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While it is extremely necessary for all Christians to stand firm in their beliefs, it is also extremely necessary for Christians to understand they cannot force their beliefs on others. Doing so will move the Christian effort, and you, into the same Satan led agenda as Christ’s enemies.
"Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess, and to observe the religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us. If this freedom be abused, it is an offence against God, not against man; To God therefore, not to men, must an account of it be rendered." This is from "Memorial and Remonstrance" by James Madison
If you are a history buff, you will recall many Christians fled to America because OTHER religions demanded everyone worship the same way. We read about religious leaders being provoked to act in ways not in accordance with God’s desire. I Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." We are still seeing this in some countries and it is the basis of many wars. God offered us the "choice" of coming to Him. And we will have that choice until His Son returns to reign with His Father. It is important, therefore, we do not take that choice away from others by using force. We are instructed to use evangelism, to use examples, to use word, to use Grace, to use prayer but not to force.
Here’s the rub: As we are more and more persecuted for our beliefs, we sometimes feel like getting even. We feel like fighting back in a like manner. Someone will quote, "An eye for an eye!" and as they say literally: "All hell breaks loose." It will be a Satan-based response. Fighting for one’s religious beliefs is a very delicate fight that must be waged with prayer and with God’s direction. You must not wage a war that removes another’s freedoms because they do not believe in God. This is a good reminder for the workplace.
If you feel the need to combat the nonbeliever in the workplace, turn to scripture for your directions. God will not want you taking His work (the work of the Holy Spirit) to force others to your particular religious belief. Here are two statements that sound similar but are a Bible apart:
1. Work very hard at leading people to God, through Jesus Christ.
2. Work very hard to make people come to God, through Jesus Christ.
The first is God’s instruction; the second is Satan’s little twist. II Corinthians 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
"Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess, and to observe the religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us. If this freedom be abused, it is an offence against God, not against man; To God therefore, not to men, must an account of it be rendered." This is from "Memorial and Remonstrance" by James Madison
If you are a history buff, you will recall many Christians fled to America because OTHER religions demanded everyone worship the same way. We read about religious leaders being provoked to act in ways not in accordance with God’s desire. I Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." We are still seeing this in some countries and it is the basis of many wars. God offered us the "choice" of coming to Him. And we will have that choice until His Son returns to reign with His Father. It is important, therefore, we do not take that choice away from others by using force. We are instructed to use evangelism, to use examples, to use word, to use Grace, to use prayer but not to force.
Here’s the rub: As we are more and more persecuted for our beliefs, we sometimes feel like getting even. We feel like fighting back in a like manner. Someone will quote, "An eye for an eye!" and as they say literally: "All hell breaks loose." It will be a Satan-based response. Fighting for one’s religious beliefs is a very delicate fight that must be waged with prayer and with God’s direction. You must not wage a war that removes another’s freedoms because they do not believe in God. This is a good reminder for the workplace.
If you feel the need to combat the nonbeliever in the workplace, turn to scripture for your directions. God will not want you taking His work (the work of the Holy Spirit) to force others to your particular religious belief. Here are two statements that sound similar but are a Bible apart:
1. Work very hard at leading people to God, through Jesus Christ.
2. Work very hard to make people come to God, through Jesus Christ.
The first is God’s instruction; the second is Satan’s little twist. II Corinthians 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
posted by Diane Gibson at
9:08 AM
