I'm reminded that Jesus overcame His enemies not by taking their lives, but by dying for them. Likewise we see in Revelation that the martyrs won not by defeating military, but by dying. That's pretty radical - is that what we're called to do?
Jesus came with a specific mission; to be our Sacrifice for sin. His concern was not Rome, or any other oppressive regime. His focus was for us to focus on the next life, while living in this world. To what purpose is dying as a martyr? It is usually translated in our Bibles as "witness." It is certainly not dying as a dumb sheep where no one really knows what they are "witnessing" to!
In that thought I consider that God is big enough to do what he wants in the nations without needing people to rebel and kill
And I would ask, if God is so big, why doesn't He do it? Perhaps He is waiting on us to do something!
For 74 years in the Soviet Union, Christianity was persecuted. No one fought back. Why did it take man to end 74 years of God not solving the problem? We left it alone for 74 years!
It's a radical thought - and from one with military history that I respect through my heritage even more so, but these aren't arguments - they're genuine questions and considerations I've been having lately. Do I need to repent of my thoughts?
We should always seek the will of God and His purpose for us on this earth.
Should we be seeking His heavenly Kingdom? Yes!
Have we become too materialistic and focused on this world and the kingdoms of it than His? For the most part... Yes!
Many people throughout history believed that believers were obligated to bring the Kingdom to this earth where God would come back and Reign for a Thousand years. Most people today are pessimistic about the power of God and His will for the Earth to reflect His kingdom in heaven. Why try? It's all gonna burn anyway!
Is our eschatology the filter by which we interpret what is said? When such a strong presupposition exists, the answer is "yes!"
[God] is calling us to focus more on His kingdom, to die to self and this world and focus solely on His kingdom?
Yes and No! Nowhere in Scripture does He say that we must "die to self." There is no reason to interject something that is a worldly concept into the idea of focusing on His kingdom! The question is, does God will that His kingdom be on earth as it is in heaven?
Coincidentally I woke up this morning and in my daily devotion I've started going through Titus. The first thing I read was Titus 3:1-7 " Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another."
I wanted to come back to this in light of God's will that His kingdom in heaven is to be the same on earth, and the Old Testament examples of His established kingdom on earth in the Old Covenant. Neither are examples of a believer's utter passivity.
Throughout history, very few cultures or Nations have allowed the freedoms many have in America today. I would encourage the reader to evaluate everything that Paul writes to Titus in the light of his day, and our day; both in the light of free people, and those that are not so free.
"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey," We are to obey God rather than men. Yet, where there is no conflict, we are to obey the Laws of the Land. If there is a speed limit sign, I should follow the Law. When they tell me I cannot worship God freely as I choose, I have no obligation to abide by such Laws.
"to be ready for every good work," Would that include evangelism, or even establishing a Christian culture on earth as it is in heaven?
"to speak evil of no one," Does such deny Christians the responsibility to tell the truth about someone, or some Leader? Does such a command Pidgeon-hole Christians into never saying anything negative about evil or evil persons?
"to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." Does such deny a Christian a right to be a Christian where it is illegal? To not oppose sin and evil? Can a Christian oppose and inequity or sin still be humble?
It is like Islam... they are at war with us, but we are not at war with them (over our beliefs). Yet, does that mean that we are to be totally passive (obedient cowards) in the name of being "peaceable, humble and gentle"? We are not looking for a fight, but if some Regime seeks to enslave us, forcefully convert us, or kill us, do we puff up our pride and say, "I'm a real Christian and my kingdom is in heaven and not on earth! Where do I turn myself in to be liquidated?" Do Christians have to prove their Christian faith by "humbly" submitting to genocide as is currently happening in Islamic countries as we speak?
- I'm really beginning to seriously question whether my thoughts have been conditioned by my heritage more than God's word - and I'm more at odds with God on this than I realize - and with that, potentially many Christians in the west.
No doubt, no matter where one lives and no matter what period in history one has or is living, culture has a strong influence. Just as your culture leads you to believe that you must die to yourself, when Scripture never says such a thing. It leads us to presume upon Scripture and common sense. We cannot totally escape reason and logic when looking at passages in the Bible. Looking at the whole of Scripture, I do not see this a cut and dry as many try to make it. It is a difficult issue that must be balanced by Biblical example and God's will.
One example in the Early Church that I found humbling, and troubling, are the writings of Ignatius. At the time of his writing, it was illegal to be a Christian. Christians were being caught and put to death for sport. Ignatius, taking the word "martyr" or "Witness" to be the equivalent of being put to death for the Faith. It is inspiring to read the focus of his faith being so centered upon what was to be gained in martyrdom, yet so disturbing that he seemed to have such a death wish! He constantly looks forward to the day he is martyred to be liberated from this world! Yet, in his eagerness, he still wanted to evangelize, and to encourage believers to not lose faith and to be obedient to the end. Even with his strange obsession to be martyred, he never went outside and flaunted himself to be arrested and put to death.
"Yoooo-Hooooo! I'm over here! I want to be a martyr for Jesus!"
He did not live in a free society. I agree with his focus on the Kingdom in heaven, and Christians at the time were utterly incapable of opposing it at that time. Yet, if they needed to gather a capable force to go into where the genocide of Christians were
today to protect and stop that evil, I would volunteer. I see nothing inconsistent with acting in defense. I see the world of evil in believer's using the Bible for inaction.
Because no action is happening to protect these Christians, I am reduced to spiritual warfare and prayer; which should be our first and primary means anyway.
If I place myself in time (today) and the place (U.S.A.), it is easy to interpret the exhortation to Titus in the light of a free society, and another thing to apply what was said in a not so free society. As being salt and light in the culture I live in, I see it as a moral obligation or principle to oppose evil, to speak the truth, and to do so with humility, seeking God's will
on earth as it is in heaven.
