“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:2-4,12 NASB1995)

What kinds of trials are you being faced with today? Depending upon our circumstances, or on where we live in the world, can depend upon what kinds of trials we may presently be enduring. Now hardships, pain, and sufferings of many kinds are everywhere you look. But with regard to Christian persecution, I think, from what I have experienced, those of us who live in the USA, as a general rule, have not had to suffer the kinds of severity of physical persecutions as some Christians have in other nations.

But that does not mean that the church in the USA is not suffering any kinds of persecution. It just might come in different forms. For I believe the worst persecution of “believers in Christ” here in the USA is happening within the gatherings of the church, and it is in the form of deception and convincing the people to believe the lies of the enemy and to reject the truth of the gospel as taught by Jesus, and so it is sending many people straight to hell, but on the promise of salvation from all sin and eternal life with God.

So, why is that worse than beatings and imprisonments and other such forms of torture of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ? Because those of genuine faith in the Lord, who are suffering physical persecution for their walks of faith, if they endure to the end, will have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. But all who are believing the lies of the enemy, who are embracing a false gospel which does not require death to sin and obedience to God, are being sent to hell based on a lie. And that’s worse!

But that is not the only kind of Christian persecution going on within the USA, which is where I live. So much of what is called “church” today are just businesses of human origin which are partnered with the world and with the government in an unholy union, which God forbids. And they are marketing “the church” to the people of the world, which God also forbids, and so they are diluting and altering the gospel message to make it less offensive and more appealing to the ungodly and to human flesh, to grow their numbers.

[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5]

Therefore, since they are trying to attract the world to their gatherings, and so they are marketing “the church” to the people of the world, and so they are altering the gospel message to make it more appealing to human flesh, they are being taught who they want to have in their “churches,” and who they are to “get rid of,” who will be a hindrance to their marketing goals and schemes. So, if you are someone who holds to the truths of the Scriptures, and who does not compromise the truth, you might be asked to leave.

But they may not just kindly suggest that you go somewhere else where you will be “a better fit,” but they might plot evil against you to force you to leave and to go someplace else. For there are pastors of “churches” who use manipulative tactics and deceitful scheming to get rid of those who they do not want to be a part of their “churches.” And some of them are being trained in how to do this. And my husband and I sat through some of those training sessions, so we know about their scheming and manipulations.

Plus, I have been on the receiving end of some of those manipulative tactics to get rid of me, because they were “warned about people like me,” i.e. “people with strong convictions.” And I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I was submissive and not out of order. I was not causing trouble or confusion. But I was standing on truth and righteousness, and I held on to the truth of the gospel, and to integrity and honesty, and I would not bow to false teachers and to false teachings. So I did not fit in with their marketing schemes.

But when we face trials and persecutions, some of which are done purposefully against us, to harm us, and/or to get rid of us, or to try to persuade us to change our positions, we are to consider it all joy, knowing that the testing of our faith produces within us what is of God and which is for his purposes and for his glory in making us into the servants of the Lord he wants us to be. And the end result will be for the ones who persevere that we will enter into God’s eternal kingdom and we will be with our Lord.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Recording Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

The Testing of Our Faith
An Original Work / January 20, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love