Sermon Tone Analysis

The Myth of Western Christianity.

Growing up Christian in America

The church

Growing up Christian in America

Camp

South Eastern

Graduation

In 2016 we were treated to Kim Clark in TN refusing to issue a marriage licence to a same sex couple.

We were also treated to a large group of evangelicals crying that she was being persecuted, the same thing has happened with stores wanting exemptions from healthcare mandates, people refusing to sell pizza or decorate a cake, the list goes on.

With American Christians finding it necessary to cry persecution at each of these instances.

It strikes me the the american church could learn a bit from Sauls life.

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It strikes me the the american church could learn a bit from Sauls life.

Saul wanted to blame everyone else for his problems when it came to losing his kingdom.

Saul..

Was fuzzy with the truth.

He tried self justification

2 .

Blamed God

Blamed the People

3

Self Justified

All things that American Christians tend to do the problem is the root of Sauls problem is the Same as the root of the Western Christians problem

Somewhere in American Christianity God has become the pastors god or the music leaders or youth leaders or missionaries God.

HE is not longer personal to the people or the church

The Stark Reality…

The church in Smyrna was going through a very difficult time.

As we study these churches it’s important to note that out of the seven only 2 did not hear “but I have this against you” 28 percent that’s a low number think about that for a moment apply that to the church today what if only 28 percent of the churches are getting it right when it comes to living out our faith…

Here’s what was happening in Smyrna at this time.

Domitian is the emperor hostile is a mild word to explain his idea of Christians, this is important because of all the city’s in Rome’s empire, this one was known as the “Crown of Asia” Beautiful architecture, beautiful views, a harbor Smyrna had it all.

Smyrna also was self-governing because of its loyalty to Rome.

It is in this space that the church of Smyrna found itself, Nero had made claiming to be a Christian a capital offence but most emperors were deliberately negligent on enforcing the capital part of it.

Smyrna was Loyal to the Emperor Loyal to the Greek gods, when they found a group of Christians they went on the attack.

If arrested the Christians in most of the empire could move along as long as they would burn some incense on an altar to the Emperor and go about his or her business.

IF they refused because they would not worship anyone other than God, the punishment would could be imprisonment, flogging, exile (john) or sentenced to work in the mines rarely were they put to death.

The people of Smyrna however chose a different route, they demanded their governor uphold the letter of the Law, he complied by hanging 11 Christians in the local amphitheater.

The persecution continued with the people of Smyrna demanding this type of allegiance to the Roman law and death and persecution of anyone who failed to worship the Emperor or the Roman Gods.

This is the space that this letter is written to this church.

They were not just made fun of, insulted, taken to task for believing something hard to prove.

These men and women were under constant fear of violence and death.

In writing this letter the way it was written John is reminding the people of Who Jesus was, of the suffering he endured of the death he experienced and ultimately of the resurrection from that death.

He is encouraging them that even when things seem impossible God is there, even when we feel alone, even when we don’t see his hand clearly he loves and cares.

His promises are sure even when we don’t immediately see their fulfilment.

Surely in the 21 century this type of thing isn’t possible….

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the list goes one.

So now what?

There is hope for those truly persecuted.

There is Hope for us as well even if we aren’t as bad off as we make out.

This Weeks Challenge

Every time you feel “persecuted” this week weather it’s because of something you read or hear on the news, or because someone actually makes fun of you.

Head over to

https://www.persecution.com/

Dig into the site find people to pray for and do it.