Christian Living

---

Piety and Persecution

12Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. 2 Timothy 3:12 (AMP)

The definition of piety, taken directly from Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary is:

n. [L. pietas, from pius, or its root, probably a contracted word.]

1. Piety in principle, is a compound of veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being and love of his character, or veneration accompanied with love; and piety in practice, is the exercise of these affections in obedience to his will and devotion to his service.

Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man.

2. Reverence of parents or friends, accompanied with affection and devotion to their honor and happiness.

I think it is important to understand what a word means before you can apply it. Paul here was talking about people who delight in piety.

Delight is easy for us to understand. It is taking great joy or pleasure in something. If you were to take a moment and really think about it, what is it that you delight in? I cannot answer that for you.

Now take the list of things that you find delight in, draw a comparison and honestly ask yourself, “Do I delight in piety”? Do I delight in the love of Gods character? Do I delight in obedience to His will and devotion to His service?

We are a society of trends and fads and often find that even our language has become victim to this pattern. Word meanings have become so dumbed-down or slang that it is no wonder we sit in Churches not having the slightest clue of how to understand the Bible and apply it to living in today’s world.

Brother’s and Sister’s let me tell you something, truly delighting in Gods will and ways is going to bring persecution. There is absolutely no way around it. The sooner we face this fact and stop trying to find loopholes (hidden under the guise of acceptance), the more effective your life in Christ will be.

You cannot be friends with this world, the ways of the world and say that you delight in piety.

4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. James 4:4

I believe people delight in the ways of God that suit their purpose. They delight in the prosperity teachings, the healing scriptures, the “streets of gold” and the salvation message. These are all wonderful, Biblical, factual promises! Hold onto them. But you can’t pick and choose!

I believe a homosexual lifestyle choice is completely contrary to Gods Will. There is no way around it. And if you are sitting under a homosexual pastor or organization that ordains them, RUN! A little yeast leavens the whole lump!

9A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church]. -Galatians 5:9

Does my stance on this mean I do not love homosexuals? Absolutely not! I have known many precious people through the years that have made this choice. And my love for them is nothing in comparison to God’s love for them. But I know what the Word says.

Churches today are run rampant with lust, adultery and perversion. I have heard from Christian counselors, Christian authors and Preachers alike that men can’t help themselves. “All men look” and “look but don’t touch” have become acceptable even in Christian circles. Jesus said :

28But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. –Matthew 5:8

If I’m not mistaken, the seventh commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery”.

Now hold on just a minute, because this is going to get good. Let’s look at what Paul says:

9Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Looks like adulterers and participants of homosexuality are lumped into the same group here! And they won’t share in the Kingdom of God.
These are just two examples of concessions, being made by those who are called by God and proclaim to delight in His Way, inside Church walls! This is within the Body of Christ!

The point I am trying to drive home is that it starts in the House of God. If we can’t delight in Gods Way and take a stand against the persecution that comes with it (taking a stand), inside of the Church, how will you ever survive what’s waiting outside the Church walls?

You may never be faced with the persecution that our brother’s and sister’s in Christ around the world are faced with. You may never have to fear for your life by attending a secret meeting, just to hear the Word of God. You may never be separated from your family, imprisoned, beaten, starved and tortured unless you renounce Jesus.

Your greatest persecution may be being shunned by your Church friends and family because you decide to stand on the Word. Maybe you will be labeled a religious freak at work because you bowed your head at lunch.

Whatever it may be, wherever it may be, stand strong knowing, the One Who lived the greatest example of “Piety and Persecution”, will strengthen you each step of His Way!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE