Featured The Coming Assault on Christianity

It is a fair question and one that I have been praying over off and on since Obama won the first time. The frequency of these prayers has picked up in the last year and a half.

Rom 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
Rom 13:4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Rom 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
1Pe 2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
1Pe 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1Pe 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
1Pe 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1Pe 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,


Remember the historical context of these passages. I a convinced what awaits us will be comparable to the days of Nero, and our instruction is the same.


Now, what has really been at the heart of my prayers concerning this is my responsibility as a pastor not just in the near term as things begin to come to pass but also when they are in full swing. My ultimate desire is to glorify God in each part I play (husband, father, pastor, citizen).

 

There are a few things we can do to prepare for what lies ahead. We can start by expecting changes within the church. If your church hasn't already done so, it needs to update its policies about weddings, membership, teachers, etc. I think the g@ys will soon start demanding that all pastors and all churches marry them. Churches need to be ready for this and develop policies to protect the church.

I think we can expect more changes in the workplace that will make it harder for Christians to maintain their jobs. Expect to suffer financially as well.

We can prepare our children by making sure they know what we believe, and why. I'm seeing more and more Christian kids leave home to attend secular universities and they either fall away or if they do come to church, they want to introduce ungodly teachings in the church.

 

One of the things that impressed me about Bonhoeffer was his discipleship programs and his setting the example. When he was in prison he would sometimes have books and hymnals but not always. Having at least part of the Word memorized gave him strength and knowing songs by heart was also a comfort to him. More than that though, he was able to comfort others, even his guards, with the truth and with regularly singing hymns.

 

Excellent post.

 

Thanks. My oldest dd (almost 16) and I just had a talk about this last night. I think the time is coming where our faith WILL be tested and tried, at least in ways that may hurt us financially, socially, or even physically.

What we have to determine NOW is if we are willing to stand firm for Christ and walk the hard road when things get tough. We need to keep ourselves spiritually refreshed, close to the Lord, and alert to the wiles of the devil.

I don't want to suffer. I don't want to see my family suffer, but if it happens, it shouldn't take us unaware. Like the old hymn says "Should I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?"

 

When persecution hit the early church, the gospel was spread to all points because of it, not despite it. I pray the same thing happens in America. That people will stop playing church and get serious about the things of God.

 

I'm already preparing my children. My son (7) is already aware there may come a day where we may even lose our lives for our faith. We are on the path to second or third world status.

 

After the election I watched MSNBC to see how thry reacted and yes they seemed to claim this election as a mandate on a variety of social immorals. The NOW crowd and the gays seem to feel more emboldend than ever.

We must stand up for the truth in the dark days coming, not that they aren't already here.

 

1) Acting as an individual, are we to conclude that we can be outlaws because the law is in part ungodly?

2) Acting as an assembly of believers, are we to conclude we can advocate for godly law and against ungodly law, i.e. engage in a war of ideas?

Who knows their bible?

 

Folks, the ends do not justify the means.

Did the folks that signed the Declaration of Independence act as individuals, or collectively as a governing body? Were they not acting as representatives of the people of the United States of America?

The Bible teaches how we should act as individuals, as members of our church, and under the color of governing authority. As an individual we shall not murder, but acting under the color of governing authority we can wield deadly force.

 

We have biblical examples of righteous civil disobedience.

The mid-wives disobeyed Pharaoh, and lied, to save Hebrew babies.
Daniel,twice, one time he acted as a leader of a group
Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego
Esther
The prophets, and John the Baptist, broke laws and socially accepted norms to stand before kings proclaiming the messages of God.
Peter and the Apostles in Acts 5...this one is especially important to the context of this thread. Individually and as a group these men preached the Gospel at great risk, even breaking the law.


Our obedience to authorities on earth has limits and it is not supposed to be blind.

 

Lists of names without specific references does not foster careful study of specifics. Pick your best example and explain from the text the principle of lawlessness.

a) Midwives

b) Rahab and the spies

c) Daniel

d)Esther

e) one specific prophet

f) John the Baptist

g) Peter in Acts 5

 

It does foster careful study. It does assume the posters here have a basic knowledge of Scripture and a desire to search the Word to see if the examples ring true.

It does not, however, overcome an individuals laziness or intellectual dishonesty.

 

Folks, did you see a specific reference and explanation of the assertion? Or did you see an attempt to disparage those with the unmitigated gall to ask for more.

 

Hi XYiftah, take a look at Hebrews 11. The last 5 or so heroes wielded the sword, so depending on whether one is acting individually or part of a governing authority, God provides different examples of righteous behavior.

Pick one of the topics from post #15, and lets kick around the specifics as we see them in scripture.

Now turning to Luke 22, in order to fulfill prophecy, Jesus said bring swords so He would be classified as criminal. However, to be clear, Jesus is the King of Kings, and so acting under His direction is to act under governing authority. Where some go astray is when a mental case says God told me to do some unlawful act, i.e. bomb an abortion clinic or shoot an abortionist. Jim Jones taught it was ok to murder your own children. So the protection God supplied in scripture is to discern God's will through collective decision making, like calling a Pastor. Since we are all indwelt, we can discuss the decision together to gain the wisdom of those with insight, then pray and meditate and study God's word separately, then come together and make collective decisions. That is the biblical model.

 

I do not understand the direction in which this conversation is going. The OP asked what we could do to prepare for the coming persecution of Christians, and suddenly some start talking revolt and swords. Seriously? I didn't get that at all from the OP.