Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free," (John 8:32)

"Fear not them which kill the body, but are not
able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is
able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10: 28)

" Ye have been bought with a price: be not ye the servant of
men." (I Corinthians 7:23)

Reflections:

Lately I've been thinking a lot about loyalties in my life. Who am
I loyal too, God or Man. There is a difference you know. In
my life I have had to make important decisions based on that
question, Who am I loyal too? I think we all do. I've learned to
to do all I can to be loyal to what I believe God's teachings, and
intentions are towards me and my faith. Thats not always easy.
For example: Sometimes in my life my government has demanded
loyalty to them, when it was directly contrary to God's teachings.
I believe "war" that is the wounding and killing of men, is
inconsistent with my Christian faith founded on peace and good
will towards men. A Christian, according to Christ's teachings,
can only act peacably towards all men. And no authority or
government can force me to act contrary to the teachings of God.
You see I'm one of those people who actually believe that the sins
of men can only be overcome by love. That evil can only be
exterminated by good. That Jesus Christ has taught me to be
gentle, long suffering, and merciful. That's right only the meek
shall inherit the earth, for those who take up the sword shall die
by the sword. You see we have been bought with a price, that
price has been the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on the cross.
Therefore I owe my service to Him and not to men.
Noah, Moses, and the prophets taught that he who kills, maims, or
injures his neighbor does evil. To resist such evil, and to prevent it,
the evil doer must be punished with death or maiming or physical
injury. Wrong must be opposed by wrong, murder by murder, injury
by injury, evil by evil. Jesus Christ rejects all this, "I say unto you
resist not evil." In other words, do not oppose injury with injury,
but rather bear repeated injury from the evil doer. Jesus Christ
said, " Ye have heard it said of old, an eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth, but I say unto you Resist not Evil. But if one strikes
you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek, and if one will go to
the law with you and take your coat from you, give him your cloak
also." It's not easy being Christian, sometimes that means being
completely contrary to the prevailing feeling. Sometimes that just
means being different.

Prayer:
Lord Keep Me Different!!!!! Amen