Persecution begins in the house of God (as does judgment) when the church begins to become infiltrated from the top down. This first step has been going on for many years. False teaching begins in the churches as apostate seminaries produce false prophets who become ministers in the churches. This goes on until the Christian doctrine disappears from the pulpit, then filters down through the Christian education program, bit by bit, until it is no longer politically correct to speak of Bible truth. We have just about completed this process, which I have been watching for years.
This preliminary process of winnowing out genuine Christians (the trouble makers) continues until there is no difference between the church and the culture. The church is just one more social club. Meanwhile, true Christians find themselves in the situation of 'a man without a country'. They are despised and rejected in their own churches because they refuse to give up biblical teachings and doctrine. The truth sounds too harsh. I have experienced it myself on a number of issues and occasions.
First, let me clarify that the church is called to be separate from the world ... to be set apart, by virtue (excuse the term) of our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. Our lives should be victorious, abundant and loving. This difference will be obvious, and it will serve as a light in a dark world. The lights are mighty dim these days because, once again, the majority of people who call themselves Christian, are not. Therefore, they are not separate, but are a part of the world. They are not lights; they are not different in any way. I can back this up with scripture.
A Christian's relationship with the world, and with other Christians, will be kind and full of genuine love and concern. That is the primary feature which will be noticeable to non-Christians. This supernatural love is what sets apart - separates - identifies, the Christian. Love is a supernatural representation of the changed life that a relationship with Jesus brings to our lives. It is the mark of the Christian.
It is very confusing to the non-Christian when the majority of people who call themselves Christians, aren't. And this confusion puts the genuine Christian at a great disadvantage in trying to spread the good news of the gospel, because most non-Christians are not interested in the kind of 'religion' they see exhibited all around them by phony Christians - in name only. They're right. I have heard missionaries say that they think this kind of persecution is worse than physical persecution. This was an overwhelming comfort to me.
Because of this hypocrisy the non-Christian sees (and sometimes it just an excuse), one can understand their resentment. I understand it completely. Still, there does remain a segment of the church which remains true to the gospel. That segment will be the target of persecution, to the point that spies will be sent into churches to scope it out. This can't happen until laws are passed which do not allow parts of the Bible to be preached or taught, which has happened. This will only be a problem for genuine Christians because the Christianettes have no interest in Bible truth. They are already a part of the world rather than of Christ's Church.
This persecution is now beginning. Without going into detail, I will cite a few examples of what to expect.
* "Mystery worshippers" - non-Christians sent into the church to identify and to 'set up' Christians who preach and teach the gospel.
* Media silence when violence takes place against Christians, as in the case of the two street preachers who were recently gunned down in Boynton Beach, Florida, by a young man who didn't like their message. Not a single news outlet reported this story.
* Work place refusal to exempt Christians of aspects of their jobs which their consciences prevent them from performing.
* Insistence that parents subject their children as young as ten years old to school curricula which teaches ideas that are directly opposed to their moral values.
* An increasing lack of diligence in pursuing crimes against Christians, such as the 11 churches in Texas which were recently torched, and the 90 houses of worship set on fire last year nationwide.
While I can't legitimately put this in the above list, because it would be mere speculation, stories such as the one involving 10 missionaries in Haiti make me immediately suspicious. Is this a great opportunity to label Christians as criminals, is it a case of naivete and ignorance on the part of the 10 people, or is it true criminal behavior? I don't have a clue, but this case is ripe for a persecution agenda. Only time will tell.
The battle is heating up, and this is just the beginning. It will get much worse, and quickly. A Christian needs to know exactly what price he is willing to pay for his relationship with Jesus Christ.
He died for us. We may be called upon to return the commitment.
Royal Heir
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