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by Dr. Curtis Alexander, Academic Dean
In the 1930s the Nazis began to persecute the Jews of Europe. Most Christians—Protestant, Catholic and other—kept silent. After all, they were not Jewish, and they were not suffering. So, many stayed mum about the growing evil.
Eventually, the Nazis started killing off the mentally ill, the handicapped, the ‘unproductive’ in society (which often means the very young and the very old), homosexuals, and many “non–contributing” classes of people. Then, the silent church realized it was too late to stop the inhumane behavior of the government.
Many Christians grapple with whether God requires us to obey a government that prohibits in–person church gatherings. The Bible makes it clear that we must obey government unless its rulings and laws contradict God’s law.
Historically, Christian believers sometimes disobeyed their godless governments but willingly took the consequences for their civil disobedience. That’s where philosophy meets harsh reality. I can talk a good civil disobedience. But how brave would I be in a jail cell? The New Testament and church history are replete with stories of imprisoned Christians whose lives rocked the world. But I do love my comforts.
In the USA of tomorrow, many irreligious and anti–Christian people will keep silent or join in while the government suppresses Christianity in the public forum. After all, they are not directly affected—they don’t even have a faith. Others will simply ignore this breach of the Constitution, hoping the bother will pass them by.
But sooner or later a government intent on imposing its burgeoning power will steamroll even those who don’t care about religious liberty. By then, those who stayed quiet because they weren’t affected will realize . . . it’s too late!
As President Gerald Ford once famously said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.”
The Kingdom of God is more focused on people’s eternal spiritual destiny than physical wellbeing. “Fight or flight” describes the autonomic prioritization of physical wellbeing. But God values eternal spiritual wellbeing much more—not that they are mutually exclusive. God has His priorities, and wisdom instructs us to embrace them.
These are confusing, frustrating, even depressing times. Early findings from the 2020 U.S. Census show that as many as one–third (1/3) of Americans admit some degree of depression right now. The atrocity of George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent civil unrest only add to the despair.
But fear not, God is in control.
Large–scale persecution of Christians in the early days of the church resulted in amazing, world–transforming evangelism. As church father Tertullian said in his Apologeticum, “The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church!”
God has a plan, and you and I are in it. As threatening as Christian persecution may seem, there is a greater issue—the Kingdom of God and His reign in the world. Pray that you and your family and your church can, out of the global turmoil, become more than you were before. Pray too that your Church will find new and effective ways to advance God’s Kingdom, whatever lies ahead.