainly good for us to remember that those men and women had a much harder time of it than we do now, as we live in fairly comfortable nations that have a high tolerance for most religions.
But there is another type of persecution that Jesus addresses in His Sermon on the Mount -
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they speak ill of you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The "speaking ill of you" and "saying all kinds of evil against you" refer to a more verbal persecution than the physical deaths that Christians faced and which some still face today. This is a persecution that comes from the tongue, which James says later in the New Testament is "a fire, a world of iniquity." (James 3:6) It is the abusing of ourselves and our faith by unbelievers - something that does hurt a great deal, and is indeed a kind of persecution. It is never easy to hear other people mock us and make fun of us for what we believe.
And yet, Christ says that we are blessed by God Himself when they do. These things that other people do to us now are only storing up treasures for us in Heaven. The persecutions will not last forever, but while they do we know that we are suffering, not for our own sakes, but for Jesus Christ's - and I believe that in our hearts we would rather suffer for Christ than live in comfort for ourselves.
Following Christ is not a walk in the park. Paul and the author of Hebrews both describe it as a "race," not a mere walk. Jesus told the rich young ruler to "take up the cross and follow Him." A cross is a burden; it is not easily carried. But Christ carried His so that we might be able to carry ours, whatever it may be, and we are blessed for carrying it.
When we as Christians in the 21st Century think of persecution, we usually think of the great martyrs of past ages - the apostles Peter and Paul and James (and many others); Christians sent to the arenas in Rome to be killed by wild animals; Protestants burned at the stake during the Reformation. This is automatically what our minds turn too, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It is certainly good for us to remember that those men and women had a much harder time of it than we do now, as we live in fairly comfortable nations that have a high tolerance for most religions.
But there is another type of persecution that Jesus addresses in His Sermon on the Mount -
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they speak ill of you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The "speaking ill of you" and "saying all kinds of evil against you" refer to a more verbal persecution than the physical deaths that Christians faced and which some still face today. This is a persecution that comes from the tongue, which James says later in the New Testament is "a fire, a world of iniquity." (James 3:6) It is the abusing of ourselves and our faith by unbelievers - something that does hurt a great deal, and is indeed a kind of persecution. It is never easy to hear other people mock us and make fun of us for what we believe.
And yet, Christ says that we are blessed by God Himself when they do. These things that other people do to us now are only storing up treasures for us in Heaven. The persecutions will not last forever, but while they do we know that we are suffering, not for our own sakes, but for Jesus Christ's - and I believe that in our hearts we would rather suffer for Christ than live in comfort for ourselves.
Following Christ is not a walk in the park. Paul and the author of Hebrews both describe it as a "race," not a mere walk. Jesus told the rich young ruler to "take up the cross and follow Him." A cross is a burden; it is not easily carried. But Christ carried His so that we might be able to carry ours, whatever it may be, and we are blessed for carrying it.
I Shall Be Your God
"'But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' says the LORD: 'I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' says the LORD. 'For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.'"
This is the beautiful covenant promise that God lays out for us through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:33-34) and that is reiterated by the author of Hebrews in the New Testament. It was given originally, of course, to the Israelites, but now we know that it has been given to Christians and is the covenant brought by Christ - rejected by the Jews and offered to the Gentiles. Not only was this a radical thing for the Hebrews of Jeremiah's day to hear (if they had been listening), but it was a still more dramatic thing to be presented to the Gentiles as something in which they could participate. For the Jews, having as they did Moses' famous tablets of the Commandments and the constant reiteration of the Law, this must have been strange indeed - to hear that the Law would be written upon their hearts instead of on stone, and placed in their very mind instead of merely in the mouth of the priests and prophets. To hear that there would be utter remission, utter cleansing, of sins, instead of the daily killing of animals in the Temple. To hear - yes, to hear that the Holy God would truly put away and not remember their iniquities!
Though most of the Jews did not see it as we do now, this change from old covenant to new was as different as a shadow is from the real thing. But how much greater must the new covenant have been for the believing Gentiles, who had never even had the shadow! Except for the relatively few proselytes before Christ, it had pleased God to let the Gentile world live in darkness, and now suddenly, through the preaching by the apostles and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a light was being shown to them. The perfect law, that no pagan philosopher or teacher could fully grasp, was to be placed in the believer's heart and mind; the far-off God, who "covers Himself in light as with a garment," was now showing to the darkened nations that He would be their God, and they would be His people.
This is the covenant that we as believers dwell under now, and it is a beautiful and glorious one...but one that we often take very much for granted. I think that perhaps looking at how strange and brilliant it must have been for the believing Jews and Gentiles of the early Church might show us how to appreciate it more.
This is the beautiful covenant promise that God lays out for us through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:33-34) and that is reiterated by the author of Hebrews in the New Testament. It was given originally, of course, to the Israelites, but now we know that it has been given to Christians and is the covenant brought by Christ - rejected by the Jews and offered to the Gentiles. Not only was this a radical thing for the Hebrews of Jeremiah's day to hear (if they had been listening), but it was a still more dramatic thing to be presented to the Gentiles as something in which they could participate. For the Jews, having as they did Moses' famous tablets of the Commandments and the constant reiteration of the Law, this must have been strange indeed - to hear that the Law would be written upon their hearts instead of on stone, and placed in their very mind instead of merely in the mouth of the priests and prophets. To hear that there would be utter remission, utter cleansing, of sins, instead of the daily killing of animals in the Temple. To hear - yes, to hear that the Holy God would truly put away and not remember their iniquities!
Though most of the Jews did not see it as we do now, this change from old covenant to new was as different as a shadow is from the real thing. But how much greater must the new covenant have been for the believing Gentiles, who had never even had the shadow! Except for the relatively few proselytes before Christ, it had pleased God to let the Gentile world live in darkness, and now suddenly, through the preaching by the apostles and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a light was being shown to them. The perfect law, that no pagan philosopher or teacher could fully grasp, was to be placed in the believer's heart and mind; the far-off God, who "covers Himself in light as with a garment," was now showing to the darkened nations that He would be their God, and they would be His people.
This is the covenant that we as believers dwell under now, and it is a beautiful and glorious one...but one that we often take very much for granted. I think that perhaps looking at how strange and brilliant it must have been for the believing Jews and Gentiles of the early Church might show us how to appreciate it more.
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