Why do the majority of present-day Christians not consider suffering the way many of the ancient fathers, or earlier Christians, (or even present-day Christians in some parts of the world), do?
The answer is simply that they do not see or know that this ought to be so according to the gospel. They are unaware. People act based on what they have heard.
So, think with me: why are some Muslims willing to die, going on suicide missions for ‘the sake of God’?
It’s because of the benefit they believe they will receive in paradise.
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But if you think further, why is it always the less influential ones, (not the wealthy ones) that do this? The answer is that they have been indoctrinated. The elite do not have such convictions.
So, you will not see the children of the rich Muslims blowing themselves up. They typically find the ones who are less educated, and less knowledgeable and indoctrinate them.
The early church had strong ‘indoctrination’. They spent a lot of time studying the scriptures carefully, and it was drilled into them that laying down your life for the Lord was a glorious thing (Matthew 16:25, 1 John 3:16, John 15:13). The rewards for the great motivation are seen in Matt 19:28, 2 Tim 4:8, 1 Pet 4:13, James 1:12, Rev 3:11, and so on – all of them spoke about the great benefits of suffering in obedience to the Lord.
This missing emphasis is the major reason why there is no willingness or desire to die or lay down their lives for the Lord.
This is the message of the cross or do you think otherwise?
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