A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


April 15, 2015

We Have No Other Option ...

     Based on yesterday's blog topic, I found myself wondering how we, as American Christians, will stand in opposition to an Evil agenda within our own nation.  And there followed these thoughts ....
   
     I know we are not to have idols in this world, or lift any man above another.  But there are times when we will look to the example of righteous men, in order to know the path we are to follow.  My friends, that time is now.  Our culture is rapidly disintegrating into immoral chaos.  The opposition to Christianity is growing more hostile, as witnessed by the out-and-out distortion and lies that attempted to drive a small-town pizzeria out of business in Indiana.  (The effort failed, as individual Americans have donated over $800,000 to a fund to benefit the family business).
    It started with internet bullies hounding Christian individuals and businesses; accusing them of bigotry and discrimination if they refused to support same-sex marriage.  But, in the wake of the backlash to the Indiana Religious Liberty Law, and in the case of the Indiana pizzeria, remarks grew to include death threats and warnings of retaliatory arson.  How far is this culture, which is beginning to look more and more like Sodom and Gomorrah, willing to go?  Death threats and arson are nothing to sneeze at!
     But my real question is this ... how far are Christians and the Church willing to go?  Are we, as individuals, willing to take a stand for clear Christian principles?  Is the Church capable of abandoning its non-political position and becoming active in defending the Bible and God's will -- or is it bowing to the convenience and practicality of siding with the culture, despite the culture's embracing of immoral attitudes and lifestyles?
     And whom might we look towards to see how righteous Christians are to respond?  Last week was the 70th anniversary of the execution of a man who acted responsibly in his faith during one of the most evil times in history.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a deeply religious Lutheran pastor found himself in a dilemma ... when informed of the evil that was Adolph Hitler, and the plan to exterminate the Jews, how far is "too far" in order to stop that evil?  When confronted with something so offensive to God, is there ever an excuse for Christians to compromise, capitulate, or raise the white flag?
     Bonhoeffer didn't think so, and it cost him his life.  At the beginning of the Nazi regime, many members of the [Protestant] churches did not reject National Socialism on principle.  Suffering from the effects of their loss in WWI, many Germans were drawn to the German National People's Party and their idealization of the past.
     But a small group of pastors, including Bonhoeffer, became unified in the Confessing Church and  arose in opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German Protestant church.  They objected to the Nazis on moral and theological principles: they could not reconcile the Nazi state's claim to total control over the person with the ultimate sovereignty that, in Christian orthodoxy, must belong only to God.  It was their stated objective to resist state manipulation of religious affairs.  They tried to stay out of the political fray, and hoped to convince the Church to recognize the contradictions of being a Christian and a Nazi.
     But as the evil that was Hitler and his regime grew, pastors could no longer stay on the sidelines.  They had to choose between inaction, which was, in essence, condoning the atrocities towards the Jews; or becoming involved with plots to stop the madness -- even if it meant being part of assassination attempts on the Evil Mastermind, himself.  Many chose the safe route that included tolerance and turning a blind eye.  A few did not; with some being sent to concentration camps, where they survived the war -- or in the case of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose fate was to be hanged for his opposition to Hitler and his obedience to his faith.
     I have not been surprised at the efforts of the anti-religious to tear down the memory of martyrs like Bonhoeffer.  They must not let us see or hear the writings of such a man, who struggled with how to respond within his religious principles (and God's will) to a rapidly deteriorating national culture -- and who was not only unafraid to live for what he believed in, but was not afraid to die for it.
     I can only imagine the struggle within his spirit as he confronted the likely consequences of his actions.  One day he would have to stand before God and explain how, as a Christian, he could be complicit in murdering Hitler.  He finally decided that he would have to rely on God's mercy to understand that he had to stop Evil at any cost, even if it meant he lost his soul.  But it wasn't just his own soul he was concerned about.  Writing to his co-conspirators in 1943, he said,  "The ultimate question for a responsible person to ask is not how he is to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation is to live."
     Isn't it time we asked ourselves that question?  How are we going to leave this world for the next generation?  Have we already relinquished their ability to live a principled Christian life by compromising and weakening our faith?  In an effort to show our tolerance, have we allowed those who oppose our faith to become more intolerant?  Have we been silent when they should have heard us roar?  Like Bonhoeffer, do we have the courage of our faith and convictions -- or will we stay in the shadows, afraid to call attention to ourselves and to whom we serve?
     Those who don't want us to emulate men like Dietrich Bonhoeffer have called his words and actions "small, tentative, restrained, and ambivalent."  But the fact that I am writing to you 70 years after he stood in accordance to what he thought was God's will, points to a man who neither restrained himself from doing what he thought was right, nor faltered or doubted his Christian duty to shine a light on Evil.  May we all exhibit such Christian Courage and resolve to no longer collaborate with the Enemy.  Instead of being silent, let's speak up!  Instead of compromising, let's protest!  It's time to fight the darkness of our times.  We've given up too much ground and we need to hold the line!  We have no other option ...

