Blowing away self focused Christianity.

In a world that is out to get the Christian, there are some who say we need to fight, we need to stand up, we need to defend and we need to drive out those who are coming for us.

But didn't the Bible say this was going to happen? Doesn't the Bible tell us we will die for Jesus? Didn't Jesus himself talk about people hating us? And then there was his whole 'turn the other cheek' thing...

The threat ISIS is on the world is serious, and should be dealt with - but not because Christians need to fight for their lives.  That's not our focus is it?

John Piper brought  a very challenging message about the Lamb's Book of Life at Passion this morning. He questioned what the Christian's focus must be.

Looking in eternity past we see that the Lamb was always going to be slain, and His book of life was written before the foundations of the world - the plan was always to offer salvation to the saints.  And in eternity future those saints will be with the Lamb, crying out how worthy He is, because He was slain.  In that light why are our lives so much of a focus for us? Shouldn't it be Jesus? Shouldn't it be our love for Him?

Jesus didn't focus on staying alive, much to our benefit - so if loving Him is our focus then our lives should be considered forfeit as well. That changes the way we look at the threat of terrorism, of how we handle refugees to our nation, how we hold onto the very culture of our nation. Our focus must be being in love with Jesus! And Jesus loves the poor, the destitute, the lonely and the refugee!