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“Thank you (as always!!) for your labor of love in His Name with the (again - always!!) study and preparation for the weekly Church News Notes. Just one question about an admonishment that you appear to be making in ‘A Word of Caution about the News’ concerning not ‘get(ting) involved with any type of uprising.’ I am well aware of God’s desire for us, as Christians, to live peaceably with all men as much as possible (Romans 12:8ff). I would appreciate your thoughts about how this should be balanced with the defense of our God-given liberty and freedom for instance as Americans. I take it you would still be a defender of our 2nd Amendment rights as Americans, right? Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating Civil War II. Just what sort of ‘uprising’ are you against?”
REPLY FROM BROTHER CLOUD
That is an excellent question. I’m particularly (but not exclusively) referring to a violent uprising. I don’t believe it is time for another civil war or war of independence. The 21st century is entirely a different thing from the 18th century. God is allowing the Mystery of Iniquity to make great strides. I want to be found doing exactly what Christ has told me to do.
We must know the times. The godly king Josiah thought it was time to fight Egypt, because Egypt was Israel’s ancient enemy, but he was wrong (2 Chronicles 35:19-27). Because Josiah didn’t discern the times and followed his own pragmatic thinking rather than God’s Word, he died prematurely and the revival he was leading died with him. He “hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God” (2 Ch. 35:22). How sad and how stupid! He should have kept his attention focused on the spiritual. I believe that is exactly where we are today.
I am glad to be an American, but I’m not an American first. I am first a citizen of heaven and a pilgrim in a strange land, and the laws of my heavenly country are higher than the laws of America. There is only one flag I can salute with no reservations and with the greatest enthusiasm, and that is the flag of Heaven.
I recall a fundamental Baptist preacher with a fruitful ministry who thought some of the tax laws were unjust or unconstitutional, and he took his stand and went to prison. As far as I am concerned, that is Josiah. It is wrongheaded. It is being an American first and a pilgrim of heaven second. It is standing on the U.S. Constitution instead of standing on the Word of God. Paul never exemplified such a thing.
I support the second amendment, of course, but that doesn’t mean I will shoot government officials who come to take my arms away or even threaten to do so. (I have spent most of my Christian life overseas where bearing arms is out of the question.)
The way I see it, the removal of American liberties is God’s judgment on a very wicked nation, a nation of churches that are mostly apostate or lukewarm, and I don’t want to fight against God to regain liberties He Himself has taken away. That would be Josiah dumb. The “make America great again” crowd doesn’t have a clue about these things, so I will not join that bandwagon.
I know exactly what I am supposed to do, because Christ has told me. I’m going to keep my attention on the things my Heavenly Master has specifically told me to do, and has told me to do until the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20): preaching the gospel, building sound New Testament churches, building holy homes to raise a godly seed, building up the saints, training preachers, defending the faith, praying. I’m not told to overthrow kings and authorities, I am told to pray for them. I will join no revolution in these wicked end times.
I am convinced that if born again Americans would obey God’s Word and stop following the thinking and ways of "conservative politics,” if they would spend far more time and energy saving the homes and churches with spiritual weapons instead of saving America with carnal weapons, God would help us mightily.
"My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” (Proverbs 24:21-22).
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