Much of Western Europe seems to be walking the tightrope
between civil war and accommodation to the demands of Islam. Now that Islam’s
militant agenda is becoming increasingly clear, will the West find the moral
courage and conviction to take a costly stand?
The USA is facing an unprecedented and acrimonious election
characterized by allegations of fraud and threats of possible violence. We
desperately want the anger, fear, and uncertainty to pass, but no simple
reconciliation is in sight. Instead, whatever the outcome of the election, it
seems that our foundations are crumbling.
Where then must the Christian stand, and what principles
must serve as our foundation? These are questions to which I continue to
return. Here are biblical boulders upon which we must plant our feet:
OUR GOD REIGNS: Psalm
46:1-2, 10-11 (ESV) God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the
sea…“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I
will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob
is our fortress.
NO ONE CAN HURT US WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION: Psalm 91:7-10 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand
at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your
eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your
dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to
befall you, no plague come near your tent.
NEVERTHELESS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO FACE MARTYRDOM: John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues.
Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering
service to God.
EVEN IF WE ARE MARTYRED, WE ARE BLESSED: 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our
earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
WE HAVE AN ETERNAL KINGDOM AWAITING US: John 14:1-3 “Let not your
hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house
are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
WE MUST NOT FEAR OR HATE OUR ENEMIES: Philippians 1:27-29 Only let
your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come
and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one
spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and
not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of
their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been
granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him
but also suffer for his sake,
WE MUST EVEN LOVE OUR ENEMIES: Romans 12:14, 17-19 Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them… Repay no one evil for
evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never
avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
BUT INSTEAD, MAKE USE OF THE GOVERNMENT, AN INSTRUMENT OF
GOD’S VENGEANCE/WRATH: Romans 13:3-5
For rulers are not a terror to good
conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?
Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s
servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the
sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s
wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid
God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
OUR ENEMY IS NOT OUR PRIMARY ENEMY: Ephesians 6:12 For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
NEVERTHELESS, THEY ARE STILL GUILTY BEFORE GOD, SINCE THEY
WILLINGLY REJECTED THE LIGHT IN FAVOR OF THE DARKNESS: John
3:18-20 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world,
and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were
evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to
the light, lest his works should be exposed.
NEVERTHELESS, WE MUST SHOW THEM COMPASSION, SINCE WE WOULD
HAVE BEEN NO BETTER THAN THEY, HAD WE NOT BEEN GIVEN CHRIST’S GIFT: 1 Corinthians 1:28-31 God chose what is low and despised in the
world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that
no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are
in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and
sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who
boasts, boast in the Lord.”
I have found nothing as liberating as knowing these truths.
I need to know that I am eternally and incredibly rich in Him(1 Cor. 3:20-22;
Rom. 8:17), and that I have been privileged to love my enemies. As soon as I
clothe myself with these truths, I feel unburdened by fears and angers. I am
serving my Savior, and that’s all that seems to matter.
I am not saying that we shouldn’t be concerned about the
threats encircling us. However, we must address them in ways that honor our
Lord. Lift your voice, expose evil (Eph. 5:11), vote, champion justice, and be
the light of the world, but in the confidence and equipping of our Lord.
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