Rights

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25

"But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating

for doing wrong and endure it?

But if you suffer for doing good

and you endure it

this is commendable before God.

1 Peter 2:20,21

I live in North America where particularly in the United States Christians feel like they are a Christian nation. The same is true in Canada but not to the same degree.
Those who espouse to this belief feel it is their right to scream at secular authorities over anything that disagrees with their point of view. Voicing their disagreements is perfectly fine in a free and democratic society like the United States and Canada.
The trouble comes when those voicing their disagreements try to restrict the rights of others they disagree with.
Then if the authorities push back they feel they are being persecuted.
The United States and Canada are democratic secular societies who’s governments do their best to give the maximum amount of freedom to all people.
They do this at times by passing laws that Christians and others may disagree with.
Case in point the whole same sex marriage debate. It’s a very hot button debate right now. It is a debate that will change the definition of marriage in secular law. But does it matter?
God knows what is right and wrong.
Yes we can disagree that’s our right but let’s look at the wider picture. We need to reach the world for Christ be they gay or strait.
If we push too far the authorities and other groups will push back and ultimately it could lead to our rights being restricted which in turn will make it hard for us reach the lost.
So if we are going to suffer persecution let us do it for the right reasons. When I see a quote like verse 1Peter, 2,20,21 I go back to what I see is the basics of being a Christian.
Do not Judge,

Matthew 7:1,2

"Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Show Love even for your worst enemy,

Matthew 5:43,44

"You have heard that it was said,

`Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13

Love suffers long and is kind: love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Go

in to your world.

Mark 16:15,16

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Something to think about

If we are going to be accused of doing wrong. If we are going to be brought before magistrates and others in authority and beaten for doing wrong. Let us suffer for what is right.
Let us never be accused of judging anyone, be it for their lifestyle, religion or anything else they do.
Let us show nothing but love even to our worst enemy. Let us show that love in the truest sense of the word. As Christ did before us.

Let us present only the pure word of God. Offering Gods salvation to all who will listen.