Ramon Arias | April 7, 2014
Evidence proves the horrific persecution Christians are suffering in countries where they are a minority against the dominant religion of a nation or its systems where secular humanism is supreme. Also totally understandable and evident is the marginalization and desire to eliminate these Christians, which threaten those systems of life. However, historically, Christians who are persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and marginalized have miraculously triumphed in the long run to crumble anti-biblical systems.
What is incongruent and totally unacceptable is what we are witnessing in Western nations, which were born out of a biblical perspective and have now turned their back on that foundation. In Europe it is acceptable for people to call themselves “Christians” as long as they don’t manifest that faith in the European Union’s secular humanistic social system, which they have determined to implement and live by. In other words, a Christian in name only is acceptable because he or she submits to the laws of men. However, every Christian who professes biblical Christianity finds himself socially marginalized and suffers opposition.
What happened to European biblical Christianity? Where is the foundation of the 16th Century Reformation, which brought on an impressive cultural and scientific revolution? The answer to these questions can be summed up in the warning Paul gave to the believers at Ephesus, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears,” (Acts 20:29-31).
The Christianity of the powerful 16th Century European Reformation has disappeared. Its deterioration and almost total extermination was not an external attack but rather came from within the church. We must pay close attention to what is happening within the church today and combat every opposing and contrary idea to the biblical perspective coming from secular humanism, Marxism-Leninism and the New Age or cosmic humanism. Likewise, we should incessantly combat the wolves in sheep’s clothing with their false doctrines that have rendered the church ineffective. The greatest responsibility of the country’s distancing from God falls squarely on the shoulders of the church.
Every time the church dilutes the message of God’s revealed Truth it is a guarantee to leave the door wide open for other ideas to dominate the lives of men, which in the end will only bring misery. Neutrality or silence is not something we should entertain. What Paul said to the Ephesians is valid for us today: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them,” (Ephesians 5:11).
Every one of us needs to decide which acceptance is the most important to us, our family, fellow employees, school mates, church members, the denomination we espouse, society or God’s acceptance. The answer to that question can be quite easy if we ask ourselves with whom do we want to spend eternity.
Few people have to confront a wolf to defend their lives or to rescue an animal from their flock. Paul was not referring to a four-footed animal but rather to voracious characteristics of those who take advantage of weakness, ignorance, apathy, or plain rebellion in a child of God. Paul also makes reference to those who are teaching falsehoods as if they were God’s Truth. He refers to false teachers as wolves which in our times could be people that have titles such as “Rev.” or “Right Reverend,” “pastor,” “priest,” “Cardinal,” or “Pope” in front of their name. They may have a doctorate or master’s degree in theology or in some other field, which may indicate superiority over most Christians. No human being or angelic being is above God’s Word, no one, not even the one who writes this editorial.
Jesus warned us to be careful of those who dress in sheep’s clothing but in reality are ravenous wolves. He also ordered us to judge the tree by its fruit. Don’t be impressed by those who for their own convenience twist the affirmation that Jesus pronounced, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24).
God expects us to judge with righteous judgment; it is up to us to develop the ability to identify the biblical perspective that we study, hear and read in God’s Word regardless of what the “Bible experts” have to say.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
It is imperative for us to be disciplined students of the Word of God to defend ourselves and others so as not to be devoured by wolves in sheep’s clothing with their false doctrines and teachings that are very prominent in the church of today. This type of action is required if you want to hear the much desired words once you are in the presence of the Lord: “thou good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord,” (Matthew 25:21).