But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:52-54)
I am appalled! I am appalled! No, I am not appalled at what I have heard happened at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in France. Those things have been happening since the after-beginnings of man. Satan was given dominion over the world by Adam’s disobedience in the Garden. Sodom and Gomorrah certainly prove this out. (Yes, they were destroyed! By God, not man!) I am appalled that the Church of the LORD Jesus Christ is drawing swords! . . . against one another, openly!
I did not see the ceremony, but I have seen dozens of Christians posting and re-posting pictures of this thing, and by doing so, giving a certain sickly assent to what the devil is doing, and has been doing from the first. The constant re-showing of that image is just as damaging as the doing. Yes, it sickens me what they allowed to be done for the whole watching world to see, but Jesus forewarned us that these things must happen before the end must come. And, yes, Paul exhorted the Church to defend; but he spoke of defending the Word from false teachers and the for the Church herself to remain pure. However, it bothers me more to witness Christians drawing swords against one another on public forums in argument on how we must deal with these kinds of attacks against our LORD.
Well Pastor Jerry, Mr. Wise guy, what are we supposed to do? I have many raging emotions over this, but I am quickly reminded by the Holy Spirit what Jesus spoke of such things in the whole of Matthew 5, but I quote only from verses 38-48:
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Beloved, these are not suggestions from our LORD, they are hard commands. But as hard as they are, and no matter what our emotions are telling us, Jesus knows “without Him we can do nothing.” In ourselves, we can’t do these things, but “in Christ” we certainly can! We are to be the “light of the world;” not blow out the light and draw the swords!
Before I was saved, much of my life mocked God, through Satanism, Witchcraft, vocabulary, and much more. When God began in earnest to draw me to Himself, I was hindered for two years by Christians who did not know how to love God rightly. Not one of these people of perversion will be convicted of their need for God by the church people drawing swords, but they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when we do as Christ commanded in the Scriptures. Put away your swords; pick up the Sword of the Spirit!
When we take up the Cross rather than the sword, we weld the greater power than the fiercest blow man and emotion can deliver. What did Peter learn from Christ’s words?
15 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—” (1 Peter 2:15)
Beloved, love one another. Be light to the world. Pray for captives to be set free! Pray On!
