Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

I was wondering this morning what radical Christianity would look like. When I opened my bible app to read the Word, this was the verse of the day. I was about to look up the verse about being hated for His name’s sake, but this is more appropriate, don’t you think?

A zealot is said to be one who will not change their mind or the subject. I haven’t seen Christianity as being like that. We invest our time in people. We get to know them, build trust, understand their needs and hopefully can show them the love that abides within us. Such is the Christian life.

It is not that way for all Christians. Some live surrounded by a people who hatefully despise them just because they are Christian. This is nothing new. The stories about Christian persecution date back to the first century and Rome. Irony is that Rome is now the seat of the largest Christian religion. The hatred of Rome was conquered by love.

When Christianity was in danger from within its own ranks, it was a zealot that sought to free Christians from the ranks of the persecuted within its own system. Faith always wins out over injustice. In these present times the only thing that really has changed is the ability for people to witness the battle in real time through social media. This instant society expects instant results.

What happens to faith when a people have an expectation of instant results?

Psalm 37:14-15 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Impatient faith fails to find solace in the truth.