Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Obvious Lies Part 3


The third obvious lie we tell ourselves – and this is particularly true of the Western world – is that we are somehow more special than any other believers who came before us, more special than any other believers on any other continent presently living, and as such, due to our specialness we will neither have to endure, persevere, or overcome any sort of trials, tribulations or persecutions.

Such lies become all the more difficult to stomach when almost every week in recent memory there have been reports of heinous attacks against Christians in other nations, including mass murder bordering on genocide. All the while, we’re still insisting on the notion that we will never have to stand for the faith once entrusted to the saints, or suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

The godless are becoming more animated in their godlessness, and the fury of their empty souls spills over into outright violence with increasing frequency.

Such outbursts will only grow in scope and magnitude, because godlessness does not have a base level, it is never content with what it has already done, but always strives to lead the soul to darker and darker pursuits.

I’ve met more than my fair share of believers who insist upon being too special to endure hardship, and it is these selfsame believers who have a very difficult time with the messages I preach, because I insist upon spiritual preparedness for the eventuality of persecution.

If they can bite their lip and squirm in the chair long enough for me to finish speaking, then I am sure to get an earful from the individuals in attendance who contrary to Biblical truth and present reality, continue to assert that this present generation of half-hearted, lukewarm, duplicitous, self-obsessed believers will be spared trials and tribulations altogether.

Being the kind soul I am, I listen to their reasoning as to why they do not believe we will see, and in fact endure persecution, then when they finally take a second to catch their breath I ask one question: what makes you more special than any other believer who suffered and died for the cause of Christ, either in the distant past or in the recent past?

For me to insist that I will be spared persecution while other believers are being martyred for the faith is to insinuate that I am more special than they are, or that God sees me differently than He does them. For me to insist that I will not have to persevere or overcome is to insinuate that God loves those who are presently suffering less than He loves me, and therefore He will spare me what He chooses not to spare others from.

Romans 2:11, “For there is no partiality with God.”

Well, that sort of puts a crimp in the specialness theory doesn’t it? Are we than saying that there is no partiality with God except in this one solitary case? Are we than saying that God meant what He said except in the case of the present generation of believers living in America?

I know I’m going to make some of you angry with this post, but there is no way around it.

We’ve been told we’re special since early childhood, we’ve been told we are exceptional in fact, but no one saw the need to mention that in the sight of God we are all His creation, equal in every way, whether American, Afghani, Kenyan, Romanian, Russian, or Chinese.

The only reason God favored America as a nation above others, was because America was a nation of covenant just as Israel was, but we have broken covenant with God, and as such we cannot expect either blessing nor favor to flow from the throne room any longer.

We can either continue to tell ourselves that we will never have to suffer for the cause of Christ until the moment we are called upon to suffer, whereupon we will turn our backs on Him and justify our betrayal somehow, or prepare in our hearts for the eventuality of persecution, standing on God’s Word and being found worthy of the sufferings of Christ.

I don’t want to suffer. I don’t think anyone does, but if God chooses to glorify Himself through my suffering, then I know He will give me the strength to endure the suffering He allows upon me for His glory.

Some things are a given for every believer, and persecution is one of those things. I know it’s not something we like to dwell on or think about, but it is nevertheless in the Word, and something we ought to remind ourselves even in times of peace and relative freedom.

Sooner or later persecution will come, as the Word says it must, so that the gold might be purified, the garment cleansed, and the power made manifest.

2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange things happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 4:19, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

6 comments:

Mrs. Pugh said...

I would recommend the book of Habakkuk to anyone looking for some insight on what is to befall America. And then I would suggest re-reading 3:16-19. If Habakkuk, a true follower of God knew trials were coming, I think we can count on it happening to us too.

Thank you for continuing to post the ever so unpopular truth.

In Christ,
Mrs. Pugh

Barbara said...

I think people tell the church not to expect persecution because they are fake themselves and just want to lead others astray and to live like the world does. If you do what the world likes, you get every privilege, but if you stand up to it, you get attacked.

I think a lot of the missionaries to other countries set up these fake kind of churches. God said judgement will begin in the church, and maybe that is what we are seeing. There may have been voodoo or pagan practices in these churches, who knows?

I think the same thing is coming here, and those who led the church into it are just going to stand by and laugh. The Jews of Europe didn't rebel because their rabbis told them everything would be all right if they just went along with things.

The church now not only goes along with things, they welcome all the chaos. They think they are entitled to every privilege on this earth and any sin they commit is forgiven, and if you don't believe they will be raptured out, then you must not be saved.

The rapture doctrine seems to be a big excuse for not caring how they live and only seeking the pleasures of life. They think if they confess Christ and wait for the rapture, that is all that is required of them.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for speaking for the truth. I have for so long been trying to understand this thinking that some Christians are more special than others. I receive emails from Brothers and Sisters enduring much persecution, torture and death, and some refuse to see this. There is great tribulation in the world, and Jesus said we would be hated by all men for His name sake. Thank you for speaking the truth.

FionaB said...

Why do we think we're special? Because we're taught from an early age that there are no losers, everyone wins a prize so no one's feelings are hurt. We're now having graduation services in preschool...geez! How can we be prepared for persecution when we're taught year after year that we're all "special". And you certainly won't hear anything different from most pulpits. Thank you for sharing this sobering, but necessary, truth.

Anonymous said...

Dear Michael,
My husband and I have been following you for several years. You are right on, and totally in line with the Word of God. Thank you for your boldness in speaking the truth. We just want to encourage you to keep on. God bless you.

meema said...

"The television performer watches his ratings, the politician his votes, the public speaker his applause, but the prophet who speaks for God is not governed by such responses. He delivers his message though it may fall on deaf ears and gain him only scorn and maybe a prison cell. Amos did not rate with the big-wigs of Bethel, nor did John the Baptist win applause in the courts of Herod. The forerunner had crowds but he stepped aside and left the center of the stage to One greater than himself. We live in a day when men will not endure sound doctrine but look instead for pleasant ticklers of itching ears. Is there not somewhere a coming prophet who will forget comfort and security and status and retirement benefits for the loneliness of a Jeremiah, the perils of a Savonarola, the conflicts of a Luther, to speak for God in these last days? Barclay says that the settled ministry has always resented wandering prophets who disturb their congregations. So the wilderness voice is not welcome either at home or abroad. But his reward is in the approval of God and the verdict of history."
Vance Havner