The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-25

V0lley OF stones upon tHelF ElcL!W
The dying Stephen suffered mar
tyrdom like the hero he was: He
called upon God, he committed
himself to God, he prayed for his
enemies, and he fell asleep.
! (2) The Third Persecution scat,
tered the church at Jerusalem
Thesdeath of Stephen did not sat
! isfy Saul the brilliant and jealous
Sanhedrist; for tiger-like, having
tasted of Christian blood ne
thirsted for more. In the great
persecution which now arose he
was the chief inquisitor and ter
ror-king. Determined to extermi-
nate utterly the new faith he lit
orally made havoc of the
church." searching the homes and
haunts of its members; haling
men and women alike before the
authorities and giving his own
testimony and vote against them
scourging some; casting many in
to prison; compelling some to
blaspheme the name of Christ; in
fact, with vigilant eyes he watch
ed the Temple and synagogues,
with unwearying feet he secured
the city and It's environs, and
its environs, and with merciless
hands he struck down every dis
ciple in sight or reach. In conse-
quence the members of the
/ church. many of them, fled for
their lives, and while the apostles
remained in the city. it looked as
! if Saul had accomplished his pur-
pose and that the church at Jeru-
! salem was destroyed.
PERSECUTION IN ASIA MINOR
! q Peter ~
The Mission Churches in Asia
Minor in the sixties of the first
century were subjected to many
reproaches by their neighbors.
! The Jews reproached them for
abandoning ceremonial obserV.,
ances and the Gentiles reproached
them for not joining in idolatrous
| festivities as of old: and this feel
ing broke out in violent persecu-
ton. On hearing through Silvan-
US from the troubled churches IN
the west, Peter, then laboring
among the many Jews in Babylon,
wrote his first letter addressing
Christians generally in Asia Mi
no.. naming the countries from
northeast to south and west. His
evident object was the encourage
ment of those who were suffering
on account of their faith.
In the present paragraph we
find seven things: (l) Expect Sc
we're tests. The trials may be
fiery but they are not exceptional
for others are undergoing them
They are disciplinary and de-
veloping to the sufferer and they
energize his witness before oth'
/ ers. ~ Rejoice in fellowship
with Christ. AS you share what
| he suffered you will eXult at the
revelation of his glory. go Real
ize the blessedness of the divine
presence. You may be denounced
| for bearing the name of Christ
but upon you will rest the glory
and power of the Spirit of God
! (4 Suffer as a Christian. Be
sure of that. If one suffers as 9
murderer or a thief or an evil
doer or a meddler and busybody
he Simply gets what he deserves
and he deserves no credit. But II
he suffers because he is a Chris.
tian. she must not be ashamed
but must glorify God for that
(Moffatt). (5l Submit to the
providential judgment of God
They who are of the household
of God must submit to Judg-
ment: and if they escape through
the ''strait gate" like Lot out of
Sodom and Israel out of Egypt,
what must become of the ungodly
and irreligious who reject and
disobey the gospel? co. Suffer
according to the will of God.
When he directs, let no one dis
obey. (7) Commit the soul in
well-doing to the Creator. He is
faithful and will never forsake.
WHEN CHRISTIANITY is
UNDER FIRE
| ~ Be not Nervous, trembling
| for the ark of God or fearful that
the kingdom of God can now or
ever be destroyed.
(2) Do not Fight Fire With
Fire" Abuse and sarcasm, chilean
ery and falsehood are in the hands
/ of YOUR foes, but to bring down
the giant, David must not wear
the armor of Saul.
6 Do not Rely Altogether upon
intellectual Weapons. Argument
| for the sake of argument is sell
dom convincing.
(4) Be Spiritual, first of all
for a spiritual life is the best pos
sible answer to the critics of the
cross. In worthy augmentation
they cannot pump the life-blood
out of your heart.
| (5) Be Loyal to God and His
Word. Allegiance to his sover-
eighty and unwavering confidence
in his Word are forts of strength
in time of war.
CO.. Be Aggressive, Evangel-
istic, Missionary, Instead of stop
/. ping to SILVER with fear or parley
with foe, herald the good news of
salvation fcrvently, faithful, per-
sistrntly. Do not wait to contend
even that the Word is the Word a;
proclaim II and see it win its own
wayl
(D Re Courageous. Wise, Hope
full. feraerv'ng, For they who are
blasting at the Rock Of Ages
can do nothing more than re-
move SOME of the moss that has
gathered there, And they would
dissret the Bible are unable 10
insert the acalpel deeper than the
eutiele Of creed or the wart of