One of the callings of a man of God, in fact of all who have been born-again, is to encourage each other.
What would you say if I encouraged you to go out and attempt to be persecuted for your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
I propose here that many who profess to know Christ do not know what that word persecuted means, and not only that, but they do not want to know much less go out there into the world and put their neck on the line for Him. These are the hypocrites, and each of us have been deceived by at least one of them in our lifetime, for they are well practiced in all the arts of Christ-followers, but persecution to them is as foreign as the truths revealed in the Scriptures.
Fine, upstanding church attendees, but never speaking a word about our Savior outside of those church walls to anyone for fear of personal retribution, of persecutions. They fulfill John 12:43, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
It is not others feelings they are concerned about, it is their own, and they will attempt to place a covering over themselves with words like judgmental, contentious, unloving. When pressed on the matter they will call you contentious, too adamant, too nosey, and will most generally finish their excuses with “That’s between God and me.”
And then they will hate you.
All that meet them who have not been blessed with Spiritual discernment call them good people, polite to a fault, helpful whenever called upon, but ask them to their face why they do not go out into the world, not even to their next-door neighbor to spread the Gospel, and you will draw their ire.
I have tried many times to speak to such as these this short letter is referring to and have yet to see even one of them admit the truth, that they are embarrassed about Christ, church belongs in church is their reply. The Lord has stopped knocking on their heart, the Holy Spirit is not attempting to convict them because He does not reside within them. They have determined that love can be expressed without actions.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
Not forsaking the assembling of themselves together is quite easy for them, in fact a joy to them, for those they assemble themselves with are as they are. Those who truly serve the Lord Jesus Christ have either left their little group long ago or have in some fashion been made to know they are not welcome. Your advice is not welcome nor is it wanted.
These are the swine my friends that we are not to cast the pearls of God before, these are the clouds without water, these are the truth of 2nd Timothy 3:5. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
How do you recognize them? Go out into the streets and look for persecution, look for them and then have a conversation with them about the Scriptures, and if possible, do it in a public place where others can hear that conversation. It will not take long to find out who it is they serve.
Now, as so many of these letters do, I ask you to look at yourself. Do you become anxious, perhaps even nervous when someone meets you on the street, someplace in public with others around and they begin to initiate a conversation about our Savior? Or do you relish those moments, do you search for them, pray for them to happen?
When you meet them, encourage them in love, but learn to spot the hypocrite.
