Things are changing in our
nation, quickly. The Supreme Court decided homosexuals have a previously
undiscovered constitutional right to marry their same sex partners, and within
48 hours articles were published on major political blogs and news sites
advocating the extension of the same rights to polygamists and pedophiles. Time
even promoted an article online arguing churches should now lose their
tax-exempt status. Our government compromised biblical standards long ago, and
we have slaughtered over 50 million babies in utero in the last 42 years, but
secularism and anti-Christian sentiment is sweeping our public institutions
like an avalanche. After the Supreme Court’s decision, companies throughout our
nation and the White House were decorated with rainbow-colored light displays,
affirming their celebration of what Scripture describes as an abomination and
perversity.
Our nation is not any worse
than it was before, only more transparent in its God-hating depravity. But as
we mourn the advance of secularism and worry about the future for our churches
and our children, I am hopeful. I do not relish the thought of what almost
certainly lies ahead, but persecution from an openly secular and hostile
society may be the best thing that has ever happened to the American church.
The American church is
generally soft, carnal, compromised in doctrine and uncommitted in
discipleship. Persecution from a secular culture will separate the committed
from the crowd. Until now it was easy to be a nominal, American “christian.” You
could profess faith, go to church, but remain worldly in your values, habits,
and aims. No such compromise is possible when confessing your faith may mean
losing your business, your home, or your freedom. Trials and troubles are one
way God separates the wheat from the tares and discloses who really trusts in
and follows Him.
The contrast between true
and false versions of Christianity will become increasingly clear. When I
arrived at CCC two years ago, the church’s lending library included pro-Mormon
literature and works by Joyce Meyer and T. D. Jakes, both prosperity-gospel,
Scripture-denying false teachers. Our members regularly watched Joel Osteen to
hear an encouraging sermon. This is fairly common in the broader evangelical
church where the lack of doctrinal discernment is at epidemic proportions. But
as persecution becomes more prevalent, it will be increasingly obvious who is
speaking the words of Scripture and who is not. The contrast between the true
gospel and corrupted forms will become more apparent, even as secular churches
continue to exist with a message of compromise, tolerance, and submission to
society.
American Christians may
finally recognize that we are strangers in a strange land, exiles from Eden
whose citizenship is in heaven. We do not belong here, at least, not in the
fallen world as it is right now. We are seeking a city which has foundations.
We belong to an eternal kingdom, whose King has authority over all. We should
not retreat into monasteries, nor should we surrender to the secularists around
us. But we must see that America is not the world’s last, great hope. Jesus is,
and He always has been. Neither is the USA a Christian nation. It is far from
it. We do not need American Christians; we need Christians who are Americans,
who love their nation and pray for it and work for its peace and good, but who
realize their primary citizenship is not here and who feel a greater kinship
with believers of any nationality than with those American citizens without
faith. We need less patriotic forms of Christianity and more Christians who are
truly patriots, committed to the cause of the King, whose allegiance is to
Christ, not country.
Persecution provides opportunities
for greater gospel witness and gospel fellowship. The darker the environment,
the more brilliantly the light of the gospel shines. Likewise, the more
opposition from our culture, the less important secondary differences among
true Christians will become. Persecution can unite us against a larger enemy,
and humility, courage, and faithfulness in the face of opposition can be used
by God’s Spirit to break sin-hardened hearts.
We have good news to share
with a broken, lost, and hopeless nation. We should not despair as evil rises
around us, because the Son of God has already defeated sin and broken its
power. His victory is assured, and He is coming again. We face the future not
with despair but with hope, because He who is with us is greater than those who
are against us. We should not feel defeated but triumphant. Look for the
opportunities God is giving us at this momentous time in history, and love not
your life even to death. Be faithful to Him who controls all things. The
morning has dawned. O Lord come! –JME
