Many Christians are afraid to speak about Jesus.
In some parts of the world, the authorities will not permit it; even meeting as believers risks arrest. Elsewhere, the exclusive claims of Christ are unacceptable in the community.
Even in tolerant societies, it does not take much to stop Christians advertising Christ. A rebuff from a friend is enough for many, as the fear of losing friendships forces us to eliminate Jesus from our conversation.
Assisted suicide, like almost every other deliberate action to end life, is currently a crime in the UK, reflecting God's laws in the Bible. But this week's Parliamentary vote in Westminster seeks to make it legal.
Likewise with abortion. Once supposedly full of rigorous safeguards to protect a few, it has, for many, become an on-demand medical service accounting for almost 10 million lives lost in the UK since 1967.
"Change is here to stay", says the world. Certainly the last 100 years have seen more change than at any other time in history. The problem is, how should we deal with it?
Aristotle wrote, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom" ... "The energy of the mind is the essence of life" ... "Happiness depends upon ourselves" ... and, "Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existance".
The volunteer identifies a good cause and reckons they can make a contribution because of their ability. They participate when they have time and give what they can afford. The volunteer expects recognition and perks: they will work hard as long as they want to but are free to stop when they want to. The volunteer certainly makes a contribution … but is it service?
Humility is not natural, even for Christians! We easily slide the focus from the Lord Jesus Christ to 'my faith', ‘my church’, ‘my ministry’, ‘my mission’ and 'me'. Moving the spotlight from ‘Him’ to ‘me’ is Satan’s objective for us individually and as families, for every church, each ministry and all gospel missions.
William Booth, the Victorian revivalist and founder of the Salvation Army, wrote about 'Darkest England and the Way Out' in 1890.
This quote has endured:
You don't have to do anything to drift dangerously!
Two American sociologists surveyed the religious opinions of 3,290 youths in the USA by phone, and followed up with 267 in-depth interviews. 'Soul Searching' was published as a paper in 2005 by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton (the book of the same name was published in 2009).
On the first Easter Sunday evening, Jesus appeared to the disciples. He proved His physical presence by inviting them to inspect His wounds and eating fish with them. Then He explained the reason for His death and resurrection.
Luke 24:46-48 says, "He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.'"
Easter, without a physically living Jesus, would be a fantasy. Central to the Christian's faith is that Jesus did rise from the dead in a real, recognisable and functional body. Jesus' resurrection body could be touched, and could eat a meal - even though it had the additional ability to appear in a locked room and disappear after a conversation. In His body Jesus ascended into heaven, and one day He will come again in the same body (Acts 1:11).
What do we do when we are at our wits end? One privilege of serving Christians who live under persecution is to see how they stay with the people they love, in their communities wherever possible, and entrust their future to the Lord.