Tuesday Talking Points: Let Them Fall By Their Own Designs And Counsels

"For You, Lord, will bless the uncompromisingly righteous,
those who are upright and in right standing with You;
as with a shield You will surround them with goodwill,
pleasure and favor."
Psalm 5:12

Persecution is on the rise in India's Hindu heartland

as a growing number of Hindus come to faith in Christ.

 Focused and increasingly violent opposition from Hindu extremists,

who now hold power at the highest levels of India's government,

 has made large regions of India dangerous for Christians.

-Voice of the Martyrs

During the week of the Inauguration, I was led to read two specific passages of Scripture-Psalm 5 and Psalm 63.   I feel these earnest prayer songs of David, the latter of which was written while he was hiding from his enemies in the Judean wilderness, mirrored my own heart when asking God to intervene to save our nation from what I believe is a stronghold of profound spiritual and human wickedness in high places of power:  

"For there is nothing trustworthy or steadfast or truthful in their talk; their heart is destruction or a destructive chasm, a yawning guilt; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter and make smooth with their tongues.  Hold them guilty, O God, let them fall by their own designs and counsels; cast them out because of the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You."
(Psalm 5:9-10).

"But those who seek and demand my life to ruin and destroy it shall themselves be destroyed and go into the lower parts of the earth, into the underworld of the dead. They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be prey for foxes and jackals."
 (Psalm 63:9-10).

There is no doubt in my mind that while my Father in heaven is a God of love and compassion and abundant mercy to and for those who love and honor His name, He is also a God of judgement and punishment in regards to the wicked.  "Let them fall by their own designs and counsels" especially resonates in my mind these days.

I further believe that what has recently happened in our nation is a wake up call from God to the church here. Much of the 21st century American church can be clearly linked with the message spoken by Yeshua to the angel of the assembly at Thyatira in Revelation:

"I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith, and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones. But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, claiming to be inspired, and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols.  I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality, symbol of idolatry, and refuses to do so.  Take note: I will throw her on a bed of anguish, and those who commit adultery with her I will bring down to pressing distress and affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct such as hers and repent of their doings.  And I will strike her children dead.  And all the assemblies shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds and the inmost hearts, and I will give to each of you the reward for what you have done, as your work deserves."
(Revelation 2:19-23)

There is far too much of the damning influence of the world inside the churches of America today and not enough reading and studying and preaching of God's Word.  Many self-professed Christians attend church every Sunday only to be misled by the teachings of charlatans promoting the love of mammon with their false "prosperity gospel" or to listen to a sermon based on the inferior wisdom of man, while remaining seriously ignorant of subjects like God's judgement and eternal punishment.   There are also churches who have decided to allow gay marriage, and who are activists in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions) Movement against the nation and people of Israel. 

 Then there are Christians with such a personal dislike of former President Donald Trump, who has been most vocal in protecting the rights of Christians in this nation,  as well as the most pro-life and pro-Israel leader in my lifetime, that they chose instead to vote for his opponent in the recent presidential election.
 President-elect Joe Biden is not only well known for his support of the abortion industry in this nation, but for advancing the radical LGBTQ agenda, which is actively seeking to destroy any and all influence of the Christian faith in America. 

 Only recently,  President Biden signed an Executive Order allowing transgendered men to use women's restrooms and locker rooms on federal property, and within public schools and universities which receive federal funding.  If left unchallenged, this careless action on his part will almost certainly endanger the lives of women and girls in this nation.  Sexual predators who "feel like women" will clearly take advantage of  this executive order, which forbids "discrimination" in public restrooms and other places which have previously been designated for females only.

I read my Voice of The Martyrs bulletin each month from cover to cover and  the often horrific stories of  abuse and oppression endured by my brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world never fails to shock me.  It is not only in Islamic nations like Iran where Christians face mortal danger every day.  Communist China is one of the greatest persecutors of Christians, and so is India, with their majority Hindu population.   Before I knew of the missionary work of VOM, I  always had the impression that Hindus were relatively peaceful people, however, in certain areas of India, extremists not only attack and burn down Christian churches, but also persecute the Muslim and Buddhist minorities too.

Believers in Yeshua in America have been so blessed to live in a nation where we have been free to openly worship Him at the church of our choice, with no  hindrance from the government,  nor censorship from Big Tech, or on social media. But, as we are now seeing almost on a daily basis,  the Christian faith is under attack here.

Will professed believers in the Lord now heed His command, "Only hold fast to what you have until I come" (Revelation 2:25) or will many churches cave in, fearing the loss of their tax exempt status, or popular standing with their mega  congregations, or celebrity-like status in the secular world, to accept as normal  or "for appearances sake" what is and has always been clearly an abomination in the sight of God? Who will, as the refrain of an old hymn asks, "Stand up for Jesus"? 

Human nature is as weak and fallen and wicked as ever before.  Faith in Christ alone will be the believer's victory in these dark and uncertain times. As I have often read in stories of my brethren in other lands, if and when we are to face persecution for our faith, the Holy Spirit will be our defense and give us the right words to speak.  We also must realize that there will never be real justice or peace on earth until Yeshua Ha'Mashiach returns to rule the nations one day from Jerusalem.

This said, I say, "Maranatha! Come soon, Lord!