Today, I received the millionth e-mail letting me know that if So-and-so gets elected president of the United States dogs will start sleeping with cats, Christianity will crumble, and the end of the world will begin.
All this kind of rhetoric does is make me want to blog about nothing but church history from now until election day. But I’ll resist that urge and instead tell you only one story. It’s about this guy named Nero – you may have heard of him. He was a bit of a jerk, not real fond of Christians, with some anger issues.
Nero did some sick stuff like stick Christians on poles, jab those poles into his lawn and light the bodies on fire so he could have a little light to walk by in the evening. While Nero reigned Christianity didn’t crumble and the world didn’t end.
I understand wanting to vote for someone under whom Christianity would flourish. I get that. Let me think about who that might be for a second. OK, well, because of what history teaches us about the conditions under which Christianity thrives you might want to vote for a guy or girl who will lock up our churches, strip us of our freedoms, imprison us for praying, and is a bit of a psychotic pyromaniac. That’s the kind of guy whose intolerance and brutality helped turn a Jewish cult into a major world religion.
God and His Church have never needed a president’s or Caesar’s support in order to survive. But we’re not the first nation and generation to forget this. Isaiah wrote to the Jews while they were despairing in captivity:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
[God] sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 44
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your comments were excellent but the scripture divides lies from the truth. I am grateful you used it in such an appropriate and “called for” manner.
I’ll second that!
We just made the decision about two weeks ago to move one of our 4 kids to a private, Christian school. It’s just what’s best for her now. Anyway, they had their annual fund raising banquet Tuesday evening (over half the 100 students receive substantial tuition assistance). The guest speaker was Stephen Mansfield (he wrote “The Faith of Barak Obama” among others). He talked about this very thing.
I’ve heard so much on Christian radio stations lately about how we must get out and vote (nothing wrong with this) so that WE can choose who will be best in the White House. I have no doubt that God uses people everyday to carry out His will; but we are not the one’s ultimately doing the choosing. I am really praying hard this time round to clearly be able to discern God’s voice in this and that I will vote His will and not my own.
Beth
Amen and amen.
If I get one more of those emails, I’m going to snap.
Amen. Thank you for posting this Shaun.
By the way, I would enjoy reading a couple of weeks worth of post about church history.
Thomas
Me too, Thomas! I really enjoy reading church history (especially early stuff) and love the way Shaun has a grasp on it and is able to explain it too. Go ahead Shaun, write away!
Beth
While there is truth to the church often thriving under persecution, it is a fine line to walk. Roman emperors who truly understood how to suppress Christianity really did make a dent in their numbers and cause much apostasy. Decius is an example of an emperor who understood how to bring effective pressure to bear on Christianity and actively persecuted not just the bishops, but the laity as well. Under Decius there was terrible apostasy and the loss of many souls as people turned en mass to the gods and away from Christianity.
Also, it is interesting to consider the conversion of Christian lands to Islam under Muhammadan rule. Islam didn’t just outlaw Christianity outright. However, they did make Christians bear the brunt of the tax burden and outlaw conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Killing a few Christians has never worked because Christianity is at its core a mass movement. In the early persecutions, as today, there were always a dozen more people ready to take the place of any martyred bishop. However, more low level persecution aimed at the masses has been incredibly effective at times. If anybody wonders about that, consider that St. Nicholas was from Turkey, back when it was a Christian country.
While I certainly believe that God is in control of history, I don’t think it is wise to give up the effort to influence culture through political means. Social justice based on true Gospel values is always a cause to work toward. Also, I think it unwise to assume that there is nothing political authorities can do to erode the influence of Christ in this country. There’s a reason Justin Martyr in the mid 100’s wrote to emperors explaining what Christianity really was. While a madman like Nero who persecutes a few might be a boon to Christianity, it is also possible (and far more probable) that more subtle pressure brought to bear could result in the further erosion of Christianity in these United States.
MB
Amen. Thank you. A good reminder of who is really in control.
I think I agree more with Mama’s Boy. I know that under extreme pressure Christians are more bold in evangelism and more trusting of God. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to deliberately support someone/something who will cause direct harm to the Body of Christ.
That’s like those crazies who try to rush Jesus’ return by trying to make the tribulation happen sooner, instead of waiting patiently, trying to save souls and growing in the Lord in the meantime.
