Chicken Little

Sometimes I feel like the Chicken Little of Facebook. My friends frequently get treated to articles about the growing persecution of Christians in the US. As I come across evidence of this in the news, I post it, afraid that I'm less Chicken Little than a canary in a coal mine.

It's not as if the persecution of Christians is a new phenomenon. The world crucified Jesus; do we expect it to treat us better? Peruse the history of the church from the Garden of Eden to Reddit and you will find the blood of God's people staining the timeline of civilization like a red carpet on which the saints and martyrs have walked into heaven.

Hebrews 12:1-3 -- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the US, however, after hundreds of years of cultural acceptance and Constitutional freedoms, we have grown comfortable. Our faith is rarely, if ever, directly challenged in more than a moral or intellectual way, and even in that limited arena we often stumble. We have been free to believe and worship as we choose.

Hebrews 12:3-4 -- For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin ...

I post warnings because, as Christian soldiers, we are out of shape, poorly trained, and ill-equipped for battle. As our military keeps itself prepared for an attack, no matter how unlikely it seems, we must maintain readiness to wage the spiritual warfare building around us.

Matthew 24:42-44 -- "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."

That's how it is with Christ's enemies in the world. They may seldomly attack openly for now, but they are positioning themselves to do so, and the average Christian is not prepared. In fact, we are told to be, not merely prepared, but overprepared.

Matthew 25:2-4 -- "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps."

So what should be doing?

Study the Word. God's word arms us for the fight. It is the standard by which we test or measure everything else, and it is the sword of the spirit, the weapon we carry into battle.

Hebrews 4:12 -- For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Train. Learn and practice speaking about your faith. Share the Gospel with your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. As with other types of training, what you practice is what you will instinctively rely on under stress.

1 Peter 3:14-16 -- But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Get equipped. Take classes.find a mentor. Read books from solid Christian thinkers. Expand your spiritual toolbox. Practice spiritual disciplines. Develop your knowledge, wisdom, faith, and courage.

James 1:4 -- But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Consider the saints and martyrs. Read about them. Watch movies about their lives. Their examples of faith under persecution provide inspiration and courage in addition to all the things we can learn from them.

Hebrews 13:7 -- Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Prepare your children. Teach them not only what, but also why. Make sure they are well-grounded in both Scripture and theology. Model for them a life of commitment to worship and service. Lead them in an unashamed and joyful witness. Offer them the absolute clarity of the Gospel. Above all, pray constantly for them. They're going to need it. Whatever we must endure in our lifetimes, it is likely to become even more challenging in theirs.

Deuteronomy 6:5 -- You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you sit down and when you rise up.