Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday August 9, 2011

The scripture reveals that the Apostles suffered greatly as they carried the gospel to the known regions of the world and the media reports daily the heirs of the Apostles still suffer much around the world.

The early believers and true believers of each age have been and are willing to suffer whatever may come because of a firm commitment to and deep love for Jesus Christ.

One among many verses teaches emphatically that suffering with Christ bears eternal and often immediate rewards. Notice Paul's comment in Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Emphasis mine) The New Testament insists that we who name Christ as Lord are not called to be spectators, but to march into the arena of the Christian life gallantly representing our savior. We are called to the life courageous.

Writing about true professionalism, Screenwriter and author Steven Pressfield said:

"The professional remembers it is better to be in the arena getting stomped by the bull, than to be sitting up in the stands."

In talking with myriads of men and women and a few young people I discovered that their stated reason for becoming a bleacher Christian is "Oh, I could never do that" meaning getting seriously involved in the life of others through the various opportunities offered by any local church ministry.

As I thought on the full meaning of Pressfield's statement it dawned on me that my own experience has been enriched by being in the arena and not only getting stomped by the bull, but knowing the spectators were/are cheering for the bull, I must realize there is one who is watching as in the final spectacle in the life of Stephen. I certainly do not claim the stature of Stephen whose finale is told in Acts 7:54-60. However when the bull seems to be getting the victory, the Christian Warrior continues the fight, as man, yet in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Too many of us are content to sit safely in the reserved section or the bleachers and while we are entertained by what passes for the gospel yet lacks the power to change, we shun the idea of any sort of spectacle suffered by Stephen. Could this be one of the reasons that we are not winning people of Paul's caliber to Christ?

I sincerely wish the bull was my worst enemy. A far more devastating enemy stalks my every step and too often I find I am on the tip of his horns, being flung over his back and stomped. I should live in Pamplona. But the place doesn’t matter for my Self is ever present.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit.

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