37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NASB)
How often have you heard Romans 8:37 in support of the concept of a “higher Christian life?” I have heard it in that context, but I have
“It does not refer to a superior brand of Christianity that triumphantly lives above nasty little things like doubt or discouragement or defeat or depression. Rather it comes in a context where Christians are attacked.” – From How Long O Lord? by D. A Carson p78
I have never been physically attacked because I am a Christian. I have been ridiculed, belittled, falsely accused, branded a troublemaker, shunned, excluded, and misunderstood. I have also not been hired by a former boss of mine because I witnessed to him at lunch one day. When I worked for the F.D.I.C I was at a bank closing in Texas as the Data Manager for the closing team. They assigned me a secretary to do all of my data entry and document preparation. When we weren’t working, however, she wanted to party. I was as nice to her as I could be, but I would not stay out at the motel swimming pool with everyone else drinking beer all night because that was what was expected when people went on these trips. This caused everyone to look at me as someone who thought he was better than everyone else. I have had my writing and comments viciously attacked and smeared with the ugliest of mud. I’m sure there is more, but I have never once been in physical danger just because I’m a Christian…yet. also heard it in its proper context, which is found in the entire chapter of Romans 8. In this context we learn that it is only in the context of suffering that Christians can learn what it means to be “more than conquerors.”