Which situation would you rather be in....

[DWJD]

would you rather be in a free, democratic...ish country where you were allowed freedom of religion, you could witness to people, go to church take your bible places, but had only a lukewarm, semi-religious faith or were surrounded by people like that.
Or would you rather be in a country where christians were horribley persecuted, lived in danger of having your family harmed, you can't worship freely,or talk about your faith, but you had an amazing relationshiip with GOd, saw miracles happen and things like that. Which situation would you rather be in?

 

[Bruno]

Latter, of course. There's NO substitute for a True relationship with God.

 

[jesus_freak_for_life]

You can have the first with a deep, intimate walk with God.

 

[jz4jc]

I agree with JF4L

 

[katylees]

well id want the first and yer i agree with u 2... talk to him and have a good relationship ...cant agree on either one!

 

[DWJD]

Of course there are tons of people who live in the first who have awesome relationships with God and all, and there are people in the latter who are only half-hearted christians. Sometimes though, it seems that it's so easy to get distracted, and side tracked in places and situations where it doesn't call for a huge faith and all, you know what I mean. When you are in the latter situation, you come to treasure things that we take for granted. Like a church service, a Bible etc.

 

[katylees]

i imagine ppl do that but i dont take the Bible or Church service for granted! i love them heeee its gr8

 

[Peter]

I had a student ask me what would be the one best thing to happen to Christianity. I told her, "Make it illegal." After she picked herself up off the floor, she asked why.

If Christianity was illegal, then only those who truely believed would be a part of it. This forum wouldn't exist, of course, but it wouldn't need to. Just look at history. The church didn't have to start defending herself from hersey, coming from within, until the 4th century when it became legal! If it's legal, everyone wants in. If it's illegal, only the faithful will stay.

True Christianity has not died in places where it's illegal. It didn't die in Russia or any other Soviet state. It hasn't been wiped out by Turkish or Islamic persecution. Rome couldn't wipe it out.


Peace.

Peter

 

[Blessed-one]

i think both situations have their disadvantages and advantages. Look at the corruption of heart in the western society. There's no short cut to everything, every way and every path is difficult, if you could not overcome it.

 

[JDRoss]

I don't know what one I would rather be in. I would like to say the second situation but then who am I to say that I have the strength for something like that. Only God knows what I can handle and what I am ready for.

 

[Sair]

Relationship with God

 

[purple_people_eater_21]

Good call JDRoss, I agree wholly. Only God knows what we are ready for, and as much as many of us may or may not want it, He will put us in those situations, or not put us in them, depending. Just leave it up to Him I say.

God Bless
Karl

 

[Irocc]

Despite the fact that I wouldn't wonna put my family in danger, I'd say I'd rather be in the second situation.
There's nothg that can be compared to having a close relationship with God. I know He'd give me the strength that I need to make it thru all that suffering.

 

[plowboy22]

I think that the question we really need to ask ourselves is if we were in the 2nd situation, "How strong would our faith be?" It is easy to have faith when times are easy, but what about when times get tough?

 

[princess_ballet]

I would rather be free. Because that is the way God intended us to live.

 

[Super Gnat]

I don't know if anyone's ever heard the saying "Prosperity is a greater test of character than adversity." When adversity is all around you, it is impossible to be lukewarm. You either go hard or not at all. In a place where your life itself is not threatened, it is easier to fall into apathy. You have to seek God earnestly on your own, with no external feeling of urgency to spur you on.

I like to compare a farm worker and a computer guy. The farm worker gets muscles as a natural result of her work; it's hard, certainly, but everything she does strengthens her. The computer guy has to go to the gym and seek out opportunities to exercise in order to grow muscles. They aren't "essential" to his livelihood. However, if they both persevere, they'll both end up with big strapping muscles!

So I'm not sure which situation I'd rather be in. All I can do is to do my best through Christ in the one I'm in (the latter, I hope ).