Apologetics: Persecution

Apologetics has been practiced since the Apostles. Defending the faith is expected of us all. There are many ways to defend our faith. One is historical, using the archaeological, eyewitnesses accounts, and evidence in stone, rock, and beyond as proof. Another method is theological, to defend with tight doctrinal explanations like the Credos and Scripture. There is the argumentative approach or reason based argument in which faith is defended via intellect and the power of an articulate tounge. All of these methods are useful, but I shall imploy one that is based on reason and theos, for the Lord Jesus the Divine Son of God instructs us no matter what approach we take, for He is the Teacher (Matthew 23:10) and from Him and the Holy Spirit we gain insight (John 14:26).

Look around at all other religions and their deities. Notice a singularity? None of them receives persecution from the world and its governments. Hinduism is hip, with the idols of their chief three gods (fallen angels) on display in my own home town bookstore, Yoga in every gym and household (save us few who resist it and know it really is yoked to their god Brahmin). Islam is spreading from salons to skyscraper companies. Buddhism is boutique with Hollywood actors from Goldie Han to Pierce Bronson budding its flower and passing the wheel. Bahia is saying hi in its subtle forms, and even the Greek, Roman, and Norse pantheons are making their mark in motion pictures, a renaissance of the old gods of Greece, Rome, and Nordic Barbarians found in Superhero and Epic film. Judaism is often depicted with just the right amount of self pity in Holocaust films and boasts few enemies save the Sons of Ishmael. While Israel (the country) may struggle in adversity, the Is-reel of Hollywood has plenty of agnostic Jews to protect the Torah and disrespect Christianity in one stroke. New Age, Wiccan, and Occult is making major gains, the Pentagram in circle (symbol of Satanism) is now in vogue and I just saw a book in Target with the symbol upon it; magic is making comeback. Nihilism has home in the reruns of House, while Atheism is given free license to assault Christianity on a country wide scale. Universalism is uniquely taking root in Pope Francis I message and its experiencing revival.

All the religions are largely accepted, endorsed, and supported by the bankers, Wall Street, Justices, and etc, save one; the religion, Christianity. While Hinduism is hip, and Islam slams all critics literally and figuratively, Christianity is being cut at from all sides; Athiests, Jews, Occultists, Muslims, Hindus, and the other world religions are at war with Christ, "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ." (Phillippians 3:16). This is not novel or new, it has been so since the Early Church of Acts, with Pharisees (Jews) and later Roma Emperor trying to cinder and crush our Church. This in itself is an automatic apologeia or apologetics; for the world at large loves Hinduism, Buddism, Islam, and beyond; but has contempt for Christianity, which Jesus already said would be so, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first, If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you," (John 15:18-19) and "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." (Matthew 24:9). Christianity is the Truth because Christ is the Truth (John 14:6) and the testimony is that the whole world wages war against the truth. This world lies, it says you can have sexual relations and it will not harm, but the STDs are creating a pandemic of inferitily and early death rates. This world says via media and movies, smoking Murawana will not maim your brain, but vapor cigarettes and cigarettes are harmful? The world says money, fame, and materialism will make you happy, but the greatest stars, celebrities, champions, atheletes, and actors will tell you they aren't happy. The world would have us believe medicine and doctors can cure us of our diseases, but they can only treat symptoms. The world would have us believe the supernatural is psychological and label people with mental disorders and imbalances; but those who were most trusted experts of psychology said for fifrty years music only effects one minor part of brain and now they know it effects the whole brain. The world would have you believe power and pleasure are the most important things, but power is fleeting because of our fraility and invitable weakening of our bodies, and pleasure loses it sting when you have chased it to its very death. The world says all religions are right, and all paths lead to God, but that same world says there is no God, and ultimately worships Mammon (money). The world is always wrong, the Word of God who is Jesus Christ (John 1:1-15) is always True and Right.

The fact our faith is persecuted by all other religions, academic, governmental,  judicial, social, economical, and supernatural powers proves it is the Truth. Why would the leaders of goverments, religions, and every other seat of the world power persecute Christ and His Church if it weren't the truth? The world always wants to cover up the truth, "We are sinners in need of a Savior, that Savior is Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross and on third day rose again and is nosw seated with The Father at His Right Hand, and will Return to judge the quick and dead."The world is afraid of Gospel because it is true and exposes the world, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." (John 3:19-20). The reason for this is the world is ruled by Satan, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4). The world and its religions of fallen angels persecutes the True Faith because it fears Jesus, "They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb." (Revelation 6:16). The powers, both temporal and supernatural know Christ is King, but will not submit willingly, and yet they will bow "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Phillippians 2:10).

Christianity is the True Religion and Faith because Christ is Truth itself (John 14:6) and the fact the world and its princes (both fallen angels and fallen men) war against Christ and His Church proves that our way is the Way! For would not the other religions call Christianity brother and ignore it if it was like them? No the other religions know and shriek at the Truth, "I am the Way, the Truth, and Life, none come to Father (in Heaven) but through me," (John 14:6) and "God so loved the world he sent His Only Begotten Son and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. " (John 3:16). The other religions fear Jesus and the cross because it brings them at a loss on so many levels, chiefly it defeated them (1 John 3:8) and lastly all other religions are based on what you can do to get God to accept you and merit eternal life or the highest enlightenment, but Christianity has God come humbly as man on our behalf to accept us and merit eternal life and enlightenment for us and then give it to us as free gift, the world hates this message of the Gospel because it is the Truth and the world is ruled by Prince of the World, the devil, who is the Father of Lies, "For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, cross ref 2 Corinthians 4:4 above). Thus the world is like its master the liar, while the words of God (Scripture) and truth belief in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16-20) is from the author and maker of all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:11-16), Jesus Christ God, Son of God, and Lord of All.