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BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED ...

Exclusive: Joseph Farah lauds pastor standing for truth despite ridicule

Everyone loves the Sermon on the Mount.

Even so-called “liberals” and “progressives” love it – at least the way it starts:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

That’s where the so-called “liberals” and “progressives” usually drop out. You don’t see them quote what comes next. You do, however, see them unintentionally handing out plenty of “blessings” for believers with regard to what Jesus taught:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

One blessed, salt-of-the-earth pastor from La Mesa, California, who continues to be a light to the world is Jim Garlow of the Skyline Wesleyan Church. Garlow was a towering figure in the state’s successful effort to pass Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that simply defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman back in 2008. Like voters in many other states, Californians were disenfranchised of their right to approve such common-sense laws when one activist, homosexual federal judge and same-sex marriage advocate overturned the will of millions of people with a stroke of the pen.

But, unlike many less courageous and less committed pastors, Garlow has not backed down from preaching about God’s standards of morality.

Recently, he pointed out the absurdity of same-sex marriage on a radio talk show – and the so-called “liberals” and “progressives” jumped all over him.

“All the people who advocate for so-called same-sex marriage ought to have to live in homes in which the plumbers who built them, or the electricians who built them, didn’t understand the difference between the male and female end of piping or plumbing or of electrical as well, and see how that home works out for them,” Garlow said.

“It doesn’t work, because God has made male and female spiritually, physically, psychologically and emotionally as complementary to each other, completing each other.”

People for the un-American Way had a cow.

The homosexual magazines and websites went ballistic, claiming Garlow actually wanted “gay marriage supporters to live in homes with improper plumbing.”

To say they missed the point would be an understatement.

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But it takes courage today for the people of God to speak out – even on a subject as non-controversial as marriage once was.

Garlow has it. His convictions about God’s ways won’t allow him to cower in fear. He won’t be intimidated, despite the fact that the costs are rising for such courage in our world today.

I think he sees it the same way I do and Jesus does: When you are being persecuted for His sake, you should rejoice and be exceedingly glad – for great is your reward in heaven.

That’s what we’re supposed to do, explain the next two verses of the Sermon on the Mount: “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Believers are facing persecution all over the world – real persecution. They are being massacred for their beliefs. They are being driven from their homes. There’s an all-out war on Christians – and it’s coming to the United States, too. Here some believers are losing their livelihoods just because they don’t want to participate in same-sex marriages. Who would have believed this was possible just five or six years ago? Others are being accused of hate crimes merely for standing up for God’s Word.

I don’t know that we can stop it. The political system and the guarantees of our Constitution are breaking down. But the good news is that with persecution comes blessing. That’s what Jesus taught.

Soon all believers will be forced to take a stand – either with the world or with God.

Are you ready to live like those dying as martyrs for their faith in Jesus? Are you ready to be smeared and mocked like Jim Garlow?

It’s time to decide.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/blessed-are-the-persecuted/#GJjMIuoW2hXB8drd.99

My comments: YES, it is time to DECIDE. And EVERYONE will DECIDE either for or against Chrsit Jesus and His Word. Not to decide is to decide. When Satan's False Prophet says receive the "mark" or DIE, everyone will have to DECIDE. (Revelation 13:15)