Lord, give us the courage to stand openly against a rebellious world:
during the day while they are looking on,
prepare your baggage as though for exile,
migrate from where you live to another place;
perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 12:3.
But, Lord, also give us the wisdom to know when we should evade detection:
In the town of Elvira, Spain, in the year 309 AD, a council of early Christians convened to discuss their brothers and sisters who had been killed for openly defying Roman gods. The council decided they were not martyrs:
"If someone smashes an idol and is then punished by death, he or she may not be placed in the list of martyrs, since such action is not sanctioned by the Scriptures or by the apostles."
The courage of God compels us to witness to the truth, even unto exile.
Yet the wisdom of God instructs we make an effort to avoid detection, when circumstances require.
When living in the land of bloody pagans, spitting on their idols isn't martyrdom -- it's stupidity.
Speak your mind, as though ready to be exiled for it.
2 comments:
The courage of God compels us to witness to the truth, even unto exile.
Yet the wisdom of God instructs we make an effort to avoid detection, when circumstances require.
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16, KJV)."
Sir Thomas More: "Listen, Meg, God made the angels to show Him splendor, as He made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But Man He made to serve Him wittily, in the tangle of his mind. If He suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can, and, yes, Meg, then we can clamor like champions, if we have the spittle for it. But it's God's part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping. If I can take the oath, I will."
A Man for All Seasons, 1966.
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