Hello Friends!
Here is the final stretch to our three part series on the spiritual, philosophical and political directions the West is headed and what this will mean to the Christian church of America if we do not wake up and take up our rightful place in the battle for which God has called each of us...
The Day is Far Advanced
Our last article, Antichrist Doesn't Wear Tights, detailed the battle for western culture and religion, through which the church has generally slept. Humanism seized control of western institutions with the declared goal of dethroning Christianity from its position as the core western belief. It succeeded! All the battles fought by Christians in the public arena are simply skirmishes in a mop-up action. The church didn't just lose the battle - it simply walked off the battlefield.
For centuries past, Christian pulpits thundered with expoundings on the moral issues of the day. They were instrumental in the founding of many of our countries, governments and legal systems. But today, the church has largely bought into the humanistic lie that it should not be involved in the public square and that religion is a personal thing, which should not push its values on others; all while humanism aggressively pushed its values on America and the West.
As a result, the spiritual battle (see chapter 6 of Ephesians) is anathema to a slumbering western church, which prefers self-help to self-negation. While preening itself as the church of Philadelphia, it resembles more the church of Laodicea (see chapter 3 of Revelation), having lost its sense of combating organized evil and being engaged in a dialectic process which does not allow for a definitive existence of "good" or "evil."
Separate... I Dare You!
There is no truth to a constitutional separation of church and state - never has been; never will be. There is an organic relationship between the two. The values and beliefs of a culture invariably pattern the forms of government and its laws. If a culture is based on the strong religious beliefs of its people, the laws and politics enacted by governments will be guided by that religious conscience. However, if the church abandons the public arena, which it has done in the West, the state will then fill the moral vacuum and dictate to the church how it will believe, act and worship. One of these two institutions will determine what is "good" and "moral." Someone's values will control the field of human action! But while the church cannot force government to do what it believes should happen, government most certainly can (and will if allowed) dictate to the church what it will make happen - and compel compliance. These two are historically inseparable companions.
Absolutes are Absolutely Dead!
In the West, absolute truth and morality are passé. God is dead or is anything we want to make of him, her, it... or maybe he's me! Reasoning has moved from facts to feelings and diminishing numbers are able to think logically about the core issues of the day. Academia has largely taught students what to think, rather than how to think. History has been rewritten so that people can't remember the lessons of the past or the greatness of America's Godly heritage. Good things are labeled bad and bad things good. Even liberalism and conservatism have become relative, constantly changing their positions. That is why all political parties look the same; all have embraced the same relative floating dialectic thought process. Finally, religion is publicly demonized as the cause of all the world's problems and the scourge of western civilization; unless, of course, it conforms with the new "politically correct" moral values.
Facing The Status "Woe"
As we proceed into the new paradigm - a repackaging of the failed evils inherent in both Communism and Nazism - history can predict the future with certainty:
(1) Since Judeo/Christianity is no longer the controlling paradigm of the West, the gurus of the new socialistic pantheism (God is all, all is God) will call the "moral shots," determining which things are "good" and "bad." Everyone will be expected to fall in line - or else!.
(2) These "moral 'gun' shots" will invariably conflict with Christian morals and beliefs.
(3) As the severe flaws of the new relativistic moral system manifest themselves (and they are already in abundance), increasing societal and legal chaos can be expected as a result. Just look at the result of the last 40 years of a Godless, secular control of morality: No Jesus, no peace.
(4) In responding to the nonsense, governments will be forced to act in an increasingly invasive, controlling and dominating manner to control the pandemonium and enforce the new paradigm. Since the confessing church is already at odds with the new paradigm, much of the legal "wroth" will invariably be directed at the church. As the conflict increases, Christians experience steadily increasing pressure to conform to the new system and a demonization of those who don't. Gradually laws and regulations will be drafted to force Christians (and other religions) into conformity with the new morality. This is already happening in all areas of life, from child rearing to freedom of speech to the workplace and religion.
Remember: It takes time for this "new system" to develop but the process is inexorable and unidirectional.
The View from an Old Wineskin
Since the days of the Caesars, the Christian church has confronted this crisis with two modes of reaction: (a) stand and suffer or (b) compromise and coast, hoping it "blows over." Type "A" churches suffer much, produce many martyrs, yield much fruit and ultimately are the seed for the next round of spiritual growth, when the culture collapses of its own weight. The Confessing Church in Germany, the underground church in the former Soviet bloc, the Catholic Church in Poland, and underground churches in China are examples of this type of church.
Consider the fate of the early Christian martyrs and their resolve to stand faithful in battle, enduring the race set before them, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Paul was beheaded
- Matthew was beheaded
- Barnabus was burned to death
- Mark was dragged to death
- James was clubbed to death
- Peter was crucified (upside down)
- Phillip was crucified
- Andrew was crucified
- Thomas was speared to death
- Luke was hanged
- Stephen was stoned to death
Backward Christian Soldiers
Type "B" churches conform to the system, compromise their beliefs, and oftentimes make life miserable for the suffering Type A churches. They become so watered down, that they are indistinguishable from the culture and indeed are generally part of it. In essence, they cease to be salt and light. These churches, such as the Russian Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union, the German Christian Church in Nazi Germany and the registered churches in China today are examples of this type of church - all in different stages of compromise.
Compromise is a process, not an instantaneous event. It takes time and is seductively easy to fall into when a major cultural paradigm change is underway because all the reference points become blurred. Parts of the old paradigm still endure while parts of the new paradigm seem to be compatible with Christianity and even similar. Today's "tolerance" doctrine mimics the Christian doctrine of "love thy neighbor" until one asks what it is we are expected to tolerate, as a Christian "veneer" is slapped on top of secular philosophy.
