When do we fight?

As Christians we are torn between the need to love people to Christ and being enraged at the sin inflicted on society. To be merciful and understand that everyone comes with their own story, their own heartache. We must know that, as I explained in my last post, the path God's children walk is in the least difficult and at times filled with suffering. The love of Christ must pour out of us. When we are struck, persecuted, and beaten down, we are not to strike back. The model that Christ lived for us to follow is clear. He was a lamb,  "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." Isaiah 53:7

We are attacked on every side by the enemy and beaten down. This should not come as any surprise to us. We have been told this will happen when we follow Christ. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) And yet we endure. We are called to love and yet we are also called to fight. There are many times in scripture  God has called His people into battle and destroy their enemy. "So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?  Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’" 1 Samuel 15:17-18 (NKJV) At times these instructions showed no mercy by instructing the army to kill everyone of their adversaries, including the women and children. There are times when the lion heart of Jesus IN US has to come to life.

So how do we know when we are to stand silent and endure persecution and when to rise up with the fierce power of God who lives in us and fight? It is fairly simple. When the attack is against us, our body, our person, we are to endure. When the offense is against the Christ that lives in us we are to suffer for His sake. "And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;  being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NKJV)

The offense being against our Lord is a whole different matter. When His character is spat upon and His glory defiled we are to rise up as roaring lions to defend our Lord and Creator. For His children to stand by while He is disrespected should cause us great shame! This is why the suffering that we receive should be with joy regardless of the pain it causes us, because it brings about the glory that Christ rightfully deserves. We are also to stand in defense of anyone who is being persecuted for Christ's sake. We must, as the great army of God, not allow God to be shamed or defiled, by anything or anyone.

To embrace martyrdom is a frightening thought. To risk losing our family, being imprisoned, or tortured for Christ sake is something we must be willing to embrace. You may think that sounds crazy but let me ask you this, my dear friend that wants to move closer to Christ. Would you, without batting an eye, suffer these things for your children? Even your spouse? Then why not for Christ? He is supposed to be who we love above all else. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26 

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/