#iCONVICTION

The latest shootings in Oregon got me thinking about being a Christian and what it takes to face persecution. I’m not talking about the way persecution is perceived in America, such as negative attacks, false stereotypes, intolerance or slander. 
While all of that can seem a bit daunting, it’s not life-ending.  In fact, it gives us an opportunity to show forth our faith and expose any misrepresentations about Christianity by the way we live, so the onus is on us. 
But, unfortunately, for many in the church, we dwell on those types of misdirected assaults because we have become weak and flabby. We crave comfort. We enjoy the social aspect of fellowship more than the spiritual dynamic that should follow biblical obedience.
We like our gospel watered down, lest the truth force us to leave our comfort zone and start to swim against the tide. We fear uncomfortable pews more than we fear the fact that people are perishing and headed to an uncomfortable eternity.
We are so complacent that our idea of what constitutes persecution pales in comparison to the experiences of other churches outside of America, in countries such as Nigeria, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt and Syria, where living out their faith in Christ puts entire families in daily risk of torture or death.
So the latest shootings that took place at Umpqua Community College in Oregon have me thinking. It was reported that the shooter was deliberately targeting Christians; that when the students were asked if they were Christians, upon answering “yes” they were shot dead.
The question is: Could this be a foreshadowing of an onslaught of religious persecution here in America?  I don’t know.  But I know this: Wherever persecution flourishes, the gospel flourishes more.  That alone gives me peace.
I have no idea what it feels like to be under a gun or faced with a beheading because of my faith in Christ. However, I hope the depth of my conviction runs as deep as the brave souls whose lives were snuffed out in Oregon. Their heroic stance revealed their true colors, which ran red, just like the blood of our Savior who laid down His life for all of us.  It also revealed the omnipresent face of evil in our society.
We Americanized Christians need to wake up. We cannot be sustained through the oncoming oppression and attacks without the conviction of who we are in Christ. What would you do if someone held a gun to your head and asked, “Are you a Christian?”
Would you be willing to die for Jesus? I don’t ever want to forget that He died for me. Upward in prayer.  Forward by faith.  Confident with conviction. 
Matthew Maher is a former professional athlete and author of the newly released book U MAY B THE ONLY BIBLE SOMEBODY READS: R U LEGIBLE? His “Decisions Determine Destiny” assemblies are funded by State Farm and service youth in the tri-state area. He served four years and seven months in N.J. State prison and was released August 2014. You can learn more at www.themattmaherstory.com, where his blogs have been read by over 500,000 people in every state, 121 countries, and in 67 different languages. Follow him on Twitter @mattmaherstory and on Instagram @matthewmaher7