Insidious defined (dictionary.com): “operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect.”
On July 7, 2020 I sent an email to a group of friends. I was incensed by the United Nations (UN) making an announcement that there will be more pandemics due to our changing environment. I made the connection of that statement to the goals they intend to achieve by 2030.
One of the recipients of the email is a guy I study the Bible with. He had the guts and love for me to rebuke me and challenge whether a guy who teaches the Bible should promote engaging in the debates of this world over study of the Bible and striving to become more Christlike. While my conscious objective was to say “the end could be very near – study scripture and prepare yourself”, after study and prayer, it is very possible that my subconscious objective was to warn people to wake up and rise up against the evil forces that are trying to destroy our Constitution. There is no doubt, I am very grateful for the nation I have lived all my life in and can get very frustrated when I see – what I believe is – people trying to destroy that.
While this is a fairly complex and easily debatable subject, his rebuke sent me to scripture and prayer. My conclusion is to apologize to any of you who took the time to read the email which may have encouraged you engage in worldly concerns. Frankly, I can’t find any scripture that would encourage you to do that. On the contrary:
We know that the Jews were looking for a Savior who would “save” them from the oppressive government of the Romans. We can only imagine how horrific that government may have been for them. Jesus never said a word about fixing it, changing it, or doing anything about it. But Paul said “Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Romans 13:1 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore anyone who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God…”
Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights to the world, holding fast to the word of life..”
Philippians 3:17, 20 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us… for our citizenship is in heaven…”
Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
1 Timothy 2:1,2 “pray for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life…”
2 Timothy 2:4 “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”
2 Timothy 2:16 “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.”
2 Timothy 2:23-26 “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
1 Peter 2:13-23 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly… But when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, Who committed no sin, nor was and deceit found in His mouth and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
1 Peter 4:1 “Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourself also with the same purpose.”
1 John 2:6 “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.”
This list is not intended to be complete. However, I can’t find anything Biblical that would encourage us to engage in these worldly struggles. Does that mean we shouldn’t vote or have an awareness of “the times”? For now, we have a right to vote and it makes sense to me to do so – which means we need to have some awareness. However, it is a dangerous slope.
Sometime back God opened my eyes to Jesus’ objective of The Parable of the Soils. Perhaps it was clear to you, but it became clear to me that He wants all of us to maintain a Fourth Soil perspective: “And the one on whom the seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23). We are all called to bear fruit.
He described the Third Soil as being fertile but it has thorns in it that choke out reproduction of God’s word (the seed). Jesus said: “And the one whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22) The Bible is clear that belief is all we need for salvation. Therefore, we must assume that this person is “saved”. However, it is clear that if all we do is hold onto our salvation, but don’t serve God, we are not being an obedient servant of the King.
Years ago we set up a Facebook account because we believed it would be helpful for business. Sometime later, I concluded that it drew me too much into the world and it wasn’t (spiritually) healthy for me so I stopped looking at it. In February we were out of the country and were hearing about the virus. Since it was difficult to get news, I checked Facebook to find out what was going on. With all the craziness in the world, I have continued to check it. And get caught up in it… I have also accessed many other news feeds – trying to figure out the “truth”. Yes, I know – I teach the Only Truth, but I never said I was smart…
While many of my ancestors have been alcoholics, I am grateful that hasn’t been an issue for me. However, I have definitely gotten caught up in the craziness of what is taking place right now. While some theologian has been quoted as saying the Christian should go through life with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other, I have concluded that I can easily get sucked into the Third Soil – right where Satan wants me. He doesn’t care whether I (or you) are saved. He just does not want us to reproduce. One of the best ways to do that is to enter into a political squabble which eliminates the opportunity to witness to anyone you are squabbling with. In addition, spending any time on “cares of the world” means you are not spending time in service to our King. Read Psalm 90. A great tutorial on how we should spend our time.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the one on one relationships I have where men who love Jesus can speak candidly. Real learning happens when real issues are placed face up on the table between you and the goal is to filter them through the lens of scripture. If you are not in that type of relationship, pray that God will connect you with the right person. And I can’t tell you how grateful I am for my Brother who had the guts and love for me to rebuke me. It is no coincidence that my read through the Bible this morning landed me at Proverbs 17:10 “A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows to a fool.” I pray that God gives me and each one of us His understanding.
Once again… I am unplugging from the lies of this world and replugging into the only Truth I know of. For those of you who read my email, I ask for your forgiveness. Thanks Dave.
God Bless!
Stay in the Spiritual Gym!
Me enjoyed this read. Sincerely Mr Bigg ??