Volume 17 Issue 1 - January 2002 DISCERNING THE TIMES "Then He said to the multitudes. "When you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, a shower is coming; and so it is. And when you see the wind blow , you say, there will be hot weather; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?’" (Luke 12:54-57) Discernment in our nation has become a precious commodity as we close out 2001 and hurl headlong into the New Year. As in Jesus’ day, many claimed to understand the times but were found wanting when it came to the true state of affairs that surrounded them. Jesus challenged His generation to look beyond the obvious to discern the Lord’s will and to humbly comply with it. But alas, many who had eyes, did not see, and many who had ears refused to hear what the Spirit was saying to the Church, and many who had hearts, did not correctly respond to the Lord. Thus Israel forfeited their time of visitation as Jesus wept over their wretched blind condition. America finds herself in this same precarious situation. Opinions, commentaries, and editorials are running rampant since the infamous 9/11/2001 tragedy. There is a national scramble to make sense of what has happened to us and somehow alleviate the fear that still lingers over the "spacious skies" of the home of the brave and the land of the free. Many seem prepared to trade their precious freedom for more security provided by a government whose appetite for more power increases with each passing day. Like Hell and lust before them, though, it is a pursuit that will never say, enough is enough (Prov. 27:20). Our Founding Fathers understood very well the dilemma we are facing today. Especially when it comes to the fragile tension between freedom and security. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who hit the nail on the head when he stated, "Those who trade their freedom for security, are worthy of neither and will lose both." In light of this powerful principle, let us proceed with a sober, discerning spirit as we approach the uncertain days ahead.
Without question, this New Year signals the call for a covenant-keeping people who will dare to become like the children of Issachar. They were men, not just women and children, who understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do, not just say (1 Chronicles 12:32). This time demands authentic Biblical manhood to arise and produce men of godly action. Men who seek God for discernment in a time where there is a famine in the land void of it. Men who will courageously lead their families, churches, and communities to obey the word of the Lord and perform His will in the earth, regardless of the cost. This is a time for the world to sit up and take notice. Let them observe Christian men, though accused of being ignorant and unlearned as the world would judge, and let them say once again, "that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13)." Though that might not appear to be much, it has the same power to turn the world upside down, like those who preceded us (Acts 17:6). Recently, I listened to a tape by Pastor Steve Schlissel from Bronx, NY. Some of the insights in this article came from him and I believe they are filled with discernment from the Lord for the New Year. There are now three critical fronts that have emerged since the attack against America on 9/11/2001 that every bonified Christian worth their weight in salt needs to be aware of. They concern the enemy abroad, the enemy within our nation, and the foes within our own household. The enemy abroad is not terrorism, but a religious system that spawns terrorism, Islam. For months now, the White House has assured the American people that Islam is a good and peaceful religion. President Bush, in an attempt to solidify his fragile coalition of Arab nations to execute his war on terrorism, has fallen into the demonic trap of calling good, evil and evil, good. He is trying to fight the fruit of Islam, terrorism, while neglecting the root of Islam teaching which produces terrorism, Jihad. He is calling upon America to fight Islam with the failed god of tolerance, which is nothing, while Islam which is a deadly something fights against us. Several years ago on PBS, I witnessed a Muslim Cleric in Iran or Iraq boldly declare the true state and intent of Islam. While little Muslim boys were being struck on the head with a razor and the blood flowed down their precious faces he explained philosophically the nature of Islam. Though a paraphrase, this accurately represents his message, "Islam is a tree that derives its nourishment from the blood of its enemies, preferably the blood of Jews and Americans." Islam and its destructive fruit has one message and corresponding action and that is, Convert or Die. They have no problem whatsoever in utilizing the sword of civil government to coerce and terrorize people into submission to Islam. We must not be deceived by our governmental or religious leaders who refuse to recognize what Islam really is and the danger it represents. Islam is a false, dark, violent religion that is Anti-Christ. Though they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, His miracles, and even His Second Coming, they do not believe Jesus is God come in the flesh. It is at this point they fall into the Anti-Christ system that seeks to rob mankind of the truth that can set them free from the slavery of sin and Islam’s totalitarian oppression. As Christians we must shout it from the rooftops that there is only one way for man to be saved despite how "good" a religion may be. Jesus Christ is THE WAY, THE LIFE and THE TRUTH and no man can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). All other gods are excluded, all other religions are false, and all other teachings are lies that will drag men’s souls to Hell, lest they repent. This is not a game! Men must cry out to Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sin and by His grace turn back to God. There is only one name given amongst men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). And that name is not Allah or Mohammed, but Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Men must acknowledge this truth with their lips and believe it in their darkened hearts to be reconciled to the true and living God (Romans 10:9). The second enemy that comes from within may have far more serious ramifications against Biblical Christianity in America than the one from abroad. This enemy is manifesting itself through the liberal media, our political leaders, and a culture that consumes without critical thinking their absurd messages. For instance, Walter Cronkite, a man who became very wealthy by keeping his opinions to himself as a journalist, recently blasted Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. What was their great offense according to Cronkite? They dared to suggest that the reason for the terroristic attack against America was based upon the sins of America. They went on to name different groups, such as ACLU, the homosexual agenda, the abortion industry and such like, as the true culprits of America’s woes. Though this may be partially true, their problem was not