motion and propaganda and paraphernalia, but what moves the hearts of men is not a program but a person. I can go to sleep listening to somebody pro mote a missionary or evangelistic program but a live, Spirit-filled missionary or evangelist wakes me up. Our only message is Jesus Christ. Our only re source is Jesus Christ. Our only program is Jesus Christ. Our only business is to know Him and to make Him known. That is how we got our name; we are CHRIST-ians! We must get back to our identification with Jesus Christ, “dead WITH Christ, crucified WITH Christ, risen WITH Christ, hid WITH Christ.” He said, “He that is not WITH me is against me and he that gathereth not WITH me scattereth abroad.” Our Christian activity grows out of our identification; we abide in Him and bear much fruit. It is ABIDING and ABOUNDING! Then, we need to get back to our PERSUASION, back to our persuading business! Our business is to win men to Christ. If we are identified with Him as we ought to be, we will seek to win others. He said, “ Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” When a man starts out to get married, he persuades a woman. When he starts out to sell insurance or automobiles, he persuades men. When he runs for office, he persuades people. The business of the church is to persuade men and women to become Christians but very few church members ever work at it. Finally, we need to get back to PERSECUTION. I do not mean that we are to court martyrdom or seek opposition. We don’t have to seek it; it will come naturally! I do mean that we should take the kind of stand for Jesus Christ that will bring on resistance. It is not our objective but it will be a consequence. I do not mean silly demonstrating, waving placards and getting involved in all kinds of radical upheavals. Our Lord lived in a storm of persecution that ended on a cross. Paul lived in a turmoil all his days. The early Christians faced dungeon, fire and sword be cause they simply preached and practiced New Tes tament Christianity. All one has to do is just be a Christian. But this present-day, watered-down, com promising peaceful coexistence with the world, the flesh and the devil stirs up no opposition. The devil doesn’t bother to fight it because it is not causing him any trouble. We are not stirring up enough com motion to arouse the forces of evil in the community. We have lost our identity and are so affiliated with this age that the world considers us harmless and not worth their attention. Persecution never killed a church. It may scatter it as it did the early Jerusalem church and that is all to the good. When we lose our identification with this world and regain our identification with the PERSON, the PERSUASION and the PERSECUTION, we will regain our IDENTITY as a persecuted minority, scorning the values of this world and living by stringent discipline, willing to be called the scum of the earth and a spectacle to the world for the scandal of the cross. MARCH, 1970
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COLLECTOR’S ITEM forYOU!
ij&ilJLM's-MAP tö&ms?î WRÎStEYÿ“*DEEDä * ESUS CHRIST "J
PilgniifsMap-The HolyLand Timely, historic map, showing the journeys and deeds of our Lord. Identifying Scripture references; produced in the Carpenter's Work shop, Nazareth. Sent to all who send $1.00 or more to this ministry to bring the Gospel to more than 2,000,000 Jews in metropolitan New York. A CHRISTIAN W ITNESS FOR 70 YEARS
NEWYORKMISSIONTOTHE JEWS
Rev. David J. Fant, Litt.D., President Dept K, 149 Avenue B, New York, N.Y. 10009
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