Christian Sniping – A Call to Rise Above

Christian Sniping – A Call to Rise Above







April 17, 2013
Holly Deyo

Several days ago, we received an email from someone we choose not
to name, coming at us – and others – hammer and tong with regard to the
hopeful, encouraging message of Rapture. Rarely do we take the time to
engage in nastygram exchanges when other matters are much more pressing.
However this is an attack that more Christians are suffering daily by
fellow Christians. Surely it is the product of the Evil One.

It became incumbent to address this
issue in hopes that these brothers and sisters would turn their efforts
to saving souls and spreading the Good News of salvation in lieu of
wasting time knocking fellow believers. With that in mind, this is the
message sent to that person.

We have precious little time left
before the really hard stuff hits. Christians would be miles ahead to
spend this remaining time preparing spiritually and physically rather
than engaging in the ugly. May you be blessed, encouraged and uplifted
in reading the following. — Holly

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My we offer up these comments....

Christians would be better served by not beating fellow believers over the head with their
interpretation of scripture. Moreover, they are missing the integral,
most important message of Christ: believe in Him, He is the Son of God,
He died for our sins so all that who accept Him may receive The Gift of
eternal life; and last, acknowledge Him that you may have this Gift,
free of charge. Everything else is tertiary.

Believing in the Rapture does nothing
to diminish our faith if we are wrong. Equally, it does not quash the
lesson that people must be personally responsible preparing spiritually
and physically – for whatever; e.g. Joseph and Noah. Try being
raised in the Midwest and think you don't have to prepare! Decades
later these warnings scream louder. Are you listening?





God
expects us to do what we can for ourselves, family, friends, neighbors
and whoever else may turn up at our door in need. He will take care of
any shortfall. This last phrase does not excuse slackness! This is not
the dole! Or, in American-speak, this is not welfare. Nobody is taking
you to raise, nor will we. If you coulda and shoulda – AND DIDN'T –
there will be no open door here. For others, yes.

It is disappointing to see how many Christians chose their own drum
to beat rather than Christ's. It is certainly Christ's
warning-come-to-fruition in Mat 10:35-37
– brother against brother, daughter against father, etc. This Rapture
division business is another means to see who will honor God, put Him first,
and not overlook His message in favor of those who spend their time
"crucifying" fellow Christians. This is such a sad thing... and a poor
way to spend these precious last moments. Satan uses this discussion as a
tool to divide and conquer. So why are fellow believers buying into
this? By beating someone verbally over the head or sending around
vitriolic emails will not move a person to interpret scripture
differently if it feels correct in his or her spirit. And what
difference does it make? God is the sole determiner in these End Times,
not nastygrams, and it factors nowhere into salvation.

It feels as those who chose to do this, think by possibly by changing another's thinking, it will morph their personal belief into truth.
Only time will tell and only God knows what will come to pass as
scripture was purposefully vague on this topic. Think on this: maybe it
is a test to see how Christians treat other Christians.

As instructed in 1Thes 5:11 Stan and I encourage people (and again in 1Thes 4:17-18) this passage is also the promise of escaping these horrible times, to lift up fellow believers. We could be wrong
about a pre-trib rapture. (Whoaaa! What a concept! ;-) ) That said, we
will always be 'looking up and pray to be found worthy' (Luke 21:36). This is key.
There is no "thus saith the Lord" on rapture, but what else could it
point to other than the horrific End Times events as there will be
nothing worse?

It's
easy to imagine God looking down here on earth, at His believers, and
thinking what a sorry disappointing lot we are arguing over this and
that when much more important matters are at hand. Like reaching out and
saving souls. Every moment a person spends beating up fellow Christians
is time when you could be awakening a person to Christ, of supporting
those in doubt, of lending a shoulder – an ear – to those suffering.
What is more important? Your personal beliefs or another's eternal life
in Christ?

Over the years, generally people
become more loving, less strident and hopefully, less judgmental. For
those with an axe in hand, wielding it every which way, we pray this
comes sooner than later – and for the rest of us whose ears you make
bleed and time you waste!

People with harsh rhetoric can not
comfort those in sorrow, will not wipe away tears; they are too busy
casting stones. For fence-sitters, you will not win souls to Christ. For
non-believers, it only reinforces that Christians choose judgment over
kindness. It cements the idea that Christians aren't who they want to become. With this attitude, Satan will win yet another soul.

Maranatha!

In Christ,
Holly

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