| Jesus said there'd be days like this.The disciples came | | | | happening and is GOING to happen on planet Earth, |
| to Jesus asking: "What will be the sign of your | | | | we are an army and must not lose the focus of our |
| coming and of the end of the age?" (Matt 24:3)Jesus | | | | objective. Soldiers of the Cross, there's a Kingdom to |
| answered: "...many will come in My Name, claiming, 'I | | | | advance in the Name of the King we love.A CALL |
| am the Christ,' and will deceive many.You will hear of | | | | TO ARMS! |
| wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are | | | | We see and hear so much about Christian political |
| not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is | | | | activism. Prayer in school, gay rights, women's right, |
| still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and | | | | abortion, gun laws...what does all this have to do with |
| kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and | | | | the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to 'go and |
| earthquakes in various places ... because of the | | | | make disciples'? Where is the saint who travails in |
| increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow | | | | prayer for souls? Even Muslim souls? And Chinese |
| cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be | | | | souls (6 of 11 Christian converts are Asian or East |
| saved..." (Matt 24).Things are going to get worse | | | | Indian)? Where are the people of God who will cry |
| here on the 3rd rock from the sun before they ever | | | | out to Heaven for the revival that will have a greater |
| get better. Count on it. That's why it is the acme of | | | | impact than a thousand years of political and social |
| foolishness to spend all our resources trying to get | | | | activism?Jesus never taught that His followers should |
| comfortable down here. We don't belong here, folks! | | | | attempt to change the social or political order of |
| We're citizens of Heaven, as Christians, just passing | | | | things. We are not another special interest group. Not |
| through. We are "seated in heavenly places.." (Eph | | | | another subculture. If anything, we're a COUNTER |
| 1:3). We're are good as there as followers of Christ. | | | | culture - IN the world, not OF the world.The word |
| That's either true for right now, or it's a lie. But we've | | | | for the Church right now is "Repent!" In this instance, |
| been given a job description to make as many | | | | repentance begins when we turn from the solutions |
| disciples for Christ as we can while we inhabit these | | | | offered by this world, and put our trust in God. Some |
| earth suits. How's that going, by the way?Count the | | | | men trust in chariots, some in horses ... will WE trust |
| cost before you dare to become a radical disciple of | | | | in the Name of our God? (Ps 20:17)There is a war of |
| Christ because, as things worsen, the persecution of | | | | the worlds going on. It's not physical. Despite its |
| Christians will increase. Are you SURE you want to | | | | appearances, it's not REALLY Islam vs. the West at |
| make yourself conspicuous? If we're fortunate | | | | all. It's SPIRITUAL, for our battle is not against flesh |
| enough that we're not living among those who are | | | | and blood but against the hordes of hell... a demonic |
| suffering the worst of the anti-Christian persecution, | | | | force that, for the moment, seems to be making |
| you'd better believe we're going to be held | | | | dramatic progress (Eph 6).POST-CHRISTIAN |
| accountable for all that we could have done/should | | | | CHRISTIANITY |
| be doing with the many resources the Western | | | | Some are saying that we are currently living in a |
| Church has at its disposal. We can, and MUST, | | | | Post-Chrsitian age; that the Church as the world has |
| support the work of the Kingdom, with prayer, time, | | | | known it, is a relic of the past. The present religious |
| talent and finances. NOTE:the purchase of new | | | | situation in Europe and North America is often |
| playground equipment, repaving a parking lot, or | | | | described as becoming secular, where many people |
| buying a new gargoyle for the cathedral is probably | | | | no longer believe, and therefore are defined as |
| NOT what the Kingdom requires from us at this time. | | | | post-Christians. Post-Christianity is an expression to |
| Finances may be the most difficult to part with | | | | describe a 'secular' status in which Christianity is losing |
| because our hearts are so tied to our purse strings. | | | | its central role in shaping the lives of the people. More |
| Think about that next time you make an impulse | | | | and more, trends seem to be pointig toward a time |
| purchase or stick your head into that basement, | | | | when only the minority of those calling themselves |
| attic, closet, or garage full of important stuff God has | | | | 'Chrsitian' retain meaningful ties with traditional |
| "blessed" you with. How much we trust God is | | | | Churches. It's already here. Most people - Christians |
| evidenced by how much we trust him with our | | | | included - are living their lives independently of the |
| money. Fact is, we have nothing God hasn't given us, | | | | Christian faith and the teachings of the Churches |
