Wait 'til you hear this headline! .... The Daily News, on November 25th, ran this article ...... "Church offering concealed-carry weapons training to attract members"..... I know this may sound somewhat 'normal' for today's church here in America, but this is absolutely ridiculous!
Thinking for just a moment though, this really shouldn't surprise me ........ In recalling a recent comment from a fellow 'Christian' brother, he said this to me .... "I'm buying some guns because of everything that's going on." ... Then I said innocently, "And what do you intend to do with them?" .. He, without a moment's hesitation, said that if civil chaos came and someone tried to take his 'stuff', he would shoot them. I then asked him a simple question .... "And what translation of the Bible are you reading?" ......
... and sadly, many more feel the same way ....
Since the Obama re-election, there have been several news stories about the soaring gun sales in America. ... The reasons given are 'Fear of social breakdown' ... 'Police departments cutting back due to budget deficits' ... 'The ongoing political discussion concerning gun control' ... and on & on ...
Here's some statistics that may surprise you ... 270 million guns in American homes (that's 9 privately owned for every 10 people). ... And what about guns per capita by country:
*United States - 89%
*Serbia - 58%
*Yemen - 55%
*Switzerland - 46%
*Saudi Arabia - 35%
*Iraq - 34%
*Canada - 31%
*Germany - 30%
Isn't it interesting that we, the United States, have, by far, the most privately owned weapons, but are considered to be a leading Christian nation? ... For the life of me, it just doesn't make any sense! ... Trust God, but buy guns, just in case? ... In case of what?! ....... But this is what is 'in' today ... the Gospel of convenience ... mold it to fit the situation, regardless of what that may be ... Sadly, it is difficult to get 'Believers' to see the Kingdom of God as exclusive, and that it isn't necessarily in step with the 'worldly' systems... that it isn't always going to feel 'comfortable' to them ....
OK, so let's do something different ... let's look to Scripture to see what it says concerning this stuff ...
To start, John 18:36 says this ... "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the jews. But now, my kingdom is from another place." ... Continuing, in Matthew 5:39, Jesus says this, "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." .... Doesn't get much plainer than that ... For more, Romans 12:19 states, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord" ... and doesn't the 6th Commandment specifically say NOT to take another's life?
The Word of God clearly tells us that there will be very difficult times in these last days. In fact, Matthew 24:21 says, "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again."
Simply, the bottom line is this ... many who call themselves Christians actually ridicule the idea of 'Divine Protection' ... "Having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:5)
GOD IS REAL!!! ............................... HIS POWER IS REAL!!!
Let me finish with just a couple more Scriptures ... 2 Peter 2:9 says, "..... The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgement." ...... And finally, 1 John 3:22 states, "... Receiving from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him." ...............
......... Are you doing what is pleasing to Him? ...... That question is about to become one of LIFE & DEATH .... Do you have God's protection?
Until next time,
Red