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"What if your church was evicted tomorrow?" read the subject line in an email dated January 28, 2012 from the Family Research Council. There are probably thousands, if not millions, who call themselves Christians here in the United States who either don't care to consider the question or who are unaware that it is happening right now............RIGHT NOW in the land of the First Amendment! As is often the case, persecution against a particular group of people (those of the Christian faith in particular) usually begins on the margins. Wholesale attacks against the main body of that group are rare in the beginning.
Marginal attacks tend to cause the main body to think, "Oh, it's just those radicals, so we have nothing to worry about." Or the thinking goes, "That's just happening in _______, but nothing like that would ever happen there," or "If we just don't make any waves, that will blow over." In times like this I often think of the words of Martin Niemoller.
"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak out because I was a Protestant.
Then they cam for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."
The above captioned email says that unless a change is made, "on February 12, 2012, as many as 100 churches in New York City face eviction on February 12, as the school board's ban against the use of property by religious congregations goes into effect. The evictions could be devastating to small congregations and church plants in the city and......opportunities for ministry in many areas of the Big Apple would be effectively shut down." All of this is happening in spite of the fact that: 1) The Lamb's Chapel decision by the Supreme Court several years ago guaranteed equal access to government buildings by all groups (even religious groups), and 2) the churches using schools in New York City have been model tenants, providing much needed revenue and services to the city.
Through the Third Lens of Scripture......There are some prophetic portions of Scripture that tell us that there will come a time when such incidents will not be isolated or infrequent. In fact, because all of the last days events are described as "birth pains" we can expect that they will increase in both intensity or severity. Consider: "But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness......You will be hated by all for my name's sake" (Luke 21:12-13, 17). This whole passage could serve as a summary of the life of the Apostle Paul.
This confirms that such persecution of the followers of Christ has been around for almost 2000 years, but remember the birth pangs. One of the agonizing results of our military intervention in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan (in addition to the loss of so many of our finest and bravest) has been the increase of persecution of Christians in these countries. Many have died and many more have fled for their lives. Some of the places to which Christians have fled are Muslim countries, formerly ruled by moderate, secular governments, but which, in the name of "democracy" have undergone revolutions, only to be ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood (e.g., Egypt). Since becoming "democratic" persecution of Christians has increased in these countries.
"Of course," you might say, "the persecution mentioned in Luke 21 is future, not now," or, "New York City is not the Bible belt," or, "Egypt is not the USA!" May I remind you, there were a lot of things Martin Niemoller was not, but he spent 5 years imprisoned at Dachau. The Bible makes it clear that there is a time coming when persecution of true Christians will be world-wide. "And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.** And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of the Lamb who was slain." (Revelation 13:5-8).
Just because Christians have been being persecuted from Acts 3 until this day, make no mistake about it; the events spoken of in Revelation 13 are the same as those spoken about by Jesus in Matthew 24 depict a time like never before seen in history. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved [physically].But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:21-22) Those days will be cut short, as you follow the sequence of Matthew 24, by the Coming of the Son of Man, or the Rapture. It is obvious that the church does not escape exposure to the Great Tribulation. Death will be the portion of many, but it is said of them, "And they have conquered him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11)
So, how can we be encouraged in the midst of such dire predictions, predictions which are seeing early (from a western viewpoint) signs of fulfillment? What can and should we do? I believe this is a time when every commandment, every promise in the Word of God, when rightly viewed in the light of unfolding prophecy should be considered with the utmost urgency. The followers of Christ need to:
1. Read, understand and practice, with all seriousness, the Great Commandment(s). "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
2. Read, understand and practice, with all seriousness, the Great Commission. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
3. Read, understand and begin to find ways to practically live within our own culture as the early church did (Acts 2:42-47).
At some point, the Lord willing, we will explore these three points in much greater detail. Until then, encourage others with, and be encouraged yourselves by the fact that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. When He does, it will be obvious "....that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
