Blog Posts

From Peacemaker to Persecuted?

The early Church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity. - Leonard Ravenhill

Jesus Christ’s Eighth Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount—“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”—aligns well with the Fruit of the Spirt gentleness. (Check out my Leadership Tips aligned with the Fruit of the Spirit, where I note that gentleness is tied to the leadership skill of asking questions.)

If you have ever been persecuted for Jesus Christ, you can likely see the connection. How should the Christian respond when he is persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Should he shoot back? Should he revile back? Should he be as aggressive as his aggressor? No. His attitude should be one of gentleness.  1 Peter 2:23 says, “When He (Jesus) was reviled, (He) did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten.”  That is gentleness. And Peter says that the Christians are to be like Jesus.

When you are mocked, you don’t revile back. When they scream at you, you don’t shout back. Be like Jesus who was gentle and lowly in heart  (Click here for a summary of Michael Youssef’s book The Leadership Style of Jesus.) 

Click here to learn more about the Eighth Beatitude

Oneness Embraced

Scripture would not only solve the individual and family divisions, but it would also solve the ecclesiastical confusion. - Tony Evans

This month’s focus on Peacemakers and the Seventh Beatitude will conclude with Oneness Embraced: Reconciliation, the Kingdom, and How We are Stronger Together by Dr. Tony Evans, whose The Urban Alternative ministers to a world in chaos with the goal of restoring every area of life to its divine order under the rule of God.

According to Dr. Evans, America’s racial problem is the asterisk on an otherwise respectable reputation.  In spite of our successes in science, education, medicine, and technology, becoming truly “one nation under God” continues to elude us.  Far too often, we have tried to achieve oneness through marginalizing racial distinctions rather than to embrace it.

At the core of the problem of racial disunity in America is the failure to understand and execute a kingdom-based theology on both righteousness and justice.  White Christianity often focuses on personal righteousness at the exclusion of biblical justice.  On the other hand, African-American Christianity sometimes emphasizes social justice at the expense of personal responsibility.

When either side—righteousness or justice—is missed or reduced in significance, then the individual, family, church, and society are out of balance.

Click here to continue.