Andrew Willow, a host of a conservative radio talk show The Wiklow Majority sub-titles his show with “We’re Right. They’re Wrong. End of Story.” He has a point.
According to C.H. Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892 Baptist Preacher in London) as Christians, as Followers of Y’shuaJesus, we are entitled. We have Christian Privilege. In previous posts here at JonahzSong, I’ve written about Nobel Oblige. This is the obligations of nobility. And as Christians, we are nobility. We are royalty. We are like princes and princesses in the Kingdom of G-d. We have Royal Privilege. And we are entitled.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
(1 Peter 2:9,10)
Make no mistake, however, in thinking that our entitlement, our Holy Privilege is based upon our own merits. Certainly not. We are entitled by being embraced by Messiah, being identified as His.
Additionally, our entitlement is spiritual and not necessarily an entitlement in the physical realm, the world in which we, as Abraham said, sojourners on Earth.
And we will suffer as Messiah suffered.
When the shooting began at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX, people of G-D were singing hymns.
It is understandable, then, that some will question why this merciful G-D Whom we are identified with would allow people who are praying to suffer such calamity, such atrocity. MONTAGE: AFTER TEXAS MASSACRE, DEMS, MEDIA MOCK POWER OF PRAYER
Messiah YeshuaJesus, too, was mocked as He, nailed to a piece of wood, was raised into the air.
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
(Matthew 27: 39,40)
How shall we then respond?
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
(1 Peter 2:11,12)
We need not explain to those who mock us. Rather, we can pity those who know not the Messiah, who know not G-D. We mourn with and grieve with for those who have lost family and friends to acts of hate, crimes against all of us. We also recognize that those who are in Messiah depart this world to rest until Messiah raises them to be with Him in the Last Day. Those who do not know Messiah, are not counted among the followers of our G-D, are spiritually dead, though alive in this physical world. One day they will depart too, and will not rise to be with G-D in Heaven, but remain eternally without the Light of True Life—they will remain in utter darkness.
We are noble and entitled. We are royalty. Let us not turn away from our faith, let us not be discouraged by the unG-Dly media who mock our faith and our prayers. Rather, let us pray for those who know not our Messiah, that they would humble themselves, and turn from their ways and words–turn to the only Savior and Solution to the evils of this world–Messiah YeshuaJesus.
Furthermore, make no mistake, this act of terror targeted Christians for their identity in Messiah. G-D has been attacked. Those who died, died as martyrs for their faith in the One G-D, as so many have died before. Just as in Early Church was persecuted and many died in Roman coliseums, Christians today are persecuted throughout the world. And many in the American media are attacking Christians with words, rather than bullets. These people are enemies of G-D. And they are inspired by evil powers in realms not presently seen by us. As Apostle Paul put it:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12)
Yet, I have to wonder, as Christians: Are we not able to defend and protect ourselves from those who are driven by evil powers in the spiritual realms? Are we not able to provide armed response to incursion into our meeting places? When the door bursts open and a physical threat is presented, are we obligated to turn the other cheek and allow evil to have its way? We are sheep among wolves. Should we not then have responsible members able to meet threats of violence to defend those who are unable to defend themselves?
Would the situation have been different if, outside the doors of the church, there sat an openly armed watchman? Would a deranged man cross the road to a meeting place of Christians to kill them have done so if he saw an armed man stood watch at the door through which he would have to enter? I think not.
Perhaps we have an obligation to thwart evil. No. Not perhaps. We do have an obligation to prevent evil, to prevent violence. If not for our own sake, we owe it to those who might do harm to themselves by evil inspiration. Apostle Paul, inspired by G-d, explains that our struggle is not against flesh, but evil powers that drive the flesh. So then we are also protecting a person, who under the influence of evil powers, from self-harm and doing harm to others. We have a moral obligation to not assist a person committing evil against other or him or her self. By not preventing that person, we are enabling evil.
We have a right under our American Constitution and our American heritage to defend and protect ourselves. Let us pray. Let us act upon our prayers and our convictions. Let us act as nobles, royalty. Let us protect ourselves and others from evil the evil powers that work upon deceived and vulnerable people who know not the Glory of the Most High G-D.
Therefore, let us walk gingerly [The Daily Post Word Prompt] in this world, speak softly, and carry a big stick.
JonahzSong 