Habits, Rewards, and Endurance

Note: This is a reflection from Rod Dreher's book, Live Not by Lies — specifically chapters 1 and 2. For those participating in our book club in person or online, fee free to post your reflection in the comments section below. #KeepThinking

We must remain vigilant. The culture is worse now than when Dreher wrote the book. Just today, a military general was suspended from his contracting job and put under investigation for mocking the First Lady with a “what is a woman” joke. We may not have to endure as much suffering as others, but we must consider how our example of worship, commitment to Christ, and our compromises will inform our children of how to live.

If we are older and concerned about the next generation, we must open our homes for fellowship with those who indicate they are concerned about the times. An elder’s word of encouragement brings substantial amounts of peace when coming from one faithfully paternal rather than biologically paternal.

We must remember that the promise of heaven should not drive us to apathy, but to courage. This life is not all there is. There are habits we must form, and rewards wait in heaven for those that live exceptionally well in difficult days. Habits are formed by lifting little truths-and eventually heavy truths that may break us, but in the end set us free.

Finally, while the parallels between our current day and the accounts from communism survivors are frightening, we should remind ourselves and our children of the kingdom they are a part of: the Kingdom of God. They may suffer or die under totalitarianism, in the same way the Israelites did in the book of Jeremiah, but the promise we must give them is the promise God has given us, that we will be with Him in heaven. We must not fall for the lie that there is an easy road. There is no road without suffering, so you might as well suffer for the truth. The sooner we and our children take this to heart, the better.

#KeepThinking

Resources

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher

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