Psalm 119:50 Remember the Source of Comfort

Compared to Christians in countries like China, Laos, North Korea, or Pakistan, American Christians face little discrimination.

Christians in the Soviet Union during the Iron Curtain era were certainly persecuted to a greater extreme than believers in 21st century America.

And yet, discrimination against Christians in America is real.

Social media and popular entertainment love to insult Christians. Some of those insults are earned. Certainly any Christian who betrays greater allegiance to a political stance than to a godly stance has earned the world's disdain. Many other insults are the equivalent of playground taunts from the skeptical masses.

Christianity was once respected as a pervasive influence on American culture, but no more. Many of the loudest voices now tend to treat Christianity as a bad - even dangerous - influence on society.

Some Christians think the government discriminates against them. From their point of view, religious freedoms in America are being gradually whittled away by lawmakers and judges, in favor of granting freedom to citizens who choose a different lifestyle.

I frequently want to ask "why not both"? Why can't everyone have the freedoms promised int he constitution? But there does seem to be a definite tug from one end of the spectrum toward the other. Religious freedom scholars and litigators warn of the legal creep toward not only confiscation of religious freedoms but toward anti-religious laws.

So how do we respond? Where do we go for comfort?

We could look for comfort in the next election (and the one after that, and then another). The political pendulum, as it always does, swings back the other way and that comfort level disappears. And so we put our hope in Facebook and Twitter to provide a comfortable forum to spin the facts in support of the political people and ideas we think will fix the problems.

Other Christians seek comfort by isolating themselves into their own Christian bubble. They interact as little as possible with people of the world. Of course, there's a big gap between being separate and holy vs. being isolationist and fearful of the world. One encourages selfless evangelism. The other encourages selfish survivalism.

Others seek comfort by belittling the genuine suffering of of people who are walking the same 1 road alongside them.

White evangelicals are more likely to say Christians face a lot of discrimination than they are to say Muslims face a lot of discrimination (57% vs. 44%, respectively). (Public Religion Research Institute, February 2017)

Again I ask, why not both? It doesn't help our situation as believers to ignore the genuine needs of our fellow travelers. It diminishes us.

There is another path toward comfort, the way of confidence and boldness.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 10:32-39

Can you joyfully accept the loss of an election, in the shifting of political fortunes? Can you show biblical respect for political leaders whose politics are different than yours? Can you do that, knowing you have better and lasting priorities?

Can you find the courage to step out of your isolation and walk side by side with people who are needy, troubled, and searching for comfort? Can you do that, knowing your greatest comfort will be found walking in the footsteps of the Son of Man?

Can you ask God for the strength to bear the burdens of the oppressed and downtrodden, even if they don't worship the one true God? Can you do that, focusing on your mission rather than on yourself?

Don't throw away your confidence in the God who is in control.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:50

Living in full confidence of His promise will preserve and vitalize your life. It can give you a comfort only found living the adventure of faith. It's deeper and more enduring than all the false comforts the world offers.

We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.