For an excellent reference on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, read Eric Metaxas's book, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy."

James 4:17    "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."


   

7 comments:

  1. The battle is raging, where is our team ?? What can you do ? Can you pray? Can you hold a sign? Can you write a letter? Can you make a phone call? Are you available to come and join us at the Gates of Hell? Join the Coach at www.coachdavelive.com or email coach@ptsalt.com, at Pass the Salt Ministries. He's putting together a team now and asking for volunteers. You can read him on News With Views.

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  2. It is so sad that in the 70 years since the end of this man's heroic life, Lutherans have devolved into a demonic cult. As we speak Lutheran Immigration Services are settling members of the Islamic faith in Dallas, Texas, and are being paid enormous sums of money to do it too. Most of these 'refugees' are from Syria; all are Islamic and hostile to the Christian faith. Again, so sad.

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  3. After trying to work within the system for most of my 60 years, I have come to the conclusion America is broken and cannot be fixed. It was deliberately broken and there are too many powerful, competing interests willing to compromise their goals and satanic agenda in order to cede any ground. What remains is our Christian faith alone and to try to avoid bloodshed, because make no mistake: our persecution is coming. If we cannot come out from among them and create a new country where God is honored first and foremost we need to be looking at what the Word says about our coming persecution and prepare for it. The great Falling Away mentioned in the Bible may be reached this year, when our "Supreme Court" rules in favor of "gay marriage." Once they affirm that "right" Christians will be hounded from businesses, lose jobs, be blocked from participating in the public square. We will see history repeat itself. Christians will be treated like Jews in Hitler's Germany. Who is ready for this? Our adversary has captured the hearts and minds of too many not only in the secular world but within our own churches! German Jews thought it wouldn't happen to them. The Remnant church in America better wake up!

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    1. Your comment is right on the money! Western Christians -- and especially those in America -- are unprepared for the persecution that is clearly prophesied in the Bible. The total breakdown of our country is so near, I can feel it! The Supreme Court decision on gay marriage and laws that will permit late-term abortion will be the final blows to our sacred covenant with God. Then this nation will begin to really see the wrath that we so deserve. I am amazed that people cannot see what is happening! It was not that long ago that the nation of Germany showed us exactly how it is coming. Now is the time to strengthen our faith, for we are not to love this life ... even unto death. Like you ask, "Who is ready for this?"

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  4. as long as the amerika church clings to their ignorance of the 501(c)3 snare the average so called Christian will be the epic big fail...just part of the truth......the remnant will always be just that......many have a form of godliness but lack the power there of....follow the command of Mark 16:17 and learn to walk in the power of and authority of Jesus Christ and walk away for your mega-church.....they have already driven me out of three of them for daring to be a Berean.....so be it.....your blog has much truth it has been my song for decades......since Jesus Christ opened up my eyes and regenerated my spirit man during Desert Shield in august 1990......the health wealth prosperity gospel has weakened amerika!

    amerikan church goers are now metrosexual wusses that hide behind the gospel to be weak mentally and physically and socially...The same men that won WWII like my dad and his brothers are now rare. So buckle up kids and get your spiritual ark ready because human nature being what it is we will face the same as our brothers and sisters did in Nazi Germany.....only our own hubris do we delude ourselves into a false sense of comfort that somehow God will protect us...Ha what a laff...you think he will protect a luke warm church that sat by and allowed abortion, porn and all political filth without a fight?????? sure keep hangin on to that see how it works out.......I'm on my knees for mercy for my own slothfulness......so God bless the remnant.....and lock and load. There is a time to turn the other check,a time to use the sword of the spirit and a time for .......

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    1. First of all, thank you for your service to our country ... I know you thought you were serving the America that your father and uncles fought for. My dad also served in WWII and I am ashamed of how this nation has denigrated their memories. I, too, have left Mega-churches because I dared to point out that the Bible contradicted the New Age teachings, and was told I needed to adopt the "new paradigm". My Lord has not changed! The church has changed and He isn't pleased! Your words are precise and accurate. The remnant must put on their full armor of God because they are going to need it! Thank you for expressing yourself with such faith and power ... God Bless You!

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  5. And to add to all of those reasons, we can include our abandonment of the nation of Israel. Gen.12, I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.
    Pam

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