Have you been told recently that someone was offended by a post you had written, that you thought was a reasonable expression of your thoughts, but not rude?
If you have answered yes to this, you are in good company. Believers who are bold and unassuming, are frequently targeted for abuse.
Those who want no conviction of sin in their lives will work to ruin the reputation and influence of those who wish to warn about the coming wrath.
In order to warn about the coming wrath we must first show the reason for the wrath.............that is sin!
Our world is deeply enraged at any suggestion that they may be sinful. Pride rules the hearts of most people. We have been trained as a culture to think very highly of ourselves, through the self esteem teaching.
Even those who claim they don't believe in self esteem have used elements of it in the training of their children by excessive praise and mild, if any correction.
Hebrews 12:11 "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
A culture that cannot be corrected cannot be righteous.
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"
I know many people who are so prideful they will do things that harm themselves just to prove no one can "boss" them. They are furiously resistant to instruction or correction.
Those who refuse to trust Christ are of this sort, blasphemously rebellious.
Since they view themselves as perfection, their own personal gods, they can never allow anyone to suggest in the mildest terms, that they are in need of changing.
These same people consider a suggestion or clarification "bossing", simply because they will not be told anything, they must always be the best, the most and the one who is admired.
We know this mentality is growing exponentially in these ends days. Christ warned that this would be the prevailing mentality in the very end of days. The character "anti-qualities" are listed quite clearly in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
When someone reaches this point in their rebellion, there is nothing we can do to help them. We can pray, but any attempt at reasoning with them or explanation will only enrage them further.
As we can see it is becoming increasingly difficult to reason with most people today. The art of discussion for the sake of seeking truth and solutions seems to be in the past.
It is politically incorrect to assume anyone needs to change their behavior or attitudes. The expectation is that we should all just praise everyone for whatever choice they have made, so their delicate and fragile self esteem will not be damaged.
Sadly many believers don't know their Bible's well enough to realize this pc thinking is not only incorrect but deeply devastating to an individual, a culture and a nation.
Now we see the entire world embracing this. In the process they allow evil to run rampant, dominating everyone, while righteousness is demeaned and those who walk righteously are mocked and persecuted, lied against and negated.
Around every corner is another pc supporter who monitors our moves and reports to the thought police, those who are watching for us to make a misstep for further abuse.
I am thankful that as believers we don't have to allow these wicked people to control our emotions or our actions. We can continue moving ahead in obedience to Christ no matter what anyone else is doing to us or saying about us.
Please remember that Christ promised we would encounter this, it is an encouragement to remain strong, it does not have to manipulate us into anything. Manipulation and intimidation has no effect on the born again believer who knows their Bible.
Our defense mechanism for living in this world is quite simply, stay in prayer, know the Word well and refuse to respond to the tactics of the devil. When we know the wiles of the enemy, we are better equipped to withstand his arrows.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him (Christ), because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
Ephesians 6:15-17 "…15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.…"
We used to call them tantrums when children, in an out of control demanding way, kicked, screamed and cried, because they were not getting their way.
When they are adults who do this we call it narcissistic rage. I manifests itself in a slightly different form but amounts to the same thing.
We are seeing more of these adult tantrums than ever before because of the traits that are mentioned in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
The only hope for this country is the spiritual healing power of Jesus Christ when these adult children repent from their arrogance and self righteousness. God promises that most will not listen, but we speak because some might. God knows who will and who won't, it is His business to figure it all out.
Ezekiel 2:6-8 "…6 "And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.
7 "But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.
8 "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you."…"
Forget what their response might be, just obey and leave all the results to the Lord.
