What is not ours to keep...

In 1949, seven years before his death at the hands of an isolated tribe in Ecuador, missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his journal, “….he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” (See also Luke 9:24: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.)

The same idea was expressed by Philip Henry (1631-1696) who said, “He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which cannot lose.” 

This morning part of the devotional I read focused on Jesuit priest Alfred Delp (1907-1945), a passionate anti-Nazi, who was arrested, imprisoned in chains, and ultimately hung by the Nazis. He wrote, “Others have you in their power now; they torture and frighten you, hound you from pillar to post. But the inner law of freedom sings that no death can kill us; life is eternal.”

All of these quotes seem to be saying essentially the same thing.

In this day and age of Christian persecution, whether overt in some countries or the more subtle bullying in our own country (Freedom from Religion, American Atheists, etc.), those who claim to be ‘Christians’ must decide what we are made of and how far we are willing to go to defend not only religious freedom but also the very principles on which we stand.

Disclaimer: I’m not linking to the above-named organizations because of my distaste for their agenda. They can be found on the internet if anyone is interested.)