Unless you have no form of social
media, you’ve heard the news about Phil Robertson being suspended indefinitely
from the reality hit television show called Duck Dynasty after the remarks he
made in a GQ magazine interview. My news-feed has been flooded with post
stating, “We stand with Phil”, and “A&E has made a terrible mistake.” and
while I wasn’t going to join in on this hoopla, I’ve noticed a remarkable trend
in my fellow Christians, and one that I feel needs to be addressed.
It completely baffles me on how
upset people have gotten over this whole ordeal, as if it is something that we
as Christian’s shouldn’t have to deal with. Nowhere in the Bible does it state
that we won’t be persecuted for what we believe in, if you pick up your Bible
and actually read it (Which is something that 80% of proclaimed Christians do
not do) then you will notice the exact opposite. Look up “John 15:19-21”, “Acts
14:22”, ”2 Timothy 3:12”, and “Matthew 5:10-12” if you don’t believe me. Christians will be persecuted for what they
believe; it comes with the job description, but being kicked off a reality TV
show because of something you said is not true Biblical persecution. Christians
are quick to post how unfairly Phil Robertson is being treated but hardly ever
post about the Christians that are going through real persecution in country’s
like Syria, Pakistan, and India. Where just saying the name of Jesus could get
you killed. No my fellow Christian Americans, Phil Robertson, nor any of us here
in the States have experienced true persecution.
We wake-up everyday
and are allowed to openly proclaim what we believe without having to fear for
our lives in order to do so. We can tell our fellow coworker, friend, or
classmate the joy that we have inside without having to worry of the
possibility that we might be thrown in jell. We can pray over our meals in public,
have churches that aren’t underground, and celebrate the reason of Jesus’
coming every December. The United States of America, and its citizens have no
clue of what it truly means to suffer to be a Christian. You see the Christian
life is a life of death, and hardship. It isn’t about going to Church twice a
week and being done. No, it’s about realizing that a true intimate relationship
with Jesus Christ is not a life of complacency. Matthew 16:24-25 states “Then
Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be
my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and
follow me. 25 If
you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life
for my sake, you will save it.” Being a Christ follower, aka “Christian” will
cost you something. There will come a time in America when true persecution
will happen. Jesus states in Matthew 10:17-18 “But beware! For you will be
handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.
18 You will stand trial
before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your
opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.” When that time
comes, and our country doesn’t allow us to proclaim our beliefs in public or on
social media my prayer is that Christians all across these 50 states will be
able to endure the pain, humiliation, and hardships like so many other
Christians have done and are doing. Until
then, thank God you’re still allowed to profess your beliefs freely, declare them
like Phil Robertson has, and pray for those who do not have that right.
In
Christ,
Heather
Bryant
