More
and more, I'm sensing that Christians in the US could soon be
experiencing something they have pretty much never before
experienced. The US has from its beginning and its
roots had at the least a generic Christian culture. Not that all
Americans, ever, have been practicing believers, of course. That
accommodating attitude - cultural and governmental - toward
Christianity, however, looks like it is changing!
Just
as Egypt had its generation who didn't know Joseph and turned against
God's people, the US has people who don't know Jesus - or care to -
who are beginning to dominate US culture. And to turn it against
Christians. Many schools and universities are now exerting themselves
to silence and suppress Christians, when they can get away with it.
Regulations governing and defining the required the training for some
professions are being rewritten to force on Christians choices
between violating their faith or leaving their profession. Many
social services people view Christian belief as supporting suspicion
of abuse when parents are accused of child abuse. Cities and towns
are using zoning ordinances and permit processes as means to block or
severely limit the building and expansion of churches. Hostile
neighbors are using police and bureaucrats to twist zoning ordinances
to prevent Christians from hosting Bible studies and prayer groups in
their homes.
All
these things, sadly, are not outlandish "possibilities"
conjured by my fevered imagination. Would that they were! These are
all
based on recent news stories and court cases! Let's call this what it
is ... dare to use that ugly "P"
word ... Persecution.
We are a far from lions and arenas - hopefully very
far, and will never
get to its modern equivalent. But US Christians are, I think, seeing
the beginnings of real persecution.
US
Churches and Christians cannot
afford to ignore which way societal winds are blowing. These trends
are not irreversible, but that will require prayer, much work and
much prayer!
As those efforts play out, to whatever end, Christians need to keep
aware of reality and be prepared to fight, evade, and use creative
ways to bypass the efforts of would-be persecutors. Churches need to
have "Plans B, C, and D" in mind, even in operation, to
neutralize attacks on leadership and facilities usage.
Does
that sound paranoid? Sadly,
I think it's prudent to recognize, be prepared for and be ready to
respond to reality and realistic possibilities! Of course, such
things need not come to be. Christians need to be praying! We can do
all we can - and I'll get to that - but the One Who has, and can
again, defeat anything the world can throw against us is God. If we
rely on ourselves, we will be defeated; if we rely on God, victory
will be His!
That
doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing! The precautions alluded to
above should be taken. Done properly, they will enhance the life of
the church, and often are (or enhance) things churches should be
doing anyway! Churches and Christians need to use their rights fully
- being careful to obey laws that are right - and not be intimidated
into foregoing those rights by the prospect of opposition from
unrighteous people. Churches and Christians need to become involved
in their communities, not retreat into their buildings and homes.
Churches and Christians need to make themselves visible in their
communities, and necessary. Being visible - known, not a mystery -
will make it much harder for would-persecutors to demonize
Christians. And being visible and necessary is something Jesus
commanded His followers to be.
Two
other key strategies are to spread leadership and ministry
responsibilities among more people, and to become less dependent on a
particular building. In more difficult times, flexibility strengthens
the church and makes it less vulnerable to attack. Spreading
leadership and ministry responsibilities limits the effects of an
attack on one leader. Flexibility in meetings and meeting places
similarly limits the effect of losing a facility. In good times,
those strategies have significant benefits. Spreading leadership and
ministry responsibilities means more can be done, better. And
spiritual growth among congregation members is encouraged.
Flexibility in meeting places, especially in increased usage of
members' homes, will similarly foster spiritual growth and closeness
of fellowship within the congregation.
Persecution,
if
it comes, will not be pleasant. But persecution, if it comes, will
make the church stronger.
What happens is not something we can control. But we can strive to be
what Jesus wants us to be, grow into what He wants us to be, and
trust Him to lead in and fight our spiritual battles.
