Be strong and encouraged: We face some real witnessing choices in our life; it's about our walk like Jesus (how does the new song by Matthew West go? "Going Through The Motions"). Jesus isn't a motion He is the flowing river of life. This shouldn't alone be a new slogan for us to sing, but a real challenge to do a check up from the neck up.
Here's a soldiers challenge that ended harshly recently, buried in the news...
The U.S. military is confirming that it has destroyed some Bibles belonging to an American soldier serving in Afghanistan.
Reuters Newssays the Bibles were confiscated and destroyed after Qatar-based Al Jazeer television showed soldiers at a Bible class on a base with a stack of Bibles translated into the local Pashto and Dari languages. The U.S. military forbids its members on active duty -- including those based in places like Afghanistan -- from trying to convert people to another religion.
Reutersquotes Maj. Jennifer Willis at the Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, who said "I can now confirm that the Bibles shown on Al Jazeera's clip were, in fact, collected by the chaplains and later destroyed. They were never distributed." According to the military officials, the Bibles were sent through private mail to an evangelical Christian soldier by his church back home.
Reuters says the soldier brought them to the Bible study class where they were filmed.
As a former soldier, I understand the military position. I wasn't sent on missions anywhere in the world to specifically witness to the people. But why not send the Bibles home instead of destroyed and get them resent through missionary channels? I can not speak on behalf of the Chaplains who did the collection and delivery, if it was difficult or easy to do this, but what visual impact was made to the soldiers and people there in Afghanistan?
Here's the whole point of posting this. It's not the political aspect or anything along those lines. The soldier should have gotten permission first, he represents the military while on active duty 24/7. But, that's the world's standard, the flesh, of how to deal with politically correctness; we do not wrestle with that part (Eph 6). Ours has to be living the Word out loud through us. THE ONLY JESUS THE WORLD WILL EVER SEE, IS THE JESUS IN US! Let's use every opportunity to learn from, grow in, and become more Spiritually powerful (Rms 1:16-17) in our walk. We are not the waves tossed about in some motion. The Spirit will teach us and lead us to all truth!
Let's keep this soldier, chaplains, and others deployed in constant prayer for the challenges they face. Decisions they make may cost them their life, that's pressure. Jesus, our Comforter, can be there just as much as we believe He is here, too. Let's be strong and encouraged and know that others are facing some very difficult battles. Can you imagine watching those Bibles being destroyed? The devil is a defeated foe! Let's put on the whole armor of God and demonstrate His mighty power in our living a life that is abundantly full with His righteousness, peace, and joy. Can you find that and live that with the type of relationship you currently have with Jesus? If not, then speak to God and or call on one of us at the church to show more of that deep walk with Your Lord.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Lord, thank you for Your amazing love and grace. Teach us Your ways, to live the way You intended for us to live and walk with confidence as each believer around the world faces challenges to be the salt and light to this world. We do not want to be going through a motion, but we desire to have faith to move the mountains! In Jesus name, Amen.
In His Loving kindness,
Bro. Dave and Sis. Pam