WHY DOES GOD ALLOW IT?

Transcription

1 Message 19 Expect Persecution (Part 6) Why Does God Allow it? INTRODUCTION: We are examining persecution (both present and future) by answering four questions. Today we will focus our attention on the third question: WHY DOES GOD ALLOW IT? WHAT IS IT? WHAT CAUSES IT? WHY DOES GOD ALLOW IT? HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO IT? We have repeatedly stated that the growing chasm between Christianity and culture is bringing about changes that we have not previously seen in America. The following is a portion of a letter Dr. John MacArthur sent to his Grace to You (radio program) listeners in His message has a familiar ring to it as it addresses some of the similar subjects we have been covering in our Code Red series. Certain parts of the letter have been emphasized to highlight the themes that are relevant. I can t help but think of how much our own culture has changed in recent decades and how rapidly it is becoming Acts chapter 1 and for that matter, Romans chapter 1. Perhaps, like me, you grew up in America when there was widespread cultural Christianity, a kind of Christian consensus. To some degree, people understood the church, the Bible and the gospel. They accepted the Judeo-Christian ethic. While most people weren t genuine Christians there was still superficial acceptance of or at least tolerance of a cultural Christianity in politics, business, education and public life. Where are we today? Where s the general acceptance of the tenets of the Bible and Christian values? Where is the influence of the religious right or the Moral Majority? Gone. No more. There is no more cultural Christianity. There is no collective

2 Christian consensus wielding any significant power in this country. In fact, the more biblically true Christians are and the more they speak and live, the more they are going to be labeled as extremists, homophobic, intolerant and guilty of hate crimes. We re now aliens. And I think we can all foresee a day when being a faithful Christian could cost our lives. I think we are closer than ever to living in the conditions like the people did in the book of Acts. So is there any good news? Actually, I believe the current situation is good news. For years I ve been concerned by the church s pursuit of cultural change through political and social activities, large swaths of Christians who ve placed enormous time, energy, money and hope in the wrong places. Hand in glove with that, superficial cultural Christianity has blurred the clear lines between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world and softened the hard demands of the gospel, making professing Christ easy and without cost. As a result, churches have been filled with highly religious, superficially moral, self-righteous people who don t understand the gospel and are self-deceived about their true spiritual state. But now with the façade of cultural Christianity crumbling, true Christianity is starting to stand out in a way it hasn t in our lifetime. Scripture teaches and church history confirms that the body of Christ is most potent and most effective when it simply speaks and lives the gospel without equivocation or apology. With the mask of a superficial Christianity gone, I believe the best days for the spread of the true gospel may be ahead of us because the gospel advances by personal witness to Christ one soul at a time. (emphasis added) I. UNDERSTANDING GOD A. We think we know Him and understand Him, but we often do not understand what He is doing. We often question Him when

3 we observe things around us that we don t understand (suffering and death of children, suffering and death of godly adults, suffering of righteous while the wicked flourish). B. He tells us our ways are not His ways. Isaiah 55: 8-9 HCSB 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways. This is the Lord s declaration. 9 For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. C. Some Scripture references highlight God s infinite wisdom, truth, and justice in His dealings with mankind. 1. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4: 37) Daniel 4: 37 HCSB 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride. (emphasis added) 2. The Psalmist Psalms 145: 17 HCSB 17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His acts. 3. Paul (Romans 11: 33) Romans 11: 33 HCSB 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! (emphasis added) 4. Peter demonstrates a lack of understanding about the life and ministry of Jesus (Matthew 16: 21-23) Matthew 16: HCSB 21 From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from

4 the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You! 23 But He turned and told Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you re not thinking about God s concerns, but man s. (emphasis added) II. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW PERSECUTION? A. It is the natural result of the conflict that has raged throughout the ages: Good vs evil; Light vs darkness; The Divine vs the demonic. B. It can also be beneficial to the advancement of the kingdom of God 1. We need to escape obese church NOTE: We become overweight or obese when our caloric intake exceeds our caloric expenditures. The church has grown fat from generations of promoting the idea that church is all about us and it is up to us to take in as much as we can as we absorb everything without spending ourselves in the mission of God. 2. We need to understand that God has called us into fellowship (church) so that we may train to go out and share His message. When we do that, we will encounter persecution. It s not about us it is about Him and His mission. This view alters our understanding of why God allows persecution. We need this mindset going into this area of study. III. THE VALUE OF PERSECUTION: WHAT DOES IT PRODUCE? A. Persecution results in a purified church - Church is purified by persecution. 1. A winnowing process tends to eliminate persons whose faith is shallow. 2. The refiner s fire (1 Peter 1: 5-7)

5 1 Peter 1: 5-7 HCSB 5 You are being protected by God s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials 7 so that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. B. Persecution often produces a praying church which results in a bold church! Persecution produces a praying church ( safe Christianity tends to produce secure and apathetic Christians). In an environment of persecution, the church often rallies to prayer and prayer brings the power of God upon the ministry of the church. Safety and prosperity can be much more dangerous for the church than persecution. ILLUSTRATION: Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested for causing a stir threatened and released they return to the believers and a prayer meeting (v. 24) resulted. Hear their prayer in verses Acts 4: HCSB 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, 30 while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God s message with boldness. (emphasis added)

6 C. Persecution can provide discipline that leads to development NOTE: Resistance exercises build and tone muscles in the body persecution builds spiritual muscle. Living in ease (little or no resistance) can lead to an atrophied church. Romans 5: 3-5 HCSB 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (emphasis added) D. Persecution refines our focus 1. We often have a tendency to drift from the basics of our calling and move toward catering to our personal preferences. 2. It results in helping believers refocus their lives toward eternity (Away from temporal things and temporal earthly life) 3. It helps the church take its attention off of personal interests and give attention to Kingdom issues. E. Persecution unifies the church 1. Persecution forces the church to put aside divisive issues to focus attention on preservation and advancement in a hostile environment. 2. Believers are compelled to make a choice of loyalty (church or culture) and as a result to body is strengthened as a result of a renewed commitment to Christ and His mission. F. Persecution often increases the church s impact through the spread of the gospel Increased opportunities to bear witness to the nations (Matthew 10: 18)

7 Matthew 10: 18 HCSB 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. 1. Persecution often throws the public spotlight onto the church giving it visibility and credibility in culture. 2. As a result of #1 above, the church often experiences numerical growth.