By Tyson Thorne

November 9, 2017
 
 

From the beginning the church has faced deadly difficulties. Jewish assassins, Roman armies, Muslim jihadists, atheist dictators and more have killed, maimed and attempted to destroy the bride of Christ. While it doesn’t make headlines in the west, dozens of Sunday services throughout Africa are interrupted by Muslim warlords who murder every believer who will not convert to Islam. Though there is no evidence that Devin Kelly in Sutherland Springs, Texas or Stephen Paddock in Las Vegas had any connection to Islam, they shared something in common with the African militants who murder believers nearly every week (more on this in a minute). What can we do?

The talking heads on TV news have decided to hail two possible solutions: more gun control legislation and identifying people who are psychologically broken. Neither approach will work because they ignore the foundational cause of these kinds of horrific events -- the commonality between Kelly, Paddock and jihadists – namely, our sin nature. If all had not sinned and fallen short of the glory of God then evil acts like we witnessed last Sunday in Texas wouldn’t happen. Since we all have sinned though, as God proclaimed through his prophet Jeremiah, our “heart is desperately wicked above all things.” This sounds depressing and discouraging, I know, but it should really be a great encouragement to every Christian because sin is one problem we have a solution to.

Would Devin Kelly had shot up a church if he had a right relationship with God? In the same way, would Stephen Paddock have killed 58 people on the Las Vegas Strip if he were a Jesus-follower? Of course not. We have the solution to increasing evil in our nation in the person of Jesus Christ. In this sense, evangelism helps keep your country safe! Maybe, just maybe, we should adopt evangelism as a national security policy. I don’t mean to make light of the issue. The truth is Christians need a plan to help ensure safety and in response to actions of evil men which, unfortunately, are going to increase the closer we get to Christ’s return:

But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.

– 2 Timothy 3.1-4

For this reason we need to have a plan, one that includes how to assault evil acts that are yet to come, and how to respond if it happens. Here are some things to consider.

1. When you talk to your non-Christian friends and family who are struggling for answers amidst such overtly evil acts, introduce then to Jesus. Even if they do not decide to trust Jesus now, it lays out an understanding that Jesus is the solution to man’s greatest problem.

2. Encourage other believers with grace and truth. Such events are not evidence of God’s neglect but evidence of mankind’s need for God.

3. Teach each other to properly respond to tragedy and lovingly communicate the gospel to a confused world so that the church properly conducts its mission of being “the support and bulwark of the truth” (1 Timothy 3.14-15).

4. Pray proactively against future evil acts. The Holy Spirit already holds back some of the evil in this world (2 Thessalonians 2.3-6) and our prayers can help even more.

5. Pray for the victims and families impacted by evil. Pray also for the first responders, investigating teams and politicians involved who are responsible for reacting to the aftermath.

6. Ask God for the wisdom to see the event as he does. God is not unaware of our trials, tragedies and troubles. While some evil is permitted in this world, God works all evil against his people for their good, so we ought to try and understand what good he brings out of evil.

 
 
Learn Biblical Hebrew Online

Translate

English French German Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish

GET IN TOUCH

Info@Think-Biblically.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/620829378050965/

@Think-Bibically

How to setup an RSS of Windows Reader Service