Dale, I wasn't referring to our Christianity - which in many ways I believe to be sickly in relation to some of these very things - but I was talking about the freedoms (speech and assembly) that we do enjoy and perhaps have taken too much for granted. Peace, Steve Dale Gooding wrote: > If that is what we call persecution and it is a detrimental to us as it > is, debilitating may be a better word, that I guess God knows many, if > not most, of us couldn't handle extreme persecution. Hmmmmm, again, > maybe we aren't worthy of it or able to handle it. > Not so sure all cultures would agree with your 2nd paragraph. From what > I understand from missionaries, many nations "don't want the kind of > Christianity we have". > > DG > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steven G. Rockhill [mailto:revrock@...] > Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 1:20 PM > To: pastorsforum@... > Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Prayer for persecution? > > > Dale, > At this point with the freedoms in our nation to free speech and > freedom of assembly the 'persecutions' that Mike mentions are what we > endure. Persecution is not just loss of freedom or life but any > suffering because we bear the name of Christ and take a stand on His > truth. This being said though, we must remember those brothers and > sisters around the world who are persecuted by losing freedom and lives. > > I am sure many of them would love to have our freedoms and privileges > and would even be praying for those things. So it goes back to what I > mentioned early on in the discussion - how are we utilizing our > privileges and freedoms for the maximum effect of God's glory - cause it > > won't take much before we start losing freedom and life. > > Peace, > Steve > > Dale Gooding wrote: > > >>Mike, >>Yes to everything on the list. But, I would not call this >>persecution. Being ostracized, ill-appreciated, defamed, disrespected, > > >>undermined, usurped, but none of these would I call persecution. The >>day I am placed in jail, physically abused, have my stuff or family >>taken, abused, etc... that may then fall into the concept of >>persecution. But not yet. 1st year at my church was good, 2nd year >>and a half worst year and a half of my life, 40 people left the church > > >>and stabbed me in the back (mostly "we ain't never done it like that", > > >>"he's changed everything, etc...) God was bringing in more all the >>time though. The last 3 years have been the best of my ministry and >>we have the best church I know of. Yes, I faced a lot but not >>persecution. Maybe we have a matter of semantics here. >> >>DG >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Mike Cantrell [mailto:mcantrell@...] >>Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:03 AM >>To: pastorsforum@... >>Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Prayer for persecution? >> >> >>Bro. Dale, I do not wish to fight either. If you will read my last >>post perhaps a greater undertanding of my thoughts will occur. About >>the persecution I will answer with a question. Have you ever been >>slandered, have you ever been mocked, have you ever been undermined as > > >>a leader, have you ever suffered the sting of those whom were your >>friend turning their back on you because of your stand strong in your >>testimony of Christ. Have you ever not been invited to a function >>because of your faith. Have you ever enjoyed a good and sweet >>conversation with a individual until they found out you were a Pastor >>or a Christian and then it was like you offended them by your >>presence. These are forms of cloaked persecution. >> >>Mike Cantrell >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Dale Gooding" <prosperityfbc@...> >>To: <pastorsforum@...> >>Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 8:53 AM >>Subject: RE: [PastorsForum] Prayer for persecution? >> >> >> > > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in > all things, charity." > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in all things, charity." > > -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Steven G. Rockhill Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 88 Lisbon, NY 13658 315-393-9041 revrock@... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++