An astounding fact came to my attention during the year 2000 elections. According to a CNN poll, 75% of those who profess to be Christians don't vote. Oh, yes. Let me repeat that so you don't think that I'm stuttering, in some somnolent state due to a lack of sleep, or have overdosed on my beloved coffee latte's. 75% of believers don't vote. If you think that's an eye opener, check out this next chunk of truth. Of the 25% of Christians who do vote, one fourth of them will vote for the Devil's man of the hour! I wasn't stuttering on that one either.
In fact, the author is familiar with one particular lady who was a local Democratic Socialist Party team leader and promoted her own enslavement! Likewise, he is familiar with a lady who had been in the ministry for more than 50 years and wished that she had an extra 3,000 votes to insure that the incumbent president would again. It was difficult to understand at the time.
Let's ask this question: why on earth would Christians sit back and idly watch Satan take away their freedoms, steal their God-given rights, destroy their country, and persecute them, as they are paving the way for the enslavement their posterity?! Is there an answer?
Asking another question: "How is it that this writer can easily find a Christian radio broadcast and hear such things as: 'God has us right where we are supposed to be' when referring to the unbelievably horrid condition of our nation. How can such a thought cross their minds when there is an impending and mind boggling persecution that it about to pounce upon Christians?"
Why don't we examine this a bit more closely and see what scripture says about such things as opposed to what the doctrines of men are presuming. The book of Isaiah is a good place to start.
Isaiah 5:13 says (in part) this: "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge ...". In this reference we see that the Lord's people are going into captivity because they are ignorant. It should be readily apparent that ignorance is not bliss. In this case, it's quite serious because it leads to captivity and all the while the Lord wants His people to be free. In fact, Christ came to set the captive free so they could prosper in the fullness of the Father's covenant made in Him.
The problem with being ignorant (and therefore being in captivity) is that it simply isn't necessary. Is there any part of the truth of God's word that is hidden from us, His people? Is there any part of God's promises and covenant in Christ Jesus that offers less than full revelation of His word and will? When the Lord says, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness ...", does He mean that you can only have part of His Kingdom and part of His will? Did He give less than all things to Christ and then only give us a small portion of Christ? I speak as a fool.
Is it righteous for the Lord to say, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4) and then not give His children the revelation of His word? What good, then would this next reference be?: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9).
The point is that ignorance is unquestionably without excuse. God has made every way possible for man to know His word. Therefore it is likewise inexcusable for the Lord's heritage to be in captivity.
If being ignorant wasn't something to avoid with all alacrity, it gets even worse. This is what Hosea has to say about the matter (again, in part): "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge ..." (Ho 4:6). We see, then, that there are the two results for being ignorant. One is captivity and the other is destruction. The problem is that you don't get to chose which one comes your way. The choice is made by Satan because he isn't resisted and is only met with the passivity of ignorance.
People who know the truth of God's word are not passive. They understand that there is no passivity in the Kingdom of God. Even the very act of being in peace in Christ is contingent upon active faith. We can say it this way: if the default darkness of this world is not actively resisted (i.e. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" [Jas 4:7]), then the darkness (ergo Satan), will triumph. Light is always active and always resists darkness. If we are the "light of the world", then we must, by our very nature, resist darkness.
Because God's word is light and brings light, and because we are to be filled with His word and are the light of the world, then we are to dispel the default darkness of the world. Darkness, then, is ignorance of God's word and those who are ignorant dwell in that darkness.
Putting this back into a more political environment: if believers do not resist the Devil at the polls, then Satan will triumph over the people. For some reason, Christians seem to be oblivious to this immutable fact.
(too be continued)
God Bless and Enjoy ...
