Does Truth Matter Anymore?

I was thinking this morning about persecution. From the very beginnings of the Christian faith, persecution has been present, and Christ followers have given their lives for His namesake; there is even mention in the Bible of a complete number of martyrs that must be reached before Jesus returns (Revelation 6:10).
I have heard it said that what the church in America really needs is some persecution; that would really wake us and shake us and expose the "true believers" from the false ones.
Now, to an extent I agree with that statement; I think that there is much of America –inside and outside the church –that has never known levels of pain and discomfort that are daily realities for most of the people on this planet. Perhaps experiencing pain, experiencing famine would really be good for us because it teaches us to depend on God for our provision and sustenance. I also believe that ultimately the Truth of the Gospel is worth fighting for and worth dying for, and that if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, it ultimately will cost you your life (Matthew 10:39). It would serve many of us well to remember that we serve a God who promises us rest and security in heaven; we are not guaranteed a pain-free, totally comfortable existence this side of heaven. Many of us, including myself, if we are not careful can begin to drift into believing that to be a Christian is to be safe, comfortable, healthy and financially secure. I'm pretty sure that isn't the case.
I don't think that we ought to be flippant as we talk about persecution. It's a reality in much of the Christian world and if God chooses to allow violent persecution to come to this nation, that's His decision; it shouldn't be taken lightly in either case.

But consider something: many of the founding fathers of the faith gave their lives in the defense of doctrines or truths that were opposed by the powerful majority (either the church at large or the government etc.). But today, many of these truths are now considered to be optional/opinions, and it doesn't seem to matter very much to anyone who believes them; people can pretty much believe whatever they want.
Is this right? Is anything that a person believes true? Absolutely not, but aren't we seeing this played out in front of us every day?
It seems that the definition for truth in our day is sincerity, not an objective standard; if someone is sincere in their belief, can you really say they're wrong? (Uh, yes.)
The homosexual person is sincere in believing that marriage is good and right for them; abortion clinic bombers are sincere in believing they are doing God a favor; Hitler sincerely believed that the Arian race was the highest specimen of humanity. Sincerity cannot equal truth.

It is clear that all beliefs cannot be equal, but the philosophy of the modern world says that you have the right to believe whatever you want; so would you ever get persecuted for your personal belief? The problem lies not in believing what I believe, but in my saying that what you believe isn't true; everyone wants the truth to be subjective, and why wouldn't you? If I decide what's truth, I get to make the rules. Who doesn't like to be in charge?

But the question for me is where do I draw the line? I understand that not everyone thinks the Bible is true, that not everyone is convinced that God is real and that we should follow Him. The Bible says that we are enemies of God in our natural state (Romans 5:10) so how can I blame someone who believes that they are God and can make their own rules?
It's not like I want to go out looking for persecution, that is foolishness; but it isn't like it doesn't matter what people believe, because it does. Belief in Jesus is Salvation (Romans 10:9); following Him is the best life possible on this earth (John 10:10); it matters to God that people hear the Truth and are saved by it (2 Peter 3:9). I want what God wants, that the eyes of the lost would be opened to see Him for who He really is. How do you get people to see that by telling them they're wrong?

I think that Jesus' example is a good thing to look to (Ya think?). Jesus led with love before He laid down the law; as my pastor says, Jesus led with Compassion, and then gave Clarity. Telling someone they're wrong isn't going to get them to want to listen to what you have to say; laying down your life for them, maybe literally, maybe not, but giving your time, money and effort to serve their good? That might just open the heart of those that need to hear the Truth.

So, as I am reminded myself, remember that the Truth still matters, even in a day that says it doesn't. People need to know that God is a God of power and, perhaps more importantly, that God is full of unconditional steadfast love (Psalm 62:11-12).

Something about Love...

Perhaps we're commanded to love precisely because we're so terrible at it; or maybe I'm the only one. There are certain things in life that tell you that you are not perfect, that you are actually really messed up, and that you need to be ok with it.
I'm convinced that one of the greatest examples of this is human relationships. I think that most people can see my shortcomings (although I don't really act like it or remember that it's true) and are fine with them; so why is it so hard for me to catch up?
I'm not sure what it is, call it something in my brain or something from my past, but I've got a certain instinct in my head that tells me to search for reasons to quit everything. It's like a have a quitters radar. Anyone with me on that? Well, as most of us have come to realize, any adult human being has to endure things that are difficult and press through those seasons which scream at you with all deliberate urgency to GET OUT NOW, WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

But here's the bottom line: Nobody's perfect (Sorry Jonathan, not in this lifetime). And even if I see something desirable that I hope to build my life around, what makes me think that it will happen instantaneously? Life and growth happen through a process, and God is really good at sanding down the rough edges and making us into the people He wants us to be; not on our timing but His. When something is hard, it doesn't mean that it isn't good for you, or that it isn't what God wants. On the contrary, it may be the best thing that ever happened to you. The problem (for me) comes when I start to kick and scream and wonder why I'm responding to the situation with high degrees of immaturity, and not the patient maturity that I wanted; the answer is of course that this is part of the way that God is building that maturity in me, and the sooner I realize what He's up to, the better off I'll be. If I can just accept the fact that I'm not all grown up yet and that my Heavenly Father (and most of my brothers and sisters who know me at all) can clearly see that, I'll be much happier.

Tough doesn't mean quit; quitting is an excuse to stay immature. May God give us all the strength to press in and press on into all that He has for us.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,^c]"> ¹²^AE)"> to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,^d]"> to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children,^AK)"> tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in^AL)"> deceitful schemes. ¹⁵Rather,^AM)"> speaking the truth in love, we are to^AN)"> grow up in every way into him who is^AO)"> the head, into Christ, ¹⁶^AP)"> from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Ephesians 4:11-16