Christians Under Attack
by Dr. Ken Matto
(Acts 7:51 KJV) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
The above verse is taken from the sermon of Stephen as he accuses the nation of Israel of always resisting the Holy Spirit. Of course, he was referring to those who opposed the Gospel. This verse has nothing to do with opposing the speaking in of tongues, as false charismatic preachers accuse those of us who oppose the false tongues of today. The word “resist” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of “oppose.” This verse can be applied to anyone who opposes the true Gospel and Christianity.
(Gen 12:2-3 KJV) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: {3} And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. These two verses teach us that anyone who opposes true Christianity will be cursed and that curse is eternal damnation in its ultimate fulfillment. Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees and was told that God was going to make a great nation out of him. We still see that great nation growing with each person that becomes saved.Recently a California man named Michael Nedow, has challenged the constitutionality of the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance because it violates the separation of church and state. Personally, I have yet to find that clause in the US Constitution. It is not there but it is found in the Constitution of the old Soviet Union. Leave it to our judicial system to try a case concerning the violation of the Constitution with something that is not in the Constitution. It is like Christians interpreting the Bible according to newspapers or CNN. The Constitution needs to be interpreted by the Constitution as the Bible needs to be interpreted by the Bible.
(1 Cor 2:14 KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. This anti-Christ Nedow is not satisfied with trying to get “Under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance, he has also petitioned to have the office of Chaplaincy removed from the Congress. I am thankful that a Federal Judge has tossed this latest attack against God out into the garbage.Is Michael Nedow alone in this pursuit to have God expunged from every vestige of the United States or does he represent the general attitude this country has taken concerning God. When you really get down to the nitty-gritty, the attack is not against religion, that is the window dressing. The real attack is against Christ and His followers, the true chosen people of God.
(Mark 13:20 KJV) And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. The Bible warns us that attacks will come against the truths of Christianity and when we take up the mantle of truth, then we will be attacked for propagating those beliefs. In some countries proselytizing is equated with hate crimes, so this way if anyone gives a tract to someone, that person maintains the right to have that Christian thrown in jail.As Christianity is attacked and loathed, simultaneously Sodomy is being lauded and applauded, which means that God is setting the stage for the judgment of the world. Once the last one is saved, then comes the end. The world will end with its iniquity filled and readied for judgment. Those who opposed the Word of God and Christianity will then give an account for their life along with their action. I have a saying on my website index page which states, “Freedom of Belief Ends on Judgment Day.” At present, people are allowed to possess whatever belief system they want and since the world is hostile to Christianity, all the hate of the devil which is manifested in those who oppose Christianity, is being heaved against us this day, but there is coming a day when that will end and the believers will enter into that eternal rest.
Opposition to God is nothing new. We see this scenario in the Bible in many places. Goliath tried to oppose the armies of the living God and he died (1 Samuel 17). Korah tried to rebel against Moses and he died (Numbers 16). Pharaoh Tuthmoses III rejected the rulership of God and he died (Psalm 136:15). Judas opposed Christ and died (Matthew 27). These examples are only a few which show the result of people who opposed God in the Old Testament and Christ in the New Testament. When Saul who became the Apostle Paul was on the road to Damascus, the Lord said to him, “why persecutest thou me?” The unbelievers of this world cannot get to Christ Himself so they attack Him by attacking believers.
Part of the blame for this can be laid at the footsteps of the church and individual Christians because unbelievers do not know what they are playing with. Why? Because the church and the majority of Christians are holding hands with the unbelievers and playing Ring around the Rosy with them based upon some false type of love which is not found in Scripture. One of the great characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ was that He did not fear to rebuke the ones who needed rebuking. Many Christians went to their deaths as martyrs because they had the spiritual guts to rebuke those who needed it. There are many unbelievers out there who ask sincere questions but there are also many who mock and are hostile, these must be rebuked with the biblical indictment that they are toying with the God of this universe and He does not tolerate rebellion. Instead of telling these people that Jesus loves them, tell them they are serving the interests of Satan and they will one day give account for their opposition to Christ. Tell them that freedom of belief ends on Judgment Day when they will come face to face with the truth, but it will be truth perceived too late. Now more than ever Christians need to be unrelenting in their testimony. Those in false religions hold dearly to their beliefs and never compromise, then why should we, who have the only truth on earth, abandon it for compromise. When we do that, we are aiding people in their rebellion and helping them to condemn themselves for ever. It is not something I would like to place on my resume.
Here is an e-mail I received the other day lest you think I am just a writer and not one who holds tenaciously to the true doctrines of Scripture as I counsel others to do.
This woman is partially correct. Christianity is being shackled. It is being shackled by Satan who is using his people who use the government to attack it and outlaw it. He will never win nor will his people. We have a great promise from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Mat 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The promise isn’t, “may not”, it says “shall not.” We may lose every battle on earth and we may also lose the right to evangelize, but what we lose here for a short time, will be gained for eternity. What the unbelievers gain here for a short time, they will lose for eternity. How sorry is their efforts in their spiritual pogroms. (Psa 2:1 KJV) Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? They rage against the Lord Jesus and His children and believe in their vain imaginations they can rid themselves of God. How foolish has our generation become. Strengthen yourself in the Lord and let them rage, it is only for a short time. (Rev 12:12 KJV) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (3/26/04)