We go out into the world and try to encourage folks to come and hear a gospel sermon. We're hoping they respond to it and become Christians. We know we should do this not to "count coup", and not like some Amway scheme where we get a greater reward based on the number of people we convert (and they in turn convert, etc), but because our God wants us to. In fact commands us to.

But are these evil people? Or just lost? If you're not with me, you're against me Jesus tells us. Just what is the appropriate way to feel about confronting those who oppose God or are ignorant of his ways? Jonah had a true deep down dislike of the people of Nineveh, and was disappointed to see them repent and seek God's forgiveness. The brother of the "prodigal" didn't rejoice at the coming of wisdom displayed by his sibling. It's possible some felt Paul was a "Johnny-come-lately" apostle, and in spite of the great good he did could not get over the fact he was not one of the original twelve. It's certainly true the Corinthians had issues similar to this. David faced down Goliath with absolute confidence. Moses was afraid (of his inabilities) to go before Pharaoh, and Jeremiah *knew* his speaking was going to go unheeded, because God told him so! Nehemiah was afraid before a king, because of the seriousness of his situation. Esther resigned herself into God's hands and risked her life to bring down her enemy. Shadrack, with calm demeanor, also refused to knuckle under knowing that even if God allowed him to perish in this life it was the next that mattered.

We should always go head on with those who oppose God, right? Well, what about Paul being snuck out of town (on several occasions) to keep him alive? When he was not allowed to go to Asia, it is very possible that death would have been the result and the Spirit helped him avoid it. Jacob ran away from the wrath of his brother, and lived to tell about it. Colorful coated Joseph ran away from an adulterous woman. Joseph, the husband of Mary, avoided trouble twice by going first to Egypt and then later to Nazareth. The wise men were warned to not return via Herod, and did not. Jesus could have called 10000 angels but held his power back that he might accomplish the will of God, his father. Jesus warns many disciples to flee the Romans and flee persecution. On top of that there is a passage about casting pearls before swine.

Those who dispersed (fled persecution) taught. Apparently sometimes it's good to flee and sometimes it's right to fight. We resist the devil and he flees from us, yet there's this talk about going extra miles for people.

It would sure seem that we should stand firm when there is gain for God and flee when there is nothing to be won. Joseph could have stayed in Bethlehem with the baby Jesus. Joseph, or Jesus, had done nothing "wrong". But there was nothing to be gained for God, and in fact this would have been against God's will. Esther (and Nehemiah and Moses and many others) needed to stand firm for God, and would have undermined God's will by running away. So for us today, we should consider carefully. Yes, we need to discipline our children and teach them. We are in the right to do something about it. In the middle of a grocery store? Is their gain for God if you close the minds others?

We can deliver the right message by ramming it on people. Wrong. We can say nothing for fear of making friends ill at ease. Wrong. We can persistently and gently interject the gospel into our conversations. Right! We can avoid persecution and evil by changing habits and sometimes even changing jobs! Right! There's just got to be balance and tact. Anything else is as crazy as jumping out of an airplane!

Randy