This is a post from a truly dear beloved sister in Christ from another friend's son. Must read this one friends and family. If a 16 year old gets it, why can't the adults?
Janet sent you a message.
--------------------
Subject: a note from a 16 year old child...
Chad, this is written by the son of my friend Jenette. You should follow her page if it is available...but she may be security conscious. I'll pass along the best tid bits to you, never fear:
Quoting Joel-
Yesterday I was reading from a book I am studying for history, The History of Christianity, and I came across this quote:
"For Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language or customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect, or have some peculiar lifestyle.
This teaching of theirs has not been contrived by the invention and speculation of inquisitive men; nor are they propagating mere human teaching as some people do. They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food and the other aspects of life. but at the same time, they demonstrate to us the wonderful and certainly unusual form of their own citizenship.
They live in their own native lands, but as aliens; as citizens, they share all things with others; but like aliens, suffer all things. Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country.
They marry and have children just like everyone else; but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are at present "in the flesh" but they do not live "according to the flesh". They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws, and go beyond the laws in their own lives. They love every one but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things. They are dishonoured and yet gain glory through dishonour. Their names are blackened and yet are cleared. They are mocked and bless in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility.
To put it simply-the soul is to the body as the Christian is to the world. The soul is spread through all parts of the body and Christians through all the cities the world. The soul is in the body but is not of the body; Christians are in the world but not of the world."
-From an anonymous letter to Diognetus, possibly from the second century.
Do we as Christians represent this description?
Is our teaching based upon The Word of God, or the teaching of imaginative people?
Are we acting as though we are only passing through, or are we focused on the things of this world? Are we offering hospitality to those in need?
Are we keeping our marriages and our minds pure?
Are we taking a stand against the killing of unwanted babies?
When cursed and reviled, do we bless?
If we were to be offered the choice of renouncing Christ or death, would we look forward to the life we would gain?
I know that I have certainly not been perfect in being different from the world, but I am praying for this to be the norm for all people who call themselves Christians.
In Christ, Joel
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment