Christians Use Prophecy To Excuse Laziness
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
By Pastor Chuck Baldwin
In
response to my two previous columns regarding the current development
of a devilish New World Order, many professing Christians wrote me with
comments to the effect that we should not be concerned about whatever
global tyranny may be developing, because "it's all a part of God's
plan," or "Jesus is coming soon," and similar statements.
I, too, believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to earth. But,
then again, so did Christians from every generation over the last two
millennia. In fact, the Apostle Paul was looking for the return of Christ
while he lived (Philippians 3:20). But does anticipation of Christ's
Second Coming excuse personal neglect, indifference, and downright laziness?
Of course not.
Had
pastors and Christians of colonial America believed and acted as most
Christians believe and act today, this country would still be a Crown
colony and we would never have known the freedoms and liberties that
our forebears bequeathed to us. Christians of that era, however, believed
that it was their duty and obligation to fight for right and do everything
within their power to resist tyranny. They also believed that God would
honor and bless their efforts, which He certainly did!
It
is extremely difficult for me to reconcile the apathy and slave-like
mentality that seems to permeate modern Christendom (in America) with
both our own heritage and the very Word of God. For example, the Apostle
Paul is very clear when he writes that a Christian must never "do
evil, that good may come" (Romans 3:8). Yet, that is exactly what
many, if not most, Christians are doing today.
When
confronted with an obvious evil (a burgeoning tyrannical New World Order,
not to mention a number of lesser evils), modern Christians will shrug
and glibly say, "It's God's will; we must not oppose it,"
or words to that effect. This attitude says, "I will tolerate or
even condone evil in order to hasten Christ's return."
In
the first place, no one knows when Christ will return, no matter how
many books or tapes they have produced to say they do. In Acts chapter
1, Jesus was asked by His disciples if He would, at that time, set up
His kingdom. The first words out of His mouth were, "It is not
for you to know." Oh, we can speculate, surmise, and make educated
guesses, but that's the best we can do. It's time we were honest enough
to admit it: only God knows when Christ will return. In fact, Jesus
said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels
of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36).
In
the meantime, millions of Christians across America are trying to play
God. They talk as if they know when Christ will come. It's actually
worse than that. They have the attitude that they have no personal responsibility
to defend freedom and resist despotism. They seem to look at God as
some kind of glorified fireman, who is obligated to rush in at the last
minute to rescue them from a burning fire--a fire that they helped ignite,
or at least, refused to put out themselves when they had the opportunity
to do so. It's the old, "God would not let that happen in America"
syndrome.
How
arrogant can we be? Ask believers from despotic regimes around the world
what they think about God letting tribulation come, and they will quickly
tell you, "We are already in tribulation." Are Christians
in the United States really that arrogant as to believe that God loves
them more than He loves believers in other countries? If not, can we
not see that if believers around the world have suffered (and still
suffer) the heavy hand of tyranny and oppression, it is certainly possible
for tyranny and oppression to come to our land? The fact is, the only
reason that Christians in America have not (for the most part) suffered
tyranny and oppression is because of the hard work and sacrifice of
our forefathers. We are simply enjoying the fruit of their labor.
In
the second place, how do we know what God would do, if we only had the
backbone to do our duty? How do we know that God would not give America
"a new birth of freedom" for our children and grandchildren,
if we only had the courage and fortitude to oppose the evil being thrust
upon us by these would-be tyrants? America is only the "land of
the free," because it was the "home of the brave." Take
away the latter and we lose the former. And that is exactly what is
currently happening.
In
the third place, Christians have a moral imperative to resist evil,
even if their efforts are fruitless. We are not responsible for outcome,
only effort. Believers throughout history acted on principle, leaving
the results with God. (Read Hebrews chapter 11.) Some were delivered;
some were not. That did not matter. What mattered was doing one's duty.
We Christians are to give our bodies as "a living sacrifice"
(Romans 12:1). It is God's prerogative to use our sacrifice as He sees
fit. Therefore, there is no such thing as a "losing effort,"
when it comes to doing right. Doing right (resisting evil) is its own
reward. The three Hebrew children were not commended because God delivered
them from the burning fiery furnace; they were commended because they
were willing to go into the burning fiery furnace. So must we be.
I
believe the real reason why so many professing Christians are so apathetic
and indifferent to what is happening has nothing to do with the teachings
of Scripture, Bible doctrine, eschatology, or anything of the like.
It has everything to do with old-fashioned laziness. Today's average
Christian just flat does not want to be bothered. He has a comfortable
house, an easy chair, television, and a set of golf clubs in the closet.
He takes two or three weeks' vacation every year, goes to church on
Sunday (a church that does not intrude on his comfort zone, of course),
pays taxes, and votes for his favorite "pro-life" Republican
candidate every two years, and assumes that he is a "good"
Christian and "patriotic" American. He is neither!
A
real Christian patriot would never allow his country to be taken over
by a gaggle of elitist goons bent on stealing his liberties--including
his religious liberties--without doing everything in his power to prevent
it. A real Christian patriot is active, alert, engaged, zealous, and
committed to preserving liberty.
What
if Jesus doesn't come for another 100 years? Another 200 years? What
are we going to say to our grandchildren when they ask us what we were
doing when our freedoms and liberties were being stolen? What will we
say to our Christian forebears when we meet them in eternity? They sacrificed
everything so that we could live in peace and freedom. What will we
say to them? What will we say to God, who handed this land of liberty
to us on a silver (albeit blood-soaked) platter?
Tell
me again that "there is nothing we can do about it," or "it's
God's will," or "Jesus is coming soon." Better yet, tell
it again to the suffering Christians around the world; tell it again
to our Christian forebears; tell it again to your children and grandchildren
who are going to inherit a land of tyranny and oppression, all because
you were too lazy to resist.
I
know unbelievers who have more character and determination about preserving
liberty than many who call themselves Christians. And I have a ton more
respect for them, too. Our Lord told us, "For unto whomsoever much
is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). Yes, Christians
in America have been given the best of both worlds, and many do not
even appreciate it enough to see to it that their own children--their
own flesh and blood--will live to enjoy the same blessings. They are
pathetic!
So,
the next time you hear some piety-draped Christian talking about how
he won't engage the enemy and fight for liberty, because of prophecy,
or some other spiritually-sounding platitude, just remember, it has
nothing to do with prophecy, or anything of the sort: it has everything
to do with old-fashioned laziness. My feeling toward him is the same
as that of Sam Adams (a fellow Christian) toward the Tories of old:
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
than the animating contest for freedom--go home from us in peace. We
ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which
feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget
that ye were our countrymen!" Amen!
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Chuck Baldwin is Founder-Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. In 1985 the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence.
Dr. Baldwin is the host of a lively, hard-hitting syndicated radio talk show on the Genesis Communications Network called, “Chuck Baldwin Live” This is a daily, one hour long call-in show in which Dr. Baldwin addresses current event topics from a conservative Christian point of view. Pastor Baldwin writes weekly articles on the internet http://www.ChuckBaldwinLive.com and newspapers.
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