“Churches Have Been Disgraced”

Acts 5
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
——————————————
Today I’m going to quote an article from The Epoch Times newspaper. I highly recommend you subscribe. It is old fashioned journalism like it should be. They are the only source of this caliber taking such an outspoken position. It is refreshing and reaffirming.

But before I do …

Concerning the author: — I do not know if he’s saved or not. From the little bit of research I did, I couldn’t find anything pointing in the direction that he is saved. But if he isn’t, then what he writes has even greater significance.

Concerning the passage from Acts: — The supreme source for what believers in Christ do or don’t do is the Scriptures.

It doesn’t matter what country believers live in. It doesn’t matter if they have a Constitution or not. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a free society or a socialistic/communistic society. The Scriptures dictate what believers do or don’t do.

The Scriptures always override governmental dictates. There are times when we are to obey our governing authorities; but, there are times when we must obey God rather than man.

If, and when, government over reaches the mandates of the Scriptures: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Even if it means … going to jail, or worse.

The spiritual leaders in the book of Acts were forced to make an important decision. And they knew they could quite possibly be at odds with the governing authorities.

What happened? They made the only choice they could: To live and, if necessary, die for their faith in obedience to God. That’s always been the heart beat of God’s people.

However —

In America, it seems like believers in Christ can’t quite grasp the concept that our source of hope, guidance, and deliverance isn’t our Constitution. I’m not minimizing our Constitution in any way. It’s a wonderfully precious document.

But even our Founding Fathers knew we couldn’t, wouldn’t survive unless … the nation was comprised of and governed by those that feared (as they ofttimes referred to God) Providence. Have we arrived at the point they feared? A probing thought, is it not?
—————————————
Now, the article. I’ve highlighted parts for specific attention. I’ll say my closing remarks at the end.

Honor Memorial Day By Declaring Freedom From Pandemic Shutdowns
The Epoch Times; Michael Walsh, May 26, 2020 Updated: May 27, 2020

“Does anybody really believe Americans will embrace the new ‘new normal,’ any more than they did President Barack Obama’s dismal ‘new normal’ economic forecasts back in 2010, which were based on structurally high unemployment and static incomes? All it took to dispel the old ‘new normal’ was the election of 2016. The election of 2020 might well do the same.

“The really surprising thing about our experience with the coronavirus has been how quickly some U.S. citizens and institutions have folded in the teeth of unconstitutional mandates. Churches have been disgraced by their easy acquiescence to their shuttering; now that they’re essentially wards of the state, as in the old Soviet Union, perhaps they should lose their tax-exempt status as well. (My emphasis)

“And, once again, the media has led the charge against religion — the author of a recent piece in the formerly respectable Atlantic magazine helpfully asserted in a tweet that Christian churches around the world were functioning as ‘super-spreaders.’ The media is fully aware that the United States remains one of the most religious countries in the world, and anything they can do to damage faith only serves their larger purpose of a secular, ‘progressive’ society.

“But Americans are finally catching on. No one wants to live in a constrained society, constantly observed by snitches who gleefully rat out their neighbors. No one wants to dine communally with plastic shields covering their heads. Far too many Americans have gone months without any human contact at all. This is no way to live.

“Americans have done their duty: They ‘flattened the curve,’ kept the hospitals from being overwhelmed, and are doing their best to protect the elderly while restoring their common humanity. We’ve had our free 90-day trial of fascism and government-by-decrees—and found it wanting.

“As the saying goes, “that’s not who we are.”

“Now that Memorial Day has arrived, it’s time to let our people go. Otherwise, what did the ranks of the honored dead in Arlington Cemetery and elsewhere give their lives for?” (My emphasis)

First: My take on his comment about the church.

He appears to realize that the average church in America is not worth the time it takes to drive there.

Sound harsh? If it does, maybe that’s because he’s saying what we already know.

We’ve thrown in the towel. We’ve capitulated. We’ve sacrificed our obedience to Scripture for the salvation of our buildings, finances, incomes, prestige.

Sound harsh? If it does, maybe because this kind of unbiased objectivity hits the nail on the head.

What’s missing? What’s wrong with this picture … this picture of the prevalent American Evangelical church?

“Churches have been disgraced by their easy acquiescence ….”

We’re a DISGRACE. He said it, not me.

That smacked me upside the head, personally, pretty hard. Why?

It made me think about me. It made me look our congregation. It made me assess our Messianic, Hebraic Roots movement. It made me … a little ashamed that he sees us for what we are and what we are not.

The unsaved world, inherently, knows what Bible authenticity is supposed to look like. It’s like teenagers that can tell the difference between a genuine adult and one who’s not. They just know.

Folks, listen to me please.
The lost world, those that know they are bound in their trespasses and sins aren’t looking for the phony stage show that is today’s Christianity.

They’re looking for the preachers that will once again stand up for their faith and say: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. They’re looking for preachers that will go to jail if necessary. It seems to me that’s what the author of this article expects to be the norm rather than the exception.

I can hear some saying: But look at all the megachurches dotting the landscape of our Country … look at what God is doing … look at the Messianic Movement and all those coming back to Torah … just look ….

— “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Follow the money. —

Second: What DID all those in Arlington Cemetery die for?

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t for the freedom to wear face masks.
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t for the liberty to be ordered into lockdown.
I’m dead certain it wasn’t for such an easy surrendering of the liberty for which they fought and died!

I’ll close with one more quote from the same article:
“The artificially inflated panic over the CCP virus is something new. NEVER BEFORE HAS AMERICA OR THE WEST PUT A GUN TO ITS OWN ECONOMIES’ HEADS AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.” (My emphasis)

I’m done, except …

I can’t help but wonder WWJD in relation to the present time in which we find ourselves ….

Picture it —

Here HE comes … riding upon HIS mighty white horse …

THE MASKED SAVIOUR

A good bumper sticker idea???