A line from a Leeland song has been in my head a lot today, “May we see this generation in its state of desperation for Your glory.”
I challenge the assumption that souls were lost “as people turned en mass to the gods and away from Christianity” and whether anyone can “cause direct harm to the Body of Christ.” I imagine persecution is capable of scattering some goats, but I’m not so sure about the sheep. (Notice I wrote “some” goats. I imagine even some goats would endure persecution, but I’d be willing to bet all the sheep would.)
If it is ok with you, I would love to email this to a few people.
We don’t even have to look at history to see how political persecution helps to spread the Gospel. Where are the fastest growing churches located in the worlds today? Not Houston, or OKC, or Charlotte, or the OC, or even Nashville.
I think some miss the point when they understand this post as “it’s a good idea to deliberately support someone/something who will cause direct harm to the Body of Christ”. I read the main point as this: even Xns will disagree on who will bring the most good or harm to the country and/or to the Body of Xst In those differing opinions we need to guard from an “it’s the end of the world, all is lost” mentality and from declaring one candidate over the another as “God’s candidate”. Support your candidate, work fervently for what you believe is right. But never forget we serve a God who is sovereign and omnipotent; He is not sitting and wringing his hands as if the future of Xnty depends on all Xns voting for the one “right” person. I believe His great grief is on our anger, division, and accusations against each other.
Exactly, Debby.
I don’t think some of you quite understood what I meant, but I don’t know how to argue it any different. Oh well. I just kinda trailed off with my thoughts on that first comment…
Hm…is trailed off the right way to put it? How about “got off track” or something? Anyhoo…
The real question is whether you would have written this if you had already received a letter from a Christian from 2012 about what’s really going to happen if the “wrong guy” is elected. You’re in luck.
Well said, Shaun. Thank you for posting that.
God is in control, and persecution will only serve to weed out those who are not true believers while the true believers will be refined.
That being said, abortion is the slavery of our day. It is wrong to not come to the rescue of the innocent, oppressed, and helpless if it is within our power. There is really no debate for the Christian when it comes to abortion. To stand aloof and become irritated with those who God has stirred with compassion and who have grieved for the helpless is a bit troubling.
BTW, it is one thing for the church to be pruned by the hand of God through a wicked leader. It is quite another for a Christian to throw his/her support behind an evil ruler. God will hold us accountable for our votes.
I was surprised nobody mentioned this by now, but I think it’s worth noting that the citizenry of the Roman Empire didn’t have the luxury or the right to vote for Emperor.
Voting is a right that carries with it a huge responsibility. Too many people take that for granted far too often.
That being said, abortion is the slavery of our day. It is wrong to not come to the rescue of the innocent, oppressed, and helpless if it is within our power
Abortion is a terrible thing. It’s murder. No matter how you slice it. Agreed, Ben. And, yes, it is wrong not to come to the rescue of the innocent when we can do so without committing murder ourselves. Agreed.
So what are you personally doing to come to the rescue of mothers and babies, Ben? Besides voting, what are your personally doing to perform this rescue?
It is quite another for a Christian to throw his/her support behind an evil ruler. God will hold us accountable for our votes.
Agreed, again, Ben. So, how do you define evil? Are you really willing to say publicly that your candidate of choice have never acted in office to support “evil” in any way?
I monetarily support my local church and we support a local pregnancy support center.
I for one am sick of the notion that abortion is some kind of relief for which we have to provide an alternative. One, it is murder. Two, it is a deceitful to imply that a woman is better off after an abortion so unless someone makes it just as nice as it would be after an abortion we can’t expect her not to have one. What is that? It’s a cop-out.
It’s not how I define evil that is important—it is how Scripture defines it. According to the Bible, infanticide is evil. Take a look at the 10 commandments. (Heavy taxation is also frowned upon!)
So you’re not personally doing anything about an issue you obviously care a great deal about other than giving your money to your church. Why not cut out the middle man (and his salary) and give directly to the crisis pregnancy center? Why not ask them if they could use your help with anything a few hours a week (or even month)? Why not adopt a child?
Have you ever known someone considering abortion?
