Introduction
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:12-17, ESV)
These words, written by Paul, as he awaited his own execution two millennia ago, are particularly relevant for you and me today. They would feel even more relevant to Cities Church in St. Paul Minnesota, the Southern Baptist Church which was stormed by leftist activists during their gathered worship yesterday morning.
If you have not yet heard, the church, pastored by Jonathan Parnell (a seminary classmate of mine no less), was interrupted by around 30 left-wing “protestors,” who proceeded to scream at congregants, terrifying children and causing many to flee not knowing what would happen next. A disgraced-former-media-host-turned-activist proceeded to interrogate and badger Pastor Parnell, shoving a camera and microphone in his face.
While I thank the Lord that no one was physically harmed, a sort of Rubicon was crossed yesterday, and there’s no going back. Crazed political idealogues have been unleashed to disturb and desecrate the worship of Almighty God and the assembling of His saints. God-fearing men and women must wake up and recognize the times in which we live, and I believe these words from the Apostle Paul are instructive for us today.
The Reality of Persecution
Paul writes that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted. There’s no way out of it, only through. Though I pray our congregation never endures the madness forced upon Cities Church, the reality is that it could just as easily happen to us.
Our church gathers every Lord’s Day in obedience to our King. We assemble in love of our Lord and our neighbors. (Heb. 10:25) We desire to live for him and worship him peacefully as he commands. We desire to raise our children in His nurture and admonition. (Eph. 6:4) We desire to affirm the goodness of male and female, the right ordering of the home and church, and the publication of the good law and gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth. (Gen. 1, 2; Matt. 28:19)
Those basic Christian desires, to live godly lives, set us at odds with a large segment of our neighbors who have believed the devilish lie that humans are clumps of cells, gender is a social construct to be determined by the individual, and that the government, not Christ, is lord. Christian, wake up. Discern the time and redeem the time while there is time. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. (Ps. 95:7-8)
You may not be interested in the culture war, but the culture war is interested in you. You will be questioned and even ridiculed for your Christian beliefs. Churches are being targeted by mobs. This is no time for cowardice. It’s time for conviction and faith in the Lord.
Unless the Lord sends miraculous spiritual renewal, “evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” We are commanded to continue in what we have learned and believed. Of utmost concern for Paul was Timothy’s commitment to the Scriptures which make us wise for salvation and are profitable to equip us for every good work. Put simply, neglect the Word of God at your own peril.
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Jos. 24:14, 15)
Arm yourself and your families with the truth of God’s Word. Trust in the sovereign and providential hand of the Lord. Christ was sacrificed and raised for you. He will equip you for every good work he requires of you. (2 Cor. 9:11) Only put your trust in Him.
A Brief Word on Church Security
At Lake Wylie Baptist, we’re blessed to have several men who serve to secure our buildings every week. They guard the front doors, watch cameras constantly, and monitor individuals. I have been in communication with them concerning the events at Cities Church, asking them to continually prepare for all kinds of security scenarios.
If you are a male member of our church, interested in aiding the security team of our church, approach David Grose or Marshall Hardin and they can include you in their planning. This Sunday, immediately following the service, they will host a meeting to overview our security protocols as well as offer instruction for our members should anything like what happened in Minnesota occur in our own church. If you ever have concerns or notice any suspicious activity, please report it to them so they can assist you. Our desire is for Lake Wylie Baptist to be safe and secure. We will not tolerate unlawful trespassing on our church campus.
A Word on Our Nation and Her Leaders
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Rom. 13:1)
Rulers are to be a terror to wrongdoers. Because we have lived in a relatively peaceful time and place in history, I’m convinced that most Christians do not have the stomach for the kind of lawful enforcement our nation needs. We mistakenly assume that most people are law-abiding and peaceful citizens. That is less true every day that passes, and God has commanded the civil magistrate to promote obedience to the law by entrusting the magistrate with the sword of justice. Wielding that sword requires wise judgment, temperance, and a love for human rights. It also requires a will to act on behalf of the oppressed. Cities Church was oppressed as they peacefully assembled, and we ought to pray that lawful justice would be done upon those who broke the law and terrorized that congregation.
We must pray that justice comes. If it does not; if injustice goes unchecked, otherwise peaceful citizens will be driven to exasperation. Some will resort to vengeance and vigilantism. These are not desirable outcomes for our nation. I’m asking you, Christian, to commit to praying daily, for our nation, for our leaders, and for our justice system. Ask the Lord to restrain evil through his appointed servants in government. Ask the Lord to protect the law enforcement officers who serve and protect us.
May the Lord have mercy on our nation and the nations of the world. May his church demonstrate the love of Christ and unwavering allegiance to God’s law. May he protect us as we minister in Charlotte. May he sustain Pastor Parnell and Cities Church as they have been thrust into the national scene. May the Lord hasten the day when we declare:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15, ESV)