Something Crazy is Going on
Persecution of Christians is rampant throughout the world and it doesn’t make sense. What is it that causes people to hate, wound and kill these people who strive for peace, people that will share what they have and pray for the drama in your life? They are not just marginalized as fools, they are hated and singled out for persecution. Meanwhile, the so called “religion of peace” which is actively spreading by force and threats of death does not seem to cause any concern at all. If I was in charge of the world, I would want as many Christians in my country as possible. What kind of society would it be if people were really “loving their neighbors as themselves?” It would be interesting to see. True, Christians are often blamed for being hypocrites but let’s be real, each one of us is an actor to some varying degree in our relationships. If hypocrites were singled out for abuse, our politicians should be getting their share but they don’t? Something else is going on.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth and His Son, Jesus, came to earth to offer Himself as payment for our sins. While Jesus was here, he touched the unclean lepers and healed them, He taught wonderful lessons in morality and encouraged people to engage with their Creator and to be loving to one another. He taught counter intuitive lessons like submitting to authorities and loving your enemies during a time when Rome ruled and it was no utopia. Jesus was the ultimate physician not only healing all manner of diseases, but also raising people from the stinking dead. All these wonderful benefits were on display to mankind and what happens? God and Jesus are used as curse-words in our books, movies and in conversations. Why are they singled out? I think it’s reasonable to consider that with all things being equal, other religious leaders names (Buddha, Joseph Smith and Allah) should be used for curse-words but they are not. Why?
The Jews – hounded and hunted, persecuted and rounded up and systematically killed. These are the same people that have blessed the world with their inventions and insight. This is evidenced by the fact that while Jews consist of .2% of the worlds population, they have been awarded 24% of the Nobel Prizes. Think of the contribution of mankind by Jonas Salk, Edward Teller and Albert Einstein or in Entertainment, Spielberg, Billy Crystal, Bob Dylan, Gene Wilder, Jerry Seinfeld and many more. Yet, as a people they are singled out and hated. They were hounded in their neighborhoods, and even now, in their own country they cannot find rest. Why?
God and Jesus, Jews and Christians seem to be in the same hated boat. What is the common disdain denominator? The reason God and Jesus are used as curse-words, and not the other guys is because the demonic influence that whispers in a persons conscience, has no interest in slandering the false teachers and false-prophets. Likewise, Jews and Christians are hated because of their association with God. Jews are the chosen People of God and Christians are in allegiance with God’s Plan. It boils down to hatred for God and anything related to God (like the Ten Commandments). Since God is not available for direct persecution, this hatred is expressed on God’s associates. It is a kind of a group-hate inspired by evil suggestions in the conscience of the majority. With this, we catch a glimpse into another dimension where evil lurks and desires to sway us always leading us away from the God that is trying to save us.
John the Apostle said: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19-20)
The Apostle Paul said: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).
Something crazy is going on.
Persecution of Christians is rampant throughout the world and it doesn’t make sense. What is it that causes people to hate, wound and kill these people who strive for peace, people that will share what they have and pray for the drama in your life? They are not just marginalized as fools, they are hated and singled out for persecution. Meanwhile, the so called “religion of peace” which is actively spreading by force and threats of death does not seem to cause any concern at all. If I was in charge of the world, I would want as many Christians in my country as possible. What kind of society would it be if people were really “loving their neighbors as themselves?” It would be interesting to see. True, Christians are often blamed for being hypocrites but let’s be real, each one of us is an actor to some varying degree in our relationships. If hypocrites were singled out for abuse, our politicians should be getting their share but they don’t? Something else is going on.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth and His Son, Jesus, came to earth to offer Himself as payment for our sins. While Jesus was here, he touched the unclean lepers and healed them, He taught wonderful lessons in morality and encouraged people to engage with their Creator and to be loving to one another. He taught counter intuitive lessons like submitting to authorities and loving your enemies during a time when Rome ruled and it was no utopia. Jesus was the ultimate physician not only healing all manner of diseases, but also raising people from the stinking dead. All these wonderful benefits were on display to mankind and what happens? God and Jesus are used as curse-words in our books, movies and in conversations. Why are they singled out? I think it’s reasonable to consider that with all things being equal, other religious leaders names (Buddha, Joseph Smith and Allah) should be used for curse-words but they are not. Why?
The Jews – hounded and hunted, persecuted and rounded up and systematically killed. These are the same people that have blessed the world with their inventions and insight. This is evidenced by the fact that while Jews consist of .2% of the worlds population, they have been awarded 24% of the Nobel Prizes. Think of the contribution of mankind by Jonas Salk, Edward Teller and Albert Einstein or in Entertainment, Spielberg, Billy Crystal, Bob Dylan, Gene Wilder, Jerry Seinfeld and many more. Yet, as a people they are singled out and hated. They were hounded in their neighborhoods, and even now, in their own country they cannot find rest. Why?
God and Jesus, Jews and Christians seem to be in the same hated boat. What is the common disdain denominator? The reason God and Jesus are used as curse-words, and not the other guys is because the demonic influence that whispers in a persons conscience, has no interest in slandering the false teachers and false-prophets. Likewise, Jews and Christians are hated because of their association with God. Jews are the chosen People of God and Christians are in allegiance with God’s Plan. It boils down to hatred for God and anything related to God (like the Ten Commandments). Since God is not available for direct persecution, this hatred is expressed on God’s associates. It is a kind of a group-hate inspired by evil suggestions in the conscience of the majority. With this, we catch a glimpse into another dimension where evil lurks and desires to sway us always leading us away from the God that is trying to save us.
John the Apostle said: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19-20)
The Apostle Paul said: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).
Yes, something “crazy” is going on – crazy evil. Consider how your thought life goes… are you aligned with the “whisperers” and hating the things associated with God and “do-gooders” in general without cause? Wake up! Because a day of reckoning is coming and it is unavoidable. Hebrews 9:27 – Forewarned is forearmed.