As Christians we are called to stand firm in
our faith even in the midst of turmoil and chaos of the world around us. Recent
news of the horrific massacre of six Christians including three young children
in Nashville, the news of President Trump’s sham indictment, and the conviction of Douglas Mackey may be discouraging and
disheartening, but in these moments we must remember that our hope and our
strength come from a higher power.
This week was a difficult week for me both as
a Christian and as a father of young children. I looked everywhere for a
response from so-called “Christian leaders” and at best I found silence while
at worst I found those supporting the “trans community” instead of our own
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Christians are called to respond to tragedy
with compassion, empathy, and love, but what happens when that tragedy is being
celebrated by the mainstream media, the culture, our own government, and
perhaps even some of our churches, friends, and family?
When trans flags are being risen at schools,
organizations, businesses, and even government buildings across our nation just days after
a member of that community carried out a horrific injustice against a Christian
community—ending the lives of six of our brothers and sisters in Christ—how are
we to respond?
As my good friend Pastor Andrew Isker wrote
this week, being winsome and nice won’t cut it anymore.
Cowardly Christian “leaders” may be silent on
these issues, but God’s Word is not–and I refuse to be. The first thing we must
remember is that our hope and strength come from God. We must turn to Him in
prayer and seek His guidance as we navigate these difficult situations.
As the Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”
In addition to prayer we must also remember
the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you.” Even when the media, businesses, schools, and the
government seem to be celebrating a senseless tragedy, we must respond with
love and compassion, not hatred or anger.
We must also take action to address the
injustice that is being celebrated by the wicked. This may mean speaking out
against the mainstream narrative, supporting organizations that are working to
bring about change, or even taking part in peaceful protests or demonstrations.
When we do these things it’s crucial that our actions are rooted in love and
compassion, not in anger or violence. We must be bold and share the Gospel,
speak the Truth, and let go of our fear.
We must remember that we are not alone in our
struggle. This is what our enemies want us to desperately believe: that we have
no one standing up on behalf of the victims and on behalf of God’s Word.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As members of the body of Christ we
are part of a larger community of believers who can support and encourage us.
By staying connected to other believers, we can find strength and hope in times
of struggle and persecution. I encourage you to do so not only in your local
Church and community, but also with believers around the world on Gab and other
online platforms. We need each other now more than ever.
Reject the
Blackpill
It’s very easy to feel demoralized and
blackpilled when we see the evil in the world around us. But as followers of
Christ, we must hold fast to the truth that Christ is King. He has overcome the
world, and in Him, we can find hope and strength to face whatever comes our
way. Christians are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, to forgive
those who wrong us, and to turn the other cheek. However, we are also called to
hate evil with a righteous hatred while not giving in to despair or
hopelessness.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 97:10, “Let those
who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and
delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” But what does it mean to hate evil?
Does it mean that we should hate the people who commit evil acts? Absolutely
not. As Christians, we are called to love all people, even those who do wrong.
When we are commanded to hate evil we are being called to hate the things that
are contrary to God’s will and God’s character. We are called to hate sin and
all that it represents – destruction, death, and separation from God.
We Are Commanded
To Hate Evil
Many people in our culture, and even some
Christian leaders, promote a hippie version of love that emphasizes tolerance
and acceptance at all costs. They believe that love means accepting everyone
and everything, no matter how evil or wicked it may be. However, this view is
not biblical, and it does not reflect the true nature of God. The fear of the
Lord is a healthy respect and reverence for God, and it leads us to hate what
He hates.
God is often portrayed in our culture as being
fully focused on love and grace, but the Bible teaches us that there are indeed
things that God hates. While this might be a difficult concept for some to
grasp, it is important to understand that God’s hatred is not arbitrary or
capricious. His hatred is based on His perfect nature and His desire for us to
live according to His will.
While God loves us unconditionally, He hates
the sin that separates us from Him. Sin is anything that goes against God’s
will, and it is something that we should strive to avoid. When we sin, we are
rebelling against God and His plan for our lives. As Christians, we should
strive to avoid the things that God hates and to live lives that are pleasing
to Him. We should seek to love what God loves and hate what God hates, and in
doing so, we will be living in obedience to His will.
Proverbs 8:13 – “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Romans 12:9 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Psalm 101:3 – “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.”
Amos 5:15 – “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
Proverbs 13:5 – “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.”
Psalm 119:104 – “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
When we hate evil we are not allowing it to
have a foothold in our lives. We are not tolerating it or excusing it, but
instead, we are actively fighting against it. We are standing up for what is
right and what is just, even when it is difficult. When we hate evil we are
acknowledging the reality of the brokenness of our world. We recognize that sin
and evil do exist and that they cause pain and suffering.
But we also know that God has overcome sin
and evil through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should look to
the example of Jesus Himself, who drove out the money changers from the temple
with a whip (John 2:15). He did not tolerate their wickedness and corruption
but took action to remove it from the house of God.
By hating evil, we are living out our faith
in a tangible way. We are demonstrating our commitment to God’s values and His
character. We are standing up for justice, compassion, and righteousness in a
world that is often marked by selfishness, greed, and violence.
Now is the time
for Christians to not only start hating evil again, but actively waging
spiritual warfare against it.
We need to focus on building up our
communities, praying for one another, and growing together in faith. We must
not let the news of the day distract us from the work that God has called us to
do. We are called to be a light in the darkness, to love our neighbors as
ourselves, and to spread the good news of the gospel to all nations. That is
our mission and we must not take our eyes off the prize of eternal glory with
our King.
Ultimately we can take comfort in the fact
that we can and will overcome because Christ has already overcome. As the Bible
says in 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” No
matter what happens in the world around us, we can have confidence that God is
with us, and that He will see us through to victory.
Let us not be demoralized or blackpilled by
the news of the day. Instead let us focus on Christ and His Kingdom, and let us
continue to build, pray, and grow in our faith together.
By the grace of God, the power of the Holy
Spirit, and the Victory of Jesus Christ our King we too shall overcome and see
victory.
God bless you. Keep the faith.
Andrew Torba
CEO, Gab.com
Jesus Christ is King of kings
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Andrew Torba a good Christian! Thank you
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