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Rebel Against the Silence

 


Not all persecution comes in the form of physical abuse. Sometimes, it is from those who want to silence the message. Amos encountered such during his day. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel said to him, “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah, there eat bread, and there prophesy. But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.” (Amos 7:12-13)

This is the type of persecution we see coming against the church today. Not so much beating or imprisonment, but that of silencing Christians. Some try and intimidate us into silence. Others believe that because we are Christians that we will be cooperative and just flow along with the whims of society no matter how crazy those whims become.

Even a casual study of the life of Christ will reveal that He did not come into this world to be silent, nor did He come into this world to get along with everyone. He once healed a woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath. She had an infirmity for eighteen years. The ruler of the synagogue verbally chastised the people for coming to be healed on the Sabbath.

Jesus did not let it go. He said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So, ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Stan has bound - think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:15-16)

The apostles followed Jesus’ example and were not silent. When they were brought before the council and commanded to stop preaching Jesus, Peter did not let it go. He said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

They were later beaten and commanded not to speak any more in the name of Jesus. After they were released, they continued daily in the temple and in every house preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:40-42).

Neither Jesus, nor His disciples were going to be silenced. This must be our attitude today. We must rise up and rebel against the silence. Remember that Jesus taught that we are the light of the world. He said that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:13-16 emphasis added). Too often, we make the mistake of thinking that we must deal with this old world. No, it is this old world that must deal with us.

Remember, as Christians we serve too big of a God to ever be silenced!

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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