Special Post: A Bigger Threat than al-Qaeda?

I read an article last week that really stirred my emotions. Two men were discussing one of our political leaders. It doesn’t matter who any of the people are, and I won’t post a link to the article. This isn’t a political post. It’s a theological post. But more than that, it’s a post about living as a Christian today. 

In the article, one of the men basically called certain Christians “a bigger threat than al-Qaeda to this country.” That’s a serious charge. Anyone as dangerous as the group that murdered 3,000 Americans must have radical beliefs. So what are those beliefs?

There were several mentioned, and the first was that these Christians are “rooting for the end of the world so we can get on with the Rapture.” I believe he’s saying that some Christians are ready for this world to come to an end and for Jesus to return. Not every Christian thinks there will be a Rapture, although I certainly do. One of the foundational doctrines of the faith, however, is the return of Christ. Jesus will come back (John 14:3), we should be ready for it (Matthew 24:44), and we should long for it (Revelation 22:20). That’s basic Christian theology. 

Jesus is going to return to this planet and reign over all the earth as king (Revelation 20:1-6). One day all death and decay, all sickness and pain, all tears and death will be gone. 

Until that time, and as long as we are alive on earth, we are to strive to serve God through the gifts and abilities he’s given us. But we live with one foot here and one foot in heaven, serving here while looking forward to Christ’s return. Again, that isn’t some radical belief. It’s basic doctrine.

Another “dangerous” thought among Christians is that God “personally chooses, raises up our leaders, which is a very dangerous thought because then when you lose an election you think it’s just another of God’s tricks to test your faith.”

But, again, this is not some wild, outlandish idea. It’s basic Christian theology. God is sovereign over all things (we spoke about God’s sovereignty in this post), and as part of his sovereignty God actually does personally choose our leaders. Here’s what Paul says:

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1)

Paul wrote this while he was under the authority of Emperor Nero, who was about as wicked as they come. He’s not claiming that only “good” leaders have been put in place by God. No, Paul says that regardless of whether a government, or any authority, is good or bad, that authority is only in place because God allowed it to be in place. It may be a good and just government or a corrupt and evil government, but it is in place because God ordained it to be there. We are to trust that this government, good or bad, is within God’s purpose.

Why would God allow an ungodly, evil person to be in authority? I have no idea why God allowed a wicked man like Nero, for example, to rule the Roman Empire, but I know that Roman soldiers under the authority of the Roman government led by another Roman emperor put Jesus to death under Roman law — and as a result, you and I can live. That was within God’s purpose.

Next, in the article the claim is made that the leader in question “says we began as a Christian nation. We didn’t. Did you miss that day in homeschool? If you don’t know that the Pilgrims came here to get away from the Church of England, then you don’t know, literally, the first thing about our country.”

That statement is absurd. Even just a quick glance at Wikipedia will show you that the Pilgrims were very much Christians. They were Calvinists and similar to the Puritans except that the Puritans still wanted to “purify” the Church of England, while the Pilgrims believed that reform wasn’t possible and sought to leave the Church. They were leaving for America so they could practice their Christian beliefs without being persecuted from a state-run church. I, therefore, rate the article’s claim as false, but it’s a nice attempt to deny the Christian influence on the birth of our nation.

Finally, one of the men in the article states that the leader in question “exactly sounds like bin Laden,” quoting the politician as saying, “depraved America deserves God’s wrath.”

Well, we do. We all do. 

We have all sinned (Romans 3:23), and the punishment for sin is death:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). 

Sin brings on God’s wrath (Romans 1:18). As far as a depraved nation deserving God’s wrath, in Romans 1, Paul says that when a culture rejects God, the people of the culture “become full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip” (Romans 1:29). The people of any culture that rejects God become slaves to sin, and we begin a downward spiral into immorality from which there is no recovery.

The good news of Christianity is that while we were still under God’s wrath, he provided a way to be made right with him again:

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8, 10)

God’s wrath against sin is so great it took the death of Jesus to overcome it. Again, this is not some radical idea. All of this is basic Christian doctrine. 

So, why am I even writing this? I’m writing because I was struck by just how far away from God our country has moved. Thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and actions that were unheard of in my lifetime have now become center stage in our culture. Mainstream media and politicians truly believe that the basic teachings of Christianity are as ridiculous as they are dangerous.

How should we respond? Four things come to mind.

1. Make talking about Jesus a natural part of your life. Don’t hide your faith from those around you. You don’t have to beat people over the head with it, but live your relationship with Christ out loud. Ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel and for the strength to do it. People desperately need to know Jesus. What are you doing to introduce them to him? 

2. Love those around you. Love is what our faith is all about. Jesus said that people will know us by our love (John 13:35). There are times when we’ll have to speak out or take a stand, so make sure that your life is characterized by love. Then when you do take a stand, your words will be even louder.

3. Stay true to what you know. When people attack the basic beliefs of Christianity, cling even tighter to them. These truths will sound crazy to the world, because the world is in rebellion against God. That’s why they won’t love you if you stand up for your faith. Don’t allow culture to lead you away from God’s Word.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. (1 John 2:24)

Remember, then, what you received and heard. (Revelation 3:3)

4. Be willing to stand on your convictions. You must be willing to stand on God’s Word, even if the cost is great. It may mean the loss of friends. It may mean the loss of a job. It may mean that you don’t get into the college you prefer. Have faith. Refuse to compromise. Trust your Savior.

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. (1 Peter 3:13-14)

What do we have to lose? Even if we suffer for our faith, our Heavenly Father promises to bless us. 

In a culture where our faith is more and more marginalized, when even the most basic teachings are labeled as dangerous, we must stand firm in our Savior. He’ll give you all the strength you need, if you’ll trust him.