Emo Tenorio Shomer

A timely question and in my opinion NO human being should ever permit the free tramping of inalienable rights. Now as to Christians, we are God's ambassadors in a foreign Babylonian system and in this hostile environment, our duty is to boldly represent that kingdom 24/7. 

The Lord stood face to face with the powers of darkness addressing and stopping their demonic advance on all fronts. Done within the public square so that all could see and hear the power and glory of the kingdom. The only time He submitted in anyway, was to follow the Father's plan in purchasing our freedoms and liberties on the cross! 
(Zechariah 3:2; Mark 15:39)

What I advocate is standing on the cornerstone defending these freedoms and liberties as granted. Addressing and taking on all in the public square, with and in the love that they were purchased with, nothing more and nothing less. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Now I may well give you my coat if asked friend, but if you were to foolishly try and take it, you become an adversity thus quickly moving into a teachable kingdom moment. From which you may learn and chose in the future to politely let some weaker brethren pass by undisturbed. 
(Haggai 1:5; Zechariah 4:6; Isaiah 61:1)

Bottom line
The question is really; what are YOU going to DO about being walked on as we enter that dark time friend? In this world the respect or honor due a lady will not be delivered, until she makes it very clear that she will not accept anything less to everyone. Now in a like matter brethren we are a royal priesthood should we accept anything less than that is due us! 
(2 Corinthians 11:20)

"I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other." ~Harriet Tubman

In the Lord's freedom always....warrior on

December 12 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Christians should always be conscious in their dealings with both fellow Christians, as well as non-Christians, of the witness to others that their conduct makes regarding their faith in Christ. To me, the two most relevant passages of Scripture in that regard are both from St. Paul -- 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 and Philippians 2:5-11.

There is nothing "wrong" with a Christian wanting to be treated with respect by others. There are also varying civil, constructive ways in which a Christian can express dissatisfaction with the way in which others are treating him or trying to take advantage of him.

I don't know the particulars of whatever circumstances the questioner may have in mind, but, in my experience, situations usually present multiple options for either addressing them in a calm, non-confrontational manner that does not require the Christian either to become a "doormat", or to compromise Christian principles; or (alternatively) where the Christian can find a "work-around" alternative means of achieving desired goals or objectives that totally remove the need of either being confrontational, or else totally submissive to the will of another.

Even in what I would perceive as the unlikely event that neither of those alternatives are possible, the Christian example for action is the humility of Jesus (as noted in the passage from Philippians cited above), and the Christian mindset should be guided by the standard set by Paul in the verses from 1 Corinthians noted earlier.

December 12 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The idea of being walked on or trampled upon flows from the question, "What are my rights as a Christian?" This is really important for us to understand. Jesus always invites us to "follow him", to follow the example he has given us. In the gospel books of the bible, Jesus encounters 3 types of people:

1) Group 1 are people who are suffering because of the evil, wickedness, corruption and decay present in the world we live in - the sick people who need a doctor
2) Group 2 are people who are spiritually lost, without hope, without a future, and are desperately looking for someone to save them - the lost sheep who need a shepherd
3) Group 3 are people who are captivated by the culture of the world they live in; the power, wealth, fame they strive to attain; which is controlled by the spiritual forces of darkness

So, how did Jesus respond to these different groups?
1) With Group 1 Jesus healed their sicknesses, diseases, and deformities and set them free from the powers of darkness
2) With Group 2 Jesus delivered the good news of the gospel and invited people to receive his salvation and enter the kingdom of God
3) With Group 3 Jesus ruthlessly dealt with every demonic presence, casting them out of the people they were harming. Jesus spoke warnings and impending judgment upon the religious leaders who were leading the people away from God. Jesus did not endear himself to any human being and he did not adopt the culture of the world around him, but transformed it instead.

How did Jesus know how to deal with each person he encountered? Jesus said he only spoke the words that his Father gave him to say [present continuous sense], and he only did the works that he saw his Father doing. Jesus was being "meek". He had completely surrendered to his Father's will but his actions were filled with miraculous power and his words were bold and courageous when they needed to be.

We are called to be just like Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. The Holy Spirit will show us how to respond to each person that we encounter, which group of people they fit into. 

For Group 1 people we may need to sacrifice our rights and privileges (be trampled upon) in order to deliver the grace of God that each person needs - to love the unlovely, for example.

For Group 2 people we may need to sacrifice our rights and privileges to build a relationship with them so they will listen to our testimony and hear the gospel from us with open minds and hearts.

For Group 3 people we may need to take a stand against evil, wickedness, corruption and decay so that "justice and righteousness" would prevail in our world - fighting against systemic racism, human trafficking, eradication of poverty, etc. In the process, our rights and privileges may be trampled upon, because the forces of darkness controlling our world with not easily give up their power and control.

If our response is always guided by the Holy Spirit, then the result of our words and actions will always be the will of God. If the result is a miracle, a conversion to faith or the advance of justice and righteousness, then God's kingdom is on the move and the forces of darkness are being defeated.

If, in the process, we are trampled upon, while "we are doing the will of God" then no matter; because God sees everything we have sacrificed for his kingdom sake; and we will be rewarded a hundred times over for our faithfulness in this life or in the new heaven and earth.

December 21 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report