John 15:18-19  “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

I John 3:13  “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

It is fairly obvious that persecution is coming to America. As a Christian perhaps the most disturbing thing is to realize that the persecution is being spearheaded by the sodomites. There is, in my opinion, no one to blame but ourselves. We have allowed several generations of children to be brainwashed by the education system and hollywood.

As Dr James Dobson admitted, we have lost the culture war. It seems as though many people think that right and wrong is just a matter of opinion. We are without a doubt reaping the “if it feels good do it” seeds that were planted in the hippie generation.

In light of that I would like to give you some simple tips to help fellow Christians avoid the coming persecution.

1. Avoid People Who Have Strong Biblical Convictions.

Steer clear of other Christians who place the Bible above everything else as a rule in their lives.

Nobody likes a religious fanatic.

Remember radicals always draw attention to themselves.

They will be the first to be persecuted.

2. Try To Fit In With The World. Talk and Act like the World around You.

Use a little off-color language from time to time.

Tell a smutty joke now and again.

This will convince your friends and family and co-workers… “Hey, he’s just a regular guy or gal like we are”

Watch the same movies.

Read the same books.

Listen to the same music.

You don’t want those around you to think you are a “holy Joe”

3. Do Not Judge Others.

Remember Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

Who are we to say if something is right or wrong?

Live and let live.

And if you rebuke other people they will just end up hating you.

How can you win people that hate you?

Look at what it got John the Baptist.

So even if the Bible says something is wrong …best keep it to yourself.

4. Don’t Worry About Holiness.

Avoid churches and people who promote holiness.

These people are usually legalists.

Remember, we are saved by grace not works.

You know the world hates a stick in the mud.

Besides, what you do in your private life is nobodies business.

5. Don’t be Fanatical.

I know Jesus said, “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

But that’s just for “super Christians”, preachers and missionaries and so forth.

You can be a Christian without being a fanatic!

Trouble starts when people become passionate about religion.

It is okay to be a sports fanatic or a car fanatic or a motorcycle fanatic

You can be a fanatic about any number of hobbies.

You can be passionate about saving the whales and the owls and the circus animals…the world doesn’t mind that.

But everyone knows that religious fanatics are kooks.

6.Find A Church and a Pastor That Doesn’t Rock the Boat.

Try to find a church where the preacher never mentions sin.

Or if he does mention it, he doesn’t actually call it by name.

It is best when trying to avoid persecution to speak only in general terms.

You don’t want to be known as a “Bible-thumper”

I know that the Bible says in Philippians 2:15  “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”

But think about it …How much of a light can you be sitting in a jail cell?

Brother Shawn