Are Christians the troublers of society?
Tim Moore: That's the question that has echoed down through the ages since the prophet Elijah showed up at Mt. Carmel and King Ahab bitterly asked him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17). Well, we've come full circle, as many in our society would label Christians as the new troublers of our society. Christians are being accused of holding back the "progress" Progressives believe they are making.
Nathan Jones: All throughout the history of the Church, Christians have lived under some kind of persecution. The New World was even founded by Christian Separatists and Puritans who needed to escape religious persecution. Americans have been so blessed since the 1600s to live in a country that historically has stood on Judeo-Christian values. Therefore, Christians in this country have felt safe. But, no longer. Many Christians in the West are not feeling particularly safe anymore. Today's society is instead defined by people calling good evil and evil good, as Isaiah 5:20 warns.
Tim Moore: Even non-Christians have understood that for many years the Christian foundations of America have provided liberty to all. Jewish commentators such as Dennis Prager have spoken about how Christianity has been a very positive influence on society, providing both moral and legal foundations that guide how we interact as a civilization. Prager also warns that as our Judeo-Christian foundations are broken down, the result will be our society pitching over into chaos.
Nathan Jones: Yes, for example, earlier this year, the New York Post wrote, "Cat-ears-clad school board member says the district should not hire teachers from Christian university." Washington Elementary School District in Phoenix, Arizona had held a five-year contract with Arizona Christian University for student-teacher placement. One of their three LGBTQ+ board members, Tamillia Valenzuela, blasted the university over its Christian beliefs and said she was disheartened by their relationship with this Christian school. Valenzuela claims she is "a bilingual, disabled, neurodivergent, Queer Black Latina who loves a good hot wing." She champions what the Bible would deem as pagan "values" over biblical morality.
Tim Moore: Christianity being kicked out of schools is not just happening in Phoenix but everywhere. The L.A. Times reported how a Los Angeles community had become outraged over a church that had been renting space from a school on weekends to hold worship services. The church had invited a speaker, a lady who had self-identified as gay but had come out of that lifestyle and embraced Jesus Christ. Despite churches meeting at schools being quite legal, the school will now disallow anyone to meet off-hours out of fear of LGBTQ+ activists being upset that the Gospel is being preached on their campus.
Nathan Jones: What kind of craziness denies churches from meeting in schools after hours, but allows satanic groups access? Reminds me of how before the Grammys this year the network CBS tweeted "Let's worship!" knowing a satanic drag song was going to be performed.
Then there's a deputy police commissioner in Queensland, Australia who linked the belief in Premillennialism with terrorism, calling it an "extremist ideology." Christianity is often automatically tied to right-wing extremism these days.
Source of the Hatred
Nathan Jones: A lot of this disdain for Christianity and Christians goes back to what the Bible says in John 3:19, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." We're back to where man calls evil good and good evil. We've found ourselves in the downward phase in a society where what is good is considered evil, and therefore, Christianity must also be considered evil.
Tim Moore: We're certainly there. Our public officials are turning against Christianity, and it's happening all across the world. The entire world has become increasingly hostile to Judeo-Christian values. This reminds me of what Jesus said in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." The world loves its sin and so refuses to hear the Gospel.
Living in a Hostile Society
Tim Moore: How do we as Christians thrive and survive in a world that is hostile to our faith? Well, first of all, we keep our focus on Jesus Christ. Trust that Jesus has overcome the world. Knowing this, we do not let our hearts be troubled. Rather, we speak out, acting as salt and light in an increasingly dark place. Until the Rapture occurs, this is our responsibility. We're not to cower and hide, rather we're bold about our faith and are ready to give a defense to anyone who asks why we believe what we do. Our faith is not based on opinion, rather it's based on the Word of God, and that has power.
While we are being faithful in sharing the Good News, we know that life is going to get more difficult for us until the moment of the Rapture. But then, Heaven help those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ and so will live into the time of the Tribulation. They will witness the world becoming exceedingly hostile to anybody who would seek to place their faith in Christ.
Nathan Jones: Christians, we are the people who have our fingers in the dam stopping it from bursting. By the Holy Spirit, we Christians are holding back the tide of evil. But, one day soon, when the Lord takes us home, the dam is going to burst, and evil will pour out and deluge the entire world. We don't want anyone to be left behind by the Rapture to endure those horrors, so put your trust in Jesus Christ today.
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