Some have said that this is the worst time to be a believer in Jesus Christ because of the oppression and persecution. Those calls are coming from Americans. My thoughts are that we know nothing of oppression and persecution in America.
In the time of Jesus, the world government was Roman. They were sexually immoral, arbitrary in taxation and all it took was the word of an official and you would be killed. As Christianity spread, Nero, among others, made it national policy that Christians were to be hunted and killed. We all know the stories of Christians being thrown to wild beasts for sport. Nero would dip Christians in tallow and set them on fire to light his garden parties. The history of the post-cross world has not been favorable. Even when Constantine became a “believer” the governments brand of Christianity was not the most pure.
People came to America first, to escape religious persecution. The church of England, a government based church, did not like free thinkers or reformers, so anyone who did not follow the state church was persecuted, which included being burned at that stake. So believers ran away. This is why the first protection found in the Bill of Rights is about freedom of religion and no state religion. We are secure in our religious freedom in America.
Yet people see Christian bakers harassed because they will not bake a cake for a gay wedding. We see Muslim practices praised by some government officials and Christian practices shut down. This is not persecution as much as various religious groups striving for political power.
Decades ago, Christianity was the norm. People could pray in school, churches were full, stores and bars were closed on Sunday and Christian got lazy. Believing that we had won and that no one would come against us, Christians just basked in the wonder of having full churches. All the while Satan and his minions were working on businesses and politicians and Christians were left in the dust.
Now we live in a truly pluralistic and secular society. No one can hide behind Christianity when discriminating in a business. No one can hide behind “what used to be” as the world changes around us. Islam is winning because they have put billions of dollars into lawyers and law firms to lobby the government and to fight Christians.
Times are changing and unless Christians wake up, we will be squished by the secular steamroller. Pray, get involved, invite people to church and do all the stuff we should have been doing in the 30s. Some say that eventually the government will start arresting Christians. Maybe, but not today. We need to work, while it is still day, for the night is coming when no one can work.
In the time of Jesus, the world government was Roman. They were sexually immoral, arbitrary in taxation and all it took was the word of an official and you would be killed. As Christianity spread, Nero, among others, made it national policy that Christians were to be hunted and killed. We all know the stories of Christians being thrown to wild beasts for sport. Nero would dip Christians in tallow and set them on fire to light his garden parties. The history of the post-cross world has not been favorable. Even when Constantine became a “believer” the governments brand of Christianity was not the most pure.People came to America first, to escape religious persecution. The church of England, a government based church, did not like free thinkers or reformers, so anyone who did not follow the state church was persecuted, which included being burned at that stake. So believers ran away. This is why the first protection found in the Bill of Rights is about freedom of religion and no state religion. We are secure in our religious freedom in America.
Yet people see Christian bakers harassed because they will not bake a cake for a gay wedding. We see Muslim practices praised by some government officials and Christian practices shut down. This is not persecution as much as various religious groups striving for political power.
Decades ago, Christianity was the norm. People could pray in school, churches were full, stores and bars were closed on Sunday and Christian got lazy. Believing that we had won and that no one would come against us, Christians just basked in the wonder of having full churches. All the while Satan and his minions were working on businesses and politicians and Christians were left in the dust.
Now we live in a truly pluralistic and secular society. No one can hide behind Christianity when discriminating in a business. No one can hide behind “what used to be” as the world changes around us. Islam is winning because they have put billions of dollars into lawyers and law firms to lobby the government and to fight Christians.
Times are changing and unless Christians wake up, we will be squished by the secular steamroller. Pray, get involved, invite people to church and do all the stuff we should have been doing in the 30s. Some say that eventually the government will start arresting Christians. Maybe, but not today. We need to work, while it is still day, for the night is coming when no one can work.
Comments
Post a Comment