that they targeted these groups, but that they fell far short in naming all the culprits involved, chiefly the failures of the Church of Jesus Christ in America. Regardless of their failure to mention the sins of the Church, Walter Cronkite still took great umbrage at the mere mention of such a possibility. He went on to proclaim that Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson must worship the same "god" as the terrorists. In essence, he considers anyone who would dare say that the God of the Bible is judging America based upon her bloody, perverted sins is on the same par with Osama Bin Laden. Unfortunately, he is not alone in his insidious opinion. Many have parroted this same mantra throughout the land. In fact, I heard on the news today that the Democratic Party wants to makes this same comparison between the Christian religious right and the Taliban as a campaign issue in the upcoming elections. As Christians, this mentality should give us a measure of alarm. It appears that we now live in a nation that would never dare offend the religion that attacked us, Islam, but has no qualms whatsoever in attacking Biblical Christianity, the very fount of American liberty. In America today, Muslims have garnered for themselves a "most favored class" status, while Christians who stand up and speak out bear the brunt of the liberal elitist’s disdain. Truly a sad state of affairs that seeks to exalt the lie and marginalize the truth every time it tries to rise and gulp some air to live. Indeed these enemies at home make intolerable allowances for evil while resisting tooth and nail the only possible solution to America’s woe. A humble repentance that turns back to the God of our Fathers, the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, if this thinking persists and gains momentum one can only shudder at what the future holds for our nation. Perhaps this pathetic condition is another sign of the judgment of God upon us. Deuteronomy 28 warns what would happen to nations that depart from Him, disobey His commands, and refuse to heed His voice, "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower (Deuteronomy 28:43)." Is this the reason for the sudden popularity and fascination in America for Islam though they struck us with great cruelty? Is this why many in America embrace Islam as a good and wonderful religion while holding Christian ministers in contempt? There are now three thousand Mosques in America and growing. Once again, it would appear that the god of tolerance has blinded our minds to the dangers from without and the dangers from within. Who will deliver us from this wretched, pitiful condition? Finally, it is time to deal with the foes amongst our own household. I’m referring to those who name the name of Christ, but through their silence, inactivity, and seeker-friendly Churches actually enable these enemies to lie, kill, steal, and destroy without lifting there voices or a finger to oppose them. As Christians, I think it wise to examine ourselves in the light of Muslim conviction. Think about the passion, the fervency, and the unbelievable commitment to Allah as these terrorists blew themselves up for a lie, then ponder what does the Church in America have to offer in response? What is our answer to such conviction, especially when we know we have the truth? Sadly, most of the Church typically sits in their pews, awaits lost souls to come to our buildings, makes everyone feel comfortable, sings a few songs, takes up an offering, hears a delightful message, and then goes back home to maintain the status quo. Do we truly believe this kind of water-downed, irrelevant Christianity can compete with the fierceness of the Muslim faith? I think not! Brothers and sisters, there are some in the Church who have adopted a feminized faith that seeks to castrate the Church of the living God. Many are content to observe the challenges of the day and assign them to some kind of "end-time" scenario. Thus alleviating any responsibility we may have to fight the battle for the souls of men, the lives of our children, and the future of our nation. There are those who will do all in their power to denounce any prophetic, manly response to the grave crisis that is set before us. They will tell you that you’re unloving, judgmental, and insensitive for boldly declaring the truth in Biblical love. We can’t afford to be bewitched by this counterfeit Christianity anymore. We must recognize that this segment of the Church is not only contented to be castrated themselves, but seek to castrate others who would dare to arise and meet the challenge of the day through the power of Jesus Christ. Thus they purposely or inadvertently, seek to make Christians spiritual eunuchs in the house of God. I for one don’t want to end up becoming a neutered, passive slave as the Enemy from abroad and from within raise their ugly heads. How about you? I truly believe as the heat intensifies in our nation, the purity and the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom will emerge. As the persecution, marginalization and demonization of Biblical Christianity continues, it will separate the wheat from the tares. True Christians in search of authentic Biblical Christianity will flee the seeker-friendly Churches like Lot out of Sodom. Perhaps this will be God’s answers to our prayers to reform the Church and restore our nation. Regardless, it is evident that those who take a courageous stand for Christ will be lumped in with those who attacked us. The measure of our convictions will determine the degrees of danger we will certainly face. The good news is the greater our conviction and the subsequent persecution from this world will also determine the greater victory we have in Jesus. Have courage, brethren, and be not deceived. Exercise keen discernment in these trying times, and know that this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4). I’ve included in this newsletter, Pastor Flip Benham’s tract. He wrote this tract and then went with brave brothers and sisters to confront the Mosque in Dallas. Sparks flew as the truth was proclaimed and the lie exposed. Thank God for ministers like him, who courageously will lead the Church to the gates of Hell and are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May God raise up more like him in this desperate hour. This tract is excellent. It not only proclaims the truth and exposes the lie, but reveals the love of God for the Muslim and the roots of American history and liberty, Christianity. Please read it, know it, copy it, and pass it on to others. For those in the Waco area that may be interested, I will be conducting a series of meetings at Church on the Rock. Every Wednesday in the month of February we will explore America’s Christian history. The meetings start at 7 pm and all are welcome. I truly believe, if we don’t know where we’ve been, we will be clueless to where we are going. IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE, Rusty Lee Thomas P.O. Box 3126, Waco, TX 76707 Voice: (254) 836-1037 Fax: (254) 836-4092 E-mail: elijahmin@ifriendly.com
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