Down through the centuries Christians have been persecuted for standing up and defending the truth of the gospel. Fortunately, in the 250 year history of America, Christians have faced little persecution for sharing the truth of the gospel. However, past freedoms are no guarantee of future freedoms, and in the last few years we have seen an ominous trend in our country to label many of the things Christians stand for and proclaim as hate speech. And I am afraid that many of our cherished freedoms of religion may be taken away from us as this trend continues.
For example, preaching against sin, and the need to repent, is becoming not only more unpopular, but labeled as hate speech. Since more and more moral sins have been legalized, like abortion and same sex marriage, speaking out against them may soon cause pastors and churches to lose their tax exempt status; and I can envision a day when they could suffer fines and even imprisonment.
Imagine, today we see biological men, who believe they are a woman, now allowed to compete against other females in sporting events. Ever since they took prayer and Bible reading out of the public schools in the early 1960’s we have seen a steady decline in the morals our children are being taught. In our present woke society standing up for biblical principles are becoming more and more difficult. To do so now labels you as insensitive, intolerant, and bigoted.
As Christians we can never compromise sharing the truth even if it means increased persecution. And I am afraid that in the next ten years in America our cherished Christian freedoms may become a thing of the past. So, what are we to do as Christians? Well, we should continue to share the truths of the Bible in love, pray for discernment on how to share, and get ready for persecution.
Sharing the gospel has always been risky business but the eternal lives of souls are at stake. Nowhere in the Scriptures does the promise of a persecution free life exist. In fact, the more you want to stand for the truth the more you should expect opposition. These next few years in America may prove quite challenging for the Christian but rest assured Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.
And the Scriptures tell us that when persecution comes our way so will a storehouse of blessings, for we read in (Matthew 5:11-12): “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
I agree with your comments Kurt.
Amen !
“Ever since they took prayer and Bible reading out of the public schools in the early 1960’s we have seen a steady decline in the morals our children are being taught.”
Government education was never a friend to a Christian worldview. The founders of government education had some of the most vile goals and politics.
Yes, there were occasionally Christian teachers but too often they had to turn the cheek as the secular curriculum mandated they present anti-Christian views.
I submit that something else was going on at this time in the 60’s that altered the thinking of generations to come. Within Christian teaching itself, a popular movement reared its head, being led by authors like Hal Lindsey and his Late Great Planet Earth that sold over 40 million copies. This was the start of the “Rapture” generation when he predicted the return of Christ in 1988. Of course, the date came and went but he stayed in the prediction spotlight until his death. Many others followed with their own best guesses that all came and went but with no accountability for turning the church upside down. I can’t believe there are still a handful of “theologians” that continue to speculate on the exact date of Christ’s return. It sells books!
The human heart will always want to satisfy the God given eternity that’s there, calling for worship. Evidence of this is in the thousands of young people that have been moved to action after the murder of Charlie Kirk. They no longer want to hear that the world is going to hell in a hand basket and we are getting out of here. They are looking for a hope and future where they can carry out God’s covenant goals of dominion and subjugation of earth by being fruitful and multiplying. The answers they are looking for are found in the pages of Scripture and not in the latest Left Behind novel.
Prayer by unsaved teachers and Bibles that remain on the classroom shelf are never going to be the answer to transforming government schools. As a matter of fact, government should not be in the business of education. That’s why the Founders didn’t put it in the Constitution. We need a return to Christian education if we want to build a hope and future for future generations.