| not as some sort of reward, but as a | | | | they (used to) belong to. Church-life has become |
| steward.DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH? | | | | extraneous to them.The days are getting darker. |
| Why is it that so many Christians seem more ready | | | | What if there IS coming an end to Christianity? If |
| to support military action against the Islamic world | | | | that were the case, that certainly does NOT mean |
| than we seem willing to adhere to the commission of | | | | there has come an end to Christ, nor to His remnant |
| Christ, all the while playing the "tolerance card" with | | | | of True believers.I contend that it's "CHURCH-ianity" |
| our Muslim neighbors in the states, attempting to | | | | that is lying sick upon its deathbed, gasping for air, |
| maintain status quo? It's BECAUSE of our tendency | | | | and NOT the glorious Bride of Christ, at all.The Lord is |
| toward self-preservation as well as our greater faith | | | | with us, saints of God! Let us seek first God's |
| in the government than we have in our God. Doesn't | | | | Kingdom and His righteousness. Now, let's lock 'n load! |
| our support of violence against anyone in retaliation | | | | The war is with Hell ... on OUR turf and by OUR |
| for their violence toward us make us their lowlife | | | | GOD's rules! Drop to your knees in fervent prayer, |
| equals? My Mom taught me that as a boy. Is this the | | | | reconcile people to the God of the Bible, wield your |
| way of the Lord Jesus? He said "love your enemies | | | | checkbook, get your passport up to date so you can |
| and pray for those who persecute you," (Matt | | | | mobilize if called to overseas duty as a missionary. |
| 5:44).Surely we don't believe that the duty of the | | | | Quit waffling about, wondering when God will put you |
| Western Church is to protect the Gospel through | | | | into the game. You're already IN the game. It's time |
| force! God no more needs our military might to | | | | to get your uniform dirty. The call to serve is |
| protect and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ than | | | | REALLY a call to PREPARE! Get prepared.Look |
| He needed Peter to slice the ear off of poor Malchus | | | | around ... each of us is surrounded by resources that |
| in the Garden of Gethsemane.Repeat! God no more | | | | could be used to advance the cause of Christ! I |
| needs our military might to protect and promote the | | | | know elderly people, children and cripples that are |
| Gospel of Jesus Christ than He needed Peter to slice | | | | giving the devil a black eye on a daily basis by doing |
| the ear off of poor Malchus in the Garden of | | | | all they can. There are others, for example, who |
| Gethsemane. Folks, any religion or philosophy that | | | | forward these weekly messages from t.e.a.m. |
| intends to advance by way of military might is no | | | | ministries to hundreds of others within their scope of |
| better than Islam. Such a gospel would be, in fact, a | | | | influence. My goodness, if we would ALL do at least |
| religion of lies straight from the pit of Hell. Might does | | | | THAT!Fear not, Army of the Lord! The gates of Hell |
| NOT make right! In fact,it's in great part because our | | | | shall not prevail against us! Let's make it really hard to |
| faith WAS once promoted by the tip of the sword | | | | go to Hell from your sector of influence. Give till it |
| that there remains such resistance to it today. That | | | | helps! Don't worry, you cannot outgive |
| plus the fact that we aren't making anyone jealous | | | | God.Remember this: all it takes for evil to continue to |
| for what we've supposedly found through a | | | | prosper is for good Christians to do nothing. It's a |
| relationship with Jesus Christ.The world is rarely | | | | statistical fact that a soldier in battle will miss 100% |
| impressed with usIn a nutshell, there will not be ... can | | | | of the shots he never dares to take.So, how's YOUR |
| NOT be ... peace without Christ. Violence will get | | | | aim lately?SelahPastor Michael is founder of t.e.a.m. |
| worse, and the disciples of Christ will suffer increased | | | | ministries (). His eMail broadcasts, known as "Your |
| global persecution.People of Planet Earth, I have two | | | | Town for Jesus" (SEARCH it!) are reaching tens of |
| words for you: Jesus Christ. Hope is in Him alone, and | | | | thousands WEEKLY. Log on at |
| in submitting to the Father in accordance with His | | | | Michael's mission is to bring Discipleship and |
| Word. Though Christians may not be kept from the | | | | Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Michael is the |
| effects of war, for it rains upon the just and the | | | | author of numerous booklets on a subjects that will |
| unjust, we must come to the point where we | | | | interest the thinking Christian. Since 1999, he has |
| openly, in front of God and everybody, abide in the | | | | written and broadcast nearly 500 inspirational articles |
| Peace of Christ. THAT they WILL notice!God is more | | | | and a dozen booklets, al designed to accelerate the |
| concerned with the character of His kids than He is in | | | | process of spiritual development in God's people. |
| our carnal comfort. Despite all the "stuff" that's | | | | |