As we quietly meander along life’s journey choosing our battles, aligning ourselves with one political party or the other, we feel as though we are really making a difference. We may feel as though we are on the right side of history. On the other hand, everyone is making their own political or religious statement casting a larger shadow of confusion over a beleaguered world. Everyone has his own opinion. In the midst of this confusion, the only thing we know for certain is that God’s true children will be persecuted. The Bible says, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). So, what is happening now that causes this tremendous hate toward the Christian community? What are the early signs of Christian persecution? Should we prepare now? Christian persecution is much closer than you think.
Many reading this article will immediately think to themselves, not a problem. God is with me for the persecutors will be burnt up like chaff in my presence and all will be well even as my head is laying at my feet. Yes, that is true. We may firmly believe this in our mind and feel as though we are prepared. In Christian history some bravely stood before their persecutors making the good confession. On the other hand, many others were not so brave and did everything in their power to escape persecution. As many in our day will also do even if it puts their eternal soul in jeopardy. While we may rest in the security that nothing major has happened yet (at least in our country), the limits of persecution are already being tested. Christians are being singled out and separated from the mass of civilization. This is done in a number of ways, but we will only look at two in particular.
The first way, is to separate out those who are different from what the world considers to be normal. Recently I heard a story from a Christian mother living in California. On what appeared to be just another day at the local high school for her young daughter, but quickly turned into so much more. No, it was not another mass shooting, but something else done quite unexpectedly in the privacy of her classroom involving all her classmates. Something no young person should ever face. The teacher drew a line on the floor and told her students to come on this side of the line if you approve of and support the efforts of the LGBT. Well, this dear mother told me her daughter took a stand that day with two other girls not to cross the line. Praise God for her courage in the face of certain peer pressure that may easily turn into persecution. This is just one example of many others on how Christians are being singled out for their opposition to humanity’s so-called advancement.
The second way, is making false accusations toward the individual Christian for the clear purpose of shutting them down. Shutting them up. It is reported that this is more widespread than what’s readily admitted or known. Censorship is nothing new. It’s been around for a long time, but what is relatively new is damaging the character of an individual through false accusations over mass media or what has been termed fake news. The result of this can be devastating to one’s good name and character. It can get a person banned on YouTube, Social Media and even on Google. This can strike right at the heart of one’s ministry. To physically shut them down – to shut them up. This is already happening and is clearly persecution, especially if the false accusations are criminal in nature. History proves that most all the early Christian persecution was caused by false accusations. The Early Christians were accused of burning down a large part of ancient Rome and cannibalism during the observance of their Lord’s Supper.
Now for additional proof that Christian persecution is much closer than you think. To fully understand this, we need to realize that this country and perhaps the whole world has been raising up a whole new generation of people with completely different values than the older generation. Values that accept every lifestyle, religion or non-religion. Acceptance of things that most Christians would see as grossly immoral. Acceptance of mental health professionals and psychiatric drugs to supposedly cure every psychological and emotional problem. Acceptance of the regulatory methods of curing all the ills of the planet. And most importantly the hope and dream of a new world order without money and greed perhaps through the utilization of technology or mark. The Bible says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17). A new world order where everyone appears to be working together with peace and prosperity for all. This thinking has been so ingrained into the psyche of the population from movies, and school curriculum that anyone believing differently will be seen as the enemy of human progress.
Although there is already hate for what they see and perceive as the enemy of human progress, it has not yet blossomed into the kind of hatred, at this point, to cause open persecution. In their minds there is still hope of turning the tables. There is still hope of removing those in power that’s tied so closely to the Christian community and its values or seeing the current administration completely change their position. God forbid. It’s just a matter of time as their hatred finally boils over for not realizing quickly their hope of a brave new world. When the pendulum swings back, which it will eventually, then the persecution will become inevitable. As the new liberal leader takes his seat in the place of power those of the Christian community will have already been identified and separated out from among the people. They will be given an opportunity to either publicly accept what they see as normal, cross the line, or face intense persecution. God help us to stand firm.
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