Christians may be Paranoid But It Is With Good Reason

Don't tell me there is no attack on the church o that the persecution of Christians is an ancient practice that no longer exists. Christians have been persecuted since the day that Jesus ascended to the Father. Indeed, Jesus himself was crucified. All but one of the Apostles died as martyrs for the faith. Persecution of Christians has never stopped. The source, form and the intensity of that persecution may vary from place to place and generation to generation but it has never gone away. It is happening somewhere in the world as I write.

Worldwide persecution is clearly seen by those who would but look. Turkey, Iran, China and the Sudan are two of he more notorious persecutors of Christians. Radical Muslim organizations are murdering Christians. These international persecutions are increasing daily.

However, this is not these are not he only places Christians are persecuted nor are they they only means of persecution being endured by God's people  Every day I read of a new attack here in the good old USA of some Christian organization enduring persecution. Christian infrastructure is being over burdened by states that forbid Christians from gathering as commanded by Scripture. Christians are being denied the right to carry their faith outside their church property. Christians are being marginalized politically and economically. 

Unfortunately, persecution against Christians in the United States is not something that is avoidable. It is something that we Christians will have to deal with and understand going forward.

These attacks come from many sources.  As believers we are not surprised by the criticism from non-believers.  We are accustomed to being attacked by those outside of the household of faith. Indeed we know that they will find the Christian faith hard to accept and understand. These critics and adversaries do not surprise us nor do we fear them.  They in fact are the very people to whom we are called upon to "preach the Gospel."

However, there are two sources that do surprise me. One is our own governmental jurisdictions. The leadership of our various governmental institutions in some twisted understanding of the First Amendment to the constitution are removing all Christian symbols and statements from those institutions. The House of Representatives under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi has removed many references to God and the Ten Commandments as well as the "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance as used in the House of Representatives.

Courts have variously ruled in favor of atheist and attempted to removed prayer from school gatherings including but not limited to extracurricular activity such as weekend sports events and clubs made up of students. Some have gone so far as to forbid students and/or teachers from wearing religious jewelry such as a necklace with a cross. 

The courts, including the Supreme Court, have  either wittingly or unwittingly slowly but systematically been removing religion and religious people from the public square. They have ordered Christian who own businesses to leave their religion at their business door forcing them to do things that they believe is a violation of their faith group beliefs

The other is organizations formed by “so called” Christian people.  These are quasi religious groups that purport to be defending the faith.  Groups like Freedom America and The Baptist Joint Committee (BJC) claim to be champion the Christian faith when in reality they are attacking the very structure of the church in our nation.

Sadly, most of this governmental activity against the Christian faith has come at the insistence of pseudo-Christian groups. Groups like "Faithful America" run by an Episcopalian priest and The Baptist Joint Committee of Public Affairs (JPC) and it’s strawman war against the phony notion of Christian Nationalism and others.

Do not be deceived . . . . . they are not. Jesus warned of this. Remember he said, "They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."  They seek to destroy what they can and distort what they cannot destroy.  It is the Good Shepard seeks to protect and warn his sheep from these imposters. Be vigilant and be discerning.

Jesus warned us of this when before he ascended to the Father he said to his disciples, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts 20:28-32

Organizations like "Faithful America" fall into the category of dangers of which Jesus was speaking in that discourse. They all use in some form Satan's approach when deceiving Eve "Did God really say? except today his emissaries word the deception this way, "I Know that's what the Scripture says but , . .  ."

I was recently told by someone who identifies as a Methodist Christian that I needed to put down that "old book" (speaking of the Bible) and get in the real world. I are not what they slight of hand is their goal is to so culturize the Christian faith o that even the Lord Himself would not recognize it. On a personal level they do this to rid themselves of the stigma of engaging in what Scripture prohibits and what it defines as an abomination to God.  It is some kind of crazy logic that thinks that by simply denying removing something from Scripture or the liturgy it changes something. The actions of men do not have the power to alter what God thinks about anything. What was sin in Paul's day is sin in our day. We may change but God does not. We can label it and define it any way we choose but it is still sin and sin is an offense to God. God and is word change not.

I had a fiend who is now with the Lord with whom I loved to give some challenging theological or ethical question question. She would try and explain it and find herself going in circles. She would finally just say; "I just believe what the Bible says"  My friends that is what we need across the board in contemporary Christianity. There is an old saying used in a previous generation that said of the Bible, "God said it, I believe it and that settles it." Sounds good but it is wrong. The correct response should be, "God said it and that settles it."

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.