Romans 12:14-21

Engaging the Enemy

I have been feeling a lot like Christianity is under attack lately.

PEW Research Study: Over the past seven years, evangelicals have lost less than 1 percent of their share of the population, holding steady at about 1 in 4 American adults (25.4% in 2014, vs. 26.3% in 2007) and preserving their status as the nation’s largest religious group.

Charisma News: A solid majority of Americans would now be comfortable with a president who is gay or lesbian, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

Midland MI Daily News: Religious Freedom Restoration Act is neither freedom nor religious  Jesus did not discriminate against serving people because they were different or did not meet his religion’s standards. 

We Christians would do well to go back to the model of Jesus for our daily living.

I think Romans 12:14-21 give us some excellent ammunition for the battle ahead. Let’s hear what it says:

Romans 12:14-21 

Well, Maybe ammunition for the battle is not the right metaphor. I picked out 4 clear responses to the cultural challenge that is on our doorstep from this passage. Let’s break this down and see what Paul is telling us about engaging the enemy.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse: We are not the “persecuted” church, yet, but it seems to be coming. More than at any time in the past. As we encounter people who want to declare that our views are intolerant and biased, how do we bless them?

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone AND  Never take your own revenge. What kind of attitude does this take?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. I think to do this you have to see people as the same kind of sinner that you once were. I also think that there can be more power in goodness than there is in evil. Can you think of a circumstance where you have seen evil overcome by good?