Historically, when government seeks to control religion, it uses a two-stage plan: (1) co-opt the church into conforming to the new agenda; and (2) once resistance to the new belief is system has been eradicated, to extinguish the church. This is once again the ultimate goal of the "new paradigm."
Totalitarian governments have always sought to create a model church which conforms to its dictates. This government-run "church" is publicly extolled as "good," while the Biblical churches are demonized as "reactionary," "radical," "extremist," against the "collective good" or are "counter-revolutionary." The pejoratives are different but the essence is the same. This process is well under way in America and the West today, so we know we're on the same time-worn trail of difficulty for the church.
One thing is clear: The churches who intend on surviving with their faith and confession intact under the new paradigm will not be "doing church" the way they have done it in the past and they will have to get over the Rapture "Myth"...
The Rapture "Myth"
The Rapture Myth is identical to the doctrine of cheap grace, as detailed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Rapture as Biblical doctrine is one thing. The Rapture "Myth" however, is a distortion of that doctrine, which says the Rapture will spare us Christians from all time of trial, suffering and conflict and the need to engage in spiritual battle because we aren't going to have to endure God's wrath in the time of the Tribulation. It never seems to occur to the Rapture Myth proponents that we may well endure some of the world's wrath before Christ returns to gather His Church.
The Rapture Myth takes comfort in the fallacious assumption that there will be no time of trial in the run up to the Rapture and Tribulation. It comforts itself with a "we're going to be outta here anyway" mentality and will not need to be concerned about anything. Just keep teaching the Bible as if the Bible were an end and goal unto itself. It fails to notice that the Bible is a manual for action, not just study and most definitely not an end in itself. As Jesus said, the Kingdom of Heaven consists in power, not words. We must not be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good!
Airplanes and Silly Virgins
Are you planning to take a flight soon? Any pilot knows that flight planning requires having enough fuel to safely make the entire trip with a generous reserve for emergencies or unexpected situations. Nothing is more sobering than a fuel warning light which pops on when you're in the middle of nowhere! The gospel parable of the foolish virgins (Matthew 25) is identical. All the virgins had oil in their lamps to start with. However, some didn't have enough to last the whole night until the bridegroom arrived. Those believing in the Rapture Myth may well find themselves out of fuel in a bad way - too soon.
History dictates that if the storm ghosts on the horizon continue their rapid approach, a time of trial will soon be upon us and many will have their faith flagging, wondering where the Rapture is or whether the whole thing was just a giant fairy tale in the first place. Our brothers and sisters from persecuted counties of the 20th Century have warned of this. Standing firm in a time of trial requires aggressive faith, action and preparation ahead of time just in case this isn't the immediate end time and that a time of testing may be quickly at hand.
Inflating New Wineskins
The hour is truly more desperate than most Christians understand but dark times make for great spiritual leaders and a terrific platform for spiritual action! More and more Christians are awakening to the call of preparation. Please pray with the Holy Spirit for His particular battle plan for you and your family. Pray for the Lord's supernatural wisdom, discernment and understanding to prepare you for the battle ahead. Here are some organizing guidelines to consider:
(1) The church must recover its sense of urgency. The day is far advanced and the night is at hand. There is a time of trial coming for today's western church and the Rapture will most likely not get them out of it.
(2) The church must recover its belief in the literal existence of organized spiritual evil in the world (Ephesians 6), not just "good" and "bad" individual choices. It must also recover its notion of spiritual warfare - onward not backward Christian soldiers!
(3) The church must understand the competing worldviews of Christianity, the new paradigm and how Christianity is distinctly different from them. The Bible can no longer be taught in a "vacuum" or as just a personal implementation item. There is a much bigger picture and even a bigger battle than just our own personal lives. The Bible must be seen in that context.
(4) In understanding the worldviews of today, the church must once again recover its own understanding of why it believes what it does, what the basis for their faith is, and to raise up true disciples. The Apostles of old were a great example in this area.
(4) The church must begin to train warriors who understand the nature of the battle. This applies specially to young Christians, the majority of whom are lost to the Christian faith upon hitting the college years and are swallowed up by secular indoctrination.
(5) The church must learn from those Christians who have lived through duress in the past - especially the 20th Century - who have emerged with their faith intact. They have much to teach us about the battle skills we will need for this fast approaching war.
Most of the biblical adjectives and verbs noted in God's Word imply a conflict: contend, run to win, race, stand, fight, resist, defend. "In defenso fidei" (In defense of the faith) must once again become the battle cry of the church! The Christian spiritual life is a life of rewarding, but often painful sacrifice and dedication; it is a war - not a picnic! Yes, we do win in the end - Amen! However, many saints may expect to win without participating in the fight. In reality, the Apostle Paul calls us to suffer with Christ. To quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "When Christ calls a person, He bids him come and die."
What is so exciting is that swelling numbers of Christians are awakening to the fact that things are radically wrong and are responding to the call for the coming battle. I believe this is the greatest time to be alive in history, as we watch Bible Prophecy unfold right before our eyes! So, Christian soldier, when night falls, where will you be? Please join with me as we take the field for the spiritual war that is at hand!
Blessings on your success!
Shane <><
Lighthouse Publications <><
"Dedicated to the Never Ending Search for the Creator's calling within You" (TM)
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