America ch.21
When the Church is under siege, what should we do?
Matthew 5:43-44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Anger against injustice is good only as long as it is a righteous anger, from a life that has been laid down and sanctified for God. Yes, we are under a form of tyranny…yes it feels as though this nation is literally under siege:
But consider Jerusalem under the Roman siege of 68 AD…consider how many Jews perished at the sacking of the city two years later, because they would not heed the warning of Jesus (Luke 21:24) and had rebelled against him as Messiah (Matt. 27:25) They were given opportunity to humble themselves, turn beck to God and repent, but instead they followed their zealot leaders in continual pride and rebellion - assuming the attitude that God would never destroy them…after all, this is God’s chosen city - and they are God’s chosen people…
This cannot be the attitude of the Church in America…regardless of what the so-called prophets are STILL saying. Like the zealots of old, they too are operating in pride and rebellion - and we must not follow them.
Yet the Lord says to us from His Word:
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and REPENT.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”(Read Revelation 3:14-22)
If we are to be “zealots” in America, let it be toward repentance, not rebellion.
What does this look like?…
“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
1Peter2:13-16
Don’t misunderstand me: We are called to defend the poor and weak, to speak out against injustice and stand against tyrannical practices that will hasten God’s judgment, such as abortion -
But, whatever position we find ourselves in, our first calling is to turn to God, humble ourselves and pray…
Our starting point is 2Chronicles 7:14;
Ephesians 6 is the place from which we fight our battles;
And scriptures like 1Peter ch.2 are our instructions on how to win.
So many prominent voices in the American Church are STILL stirring up the Saints of God to revolution and at times, out-right rebellion - BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY OF JESUS - this is not the Way of the Cross! (remember the fate of Jerusalem 70 AD)
The heart of the Lord for America is Repentance, Reformation and Revival.
1Peter2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
…and surely this is not beyond us here, when we realize that this was written by the Apostle Peter at a time and place when Christians were being fed to the lions - at the good pleasure of the emperor!
A. h. W.
#2Chronicles714
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