You, like me, may not even bother to look out the windows on a daily basis to lament the sad goings on in our world. The level of impossible craziness seems to expand beyond the previous level as if some new law of the Momentum of Societal Insanity is about to be discovered.
It might explain how when society reaches a certain critical mass of behavioral insanity, it grows algorithmically.
Perhaps the best example of this is the sudden rise in hatred toward Christians in a historically and still predominately Christian nation. A nation known for its global heroism and generosity. A nation that has been the most sought by those from around the world wanting to make a better life for their families. A nation famous for both its political power and popularity that stands out above all other nations. Why? Because it was built by Christians who honor Christian principles of how to live and let live.
The founders of this country, despite what your Ivy League revisionist history professor would have you believe, were radically in favor of biblical standards for guiding civic life. It cannot be hidden no matter how they try that the days leading up to the ratifying of our constitution were guided by men, many of whom though not Christian, were completely agreed the Bible is the best standard by which to shape a society. How do we know? It’s in their letters and the letters of those who witnessed them kneel in prayer for hours upon hours asking the God of the Bible to help them construct the fairest and freest society on earth and that He might bless their undertaking. He did, and He still does.
Even in the hundred or so years following the birth of the United States, we see this is true in the writings of justices who explain the virtue or principle of the laws they adjudicate carry not the weight of common sense or reason alone but the authority of scripture. Christ, His Good Book, and His followers are the fundamental bedrock and lifeblood of the American vision and the American dream.
Ironically the very fabric of what has made the United States so special is now under constant attack. From the founders to the faithful living among us the onslaught is daily. It’s not just a war of words it is now a war with weapons. This weekend marks the first ever Trans Day of Vengeance to be held in Washington D.C. and the ostensible target, as with virtually every other focal point of our cultural clashes, is the values of Christian society. Even tiny school children are targeted for their standing as Christians, not in the Middle East or northern Nigeria, but in Nashville, Tennessee – the literal heartland of the United States.
All of this is aimed at tamping out the embers from the conflagration of the last few years. After gay marriage was approved it was time to go after conservative Christians. Attack the family, attack the “patriarchy” (re: fathers), attack polite society, attack parents, attack education, attack cis women, attack biology – attack reality itself. Not Christian reality – actual reality. The goal is to so thoroughly destabilize and demoralize the country that it lay exhausted from the fight unable to resist the New World Order.
It would seem, from all of this, it could not be a worse time to be a Christian in America.
However the stunning beauty of Christianity is that, other than the awesome glory of Christ Himself, it expects all of these things to happen. Why? Because the very book about the very Savior Himself told us, in detail, that it would:
“… You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 4-14)
Rather than recoil at the apparent horror of these things we Christians are told to be encouraged by them:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3 & 4)
The James who wrote this passage is none other than the brother of Jesus, who thought his brother was crazy for claiming to be the Messiah, only to become a believer and die as a result of his faith after seeing his crucified brother resurrected.
In fact it is the resurrected Christ who we celebrate this coming Easter that sealed the martyrdom of essentially all of his disciples who were willing to die horrible deaths at the hands of evil people because they would not deny what they knew to be true – Jesus was alive thus proving He is God.
This is the reason for the hope that we have.
So as the world seemingly spins out of control, and the focus of the hate of nations turns on Christians, and the most powerful people on the planet openly conspire to enslave the human race, and those sworn to expose the corrupt are instead complicit in their conspiracies, as truth is cast aside for narcissistic feelings of entitlement, and the nations are rattling their sabers like never before…it could not be a better time to be a Christian. Why?
It is yet more proof that every single word in the Bible is true and therefore so is the Author. The same Author who assures us He knows the count of the very hairs on our heads, and that He knows our needs and will meet them in this life and the next. He tells us to not be afraid so many times it would be silly if we were. Not because we can overcome but because He has and He will.
Even better, He told us all of this craziness would happen – it has and it is right in front of our very eyes. Right after that He told us He will come again.