I worked at a childrens’ home in Waco, Texas when I was in college. A girl there got pregnant. She was seventeen. Without family, without a close community of friends with money around her, she was wrestling with the choice of whether to keep her child and be what she thought would be a horrible parent, carry the child for nine months and then give him or her up for adoption, or face the guilt and dangers of an abortion.
While to you and I, with our life experiences and (limited) understanding of God, may see this decision as an easy one to make, it was not for her. She didn’t grow up hearing that God loved her. She did not know anyone who had adopted a child – didn’t know how well loved and cared for an adopted baby could be. She did not know if she could handle birth. Add to all this uncertainty a lot of hormonal changes and social pressure from peers and adult leaders in her life and you can understand I hope just how difficult this woman’s life was.
I’ve known only a handful of women who have considered abortion – and one who had the abortion. I’ve not known any of them to view abortion as a “relief.” And the women I’ve known who did not have an abortion made that choice primarily because they had real human beings willing to pay their bills, go to doctor appointments with them, forgive them, celebrate their pregnancy, love them daily, and even adopt their child when it was born.
Regardless of how you and I vote, I do not believe government policy will ever be a greater tool in saving lives and loving moms than you and I can be right now. But our power is only as great as our generosity and compassion. That will require more from us than giving money to our churches and voting.
I do know someone who had an abortion.
Each person needs to be personally involved, but financial support or the political fight are also both important and personal. There is an industry built around abortion. Many don’t even see the depravity. I wasn’t saying abortion is actually a relief, but it is marketed as an easy way out. One of the candidates has even proclaimed that he wouldn’t want his daughters to be “punished with a baby” because of a mistake.
Your argument that government policy will not be as effective at saving lives as loving moms seems to be a platitude. The truth is that when abortions were illegal, there were far fewer. Outlawing the slave trade dramatically decreased the number of slaves. The political/public opinion fight is a very real and pragmatic way of addressing the issue.
I’m glad you are involved in the fight. We need to work together as a unit. Not everyone can be a hand or an eye, but we should each contribute in the way God has gifted us. (That isn’t saying I won’t be doing some of the things you suggested.)
It’s funny how a discussion about whether we should go out and try to elect the candidate who will persecute the church the most has turned to personally attacking me for not being involved battling abortion the way someone else thinks I should.
Sean is right to point out that we don’t need to let our hearts be troubled. Persecution can purify the bride, and God will protect his church. My hangup is the idea that with our responsibility to vote we should vote for the most ungodly “madman” we can find. At this time that would be Obama. I don’t think Sean really meant that, but it could be taken that way.
Great post. I get thous e-mails you are referring too ALL THE TIME! They are evil.
I wrote a blog post called “Grace in Politics” last week talking about this very thing.
http://thewardrobeandthewhitetree.com
Fear, not grace, is what is guiding many Christians today.
You are a rock star for this post! I came unglued after I received one of “those” emails from someone in my home school group. Needless to say she won’t accept emails from me now.
“So you’re not personally doing anything about an issue you obviously care a great deal about other than giving your money to your church. Why not cut out the middle man (and his salary) and give directly to the crisis pregnancy center? Why not ask them if they could use your help with anything a few hours a week (or even month)? Why not adopt a child?”
Actually, Shaun, if you were referring to Benjamin, he did say that supports his local CPC directly (not just his local church). Feel free to reread it for yourself.
CPC’s aren’t always open during hours that working guys can help, at least those with typical 9-5 jobs.
Because of abortion and skyrocketing infertility rates, there is currently far more demand for adoptive babies than there is supply. The problem is with older kids. Having been a foster parent of a teenager, I can attest to why these kids are so hard to get adopted. It takes a special calling, skillset and time in life to be able to do that. It also involves an incredible amount of government intrusion into how one runs one’s life, since older kid adoptions are almost always state adoptions.
I don’t get what seems to have been your hypercritical reaction to Benjamin. It seems like you didn’t even read all of what he wrote before responding.
Abortion is a very private decision. Each year tens of thousands of abortions occur without even a parents or spouses knowledge, let alone public knowledge. It is unreasonable to expect personal involvement from the average Joe. In my opinion, giving to the local CPC (and church depending on what they are doing) and voting for pro-life candidates are very commendable actions, in no way worthy of the criticism received.
MB