Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs: "I'm In With) The Out Crowd"

Being popular is one of many human failings. We all want to be appreciated but some folks take it all too far. This sixties band decided to sing about people who didn't care how unfashionable folks were. Check it out here.

Faithful people have never been approved of by the world. As we read in 1 John 3:12 (Bible in Basic English), we're, "Not being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good."

Because of this, we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (BBE) , "For you see God's design for you, my brothers, that he has not taken a great number of the wise after the flesh, not the strong, not the noble: But God made selection of the foolish things of this world so that he might put the wise to shame; and the feeble things that he might put to shame the strong; And the low things of the world, and the things without honour, did God make selection of, yes, even the things which are not, so that he might make as nothing the things which are:"

As a matter of fact, the world isn't our friend. Neither must we emulate its ways. As James 4:4 (BBE) points out, "O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God's friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God."

Jesus never kept it a secret that we would find nothing but animosity toward us from the world. John 15:18 (BBE) tells us, "If you are hated by the world, keep in mind that I was hated by the world before you."

Neither is the world worthy of Christ's martyrs and children. As Hebrews 11:38 (BBE) comments on faithful saints throughout history, they were, "Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough."

If Christ hasn't returned to reward us by Monday, I hope my post about giving the past the slip is up for all to read.

Why Must Christians Suffer?

Throughout the history of Christianity, believers have had to endure persecution. In Fact, more believers are suffering today than ever before. But why does God let his people suffer?

Since we are Christ's disciples, the Devil hates us. Consequently, he attacks those believers who are doing the most to take people out of his kingdom. Jesus gave this answer to his followers in John 15:18 (BBE). "If you are hated by the world, keep in mind that I was hated by the world before you."

Jesus also explained to his own unbelieving brothers why they weren't hated but he was. John 7:7 (BBE) says, "It is not possible for you to be hated by the world; but I am hated by it, because I give witness that what it does is evil."

The world, meaning society in general, hates Christ because Satan is its master. As Jesus wisely pointed out in Luke 16:13 (BBE), "No man may be a servant to two masters: for he will have hate for the one and love for the other; or he will keep to the one and have no respect for the other. You may not be servants of God and of wealth."

We are to have such devotion to our Lord and Master that all other relationships in this world take a back seat to him. Luke 14:26 (BBE) says, "And turning round, he said to them, 'If any man comes to me, and has not hate for his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even for his life, he may not be my disciple.'"

I'll point out the aspect of suffering in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Suffering for Christ doesn't mean punishment but our Lord tests our faith in him through it. May we all pass the test.

So if you're suffering because you're a believer, you're in good company. The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews shows all the people who trusted in God for rewards not yet received.

On Thursday, I'll deal with the apparent contradiction of suffering for Christ being joyous and why it's so.