The images we’re watching of rioting, looting, stealing, destruction, and anarchy sweeping across our nation makes me wonder if Satan is actually protesting the reopening of churches and the gathering together of God’s people. Just as states were attempting to open up after a horrific plaque devastated our country, a new wave of terror takes over.
All weekend, I seldom heard any COVID-19 discussion as the country watched with horror the violent attacks on innocent people’s property and businesses that they hoped to open soon. Historic structures burned down or marred. People assaulted. Policemen pelted with rocks and curses.
Rioters acting like vile savages and displaying the worst side of humanity flooded the streets of our nation’s Capitols and large cites in an alarming display of evil.
Only Satan instills in people’s spirit a desire to destroy, vandalize, rob, and spew vileness.
The rioting has nothing to do with the original frustration over an injustice. Doing wrong to justify another wrong still makes your wrong, wrong!
Yet, it’s considered too risky to safely open churches where parishioners strive to encourage each other to be good moral law-abiding citizens and representatives of Jesus Christ.
The Bible reminds us that in this world, we will come face to face with evil but God has provided us a way to endure and pray against Satan.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph. 6:10-12, 18
While the rioting and looting was occurring in Minneapolis, the governor there passed out masks but didn’t demand the rioters stay six feet apart or cease rioting, while he warned that opening churches would be a “public health disaster.”
As states begin to slowly open up, there continues to be unreasonable dissension over opening churches. Governor Newsom in California finally relented that churches could open but put out a 12-page list of restrictions. Churches could only allow 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever was less. No singing. No reciting liturgy. Everyone 2 years and older in a mask and on and on it went.
In a liberal won 5-4 ruling, divided on party lines, the Supreme Court refused a request from a California pastor to override Newsom’s harsh restrictions on churches. There’s no question that the Supreme Court has become politicized. I was sure that when this case came in front of them they would have to side unequivocally and unanimously with freedom of religion, but they did not!
Why is there such a disparity and reluctance to let churches safely reopen while other venues are opening and now even riots and protests draw masses of people?
I wonder how many of those opposing churches opening have been to church. When was the last time they stepped inside a church? Do they not have a visual of how churches, especially large churches, have plenty of room to social distance?
Just as Ephesians 6:10-18 expresses, it’s a spiritual battle where Satan is blinding them because he knows the power that comes from people of God uniting. What else could explain the resistance to Church and Christians?
There’s only one force in this world that is against God’s people and that’s Satan. I’m not saying the people opposing churches are Satanists, but he is using them to try to quiet God’s people and just like Moses and Pharaoh, there needs to be a consorted voice persistently and forcefully saying, “Let my people go!”
If you’ve read my past blogs, you know my concern about this issue and I’ve been persistently vocal about it.
How Can We Best Display Our Faith in the Face of Persecution?
As the discussion of opening churches plays out on social media, I’ve watched the antagonistic comments of those who don’t attend church or consider attending church as unnecessary. But one condescending comment caught my attention. This person was against churches and Christians and claimed that only weak people needed church.
I ruminated on what type of person would say something like that not caring if he hurt or offended anyone, but then I appreciated a responding comment that probably baffled the attacker: “You’re right, without Christ I am weak, but it is Christ that makes me strong.”
Instead of defending our position or denying that being a Christian is weak, this person turned the conversation around and left no retort. There was nothing left to say. Maybe the person denouncing Christians felt confirmed that we’re all just weak people looking for “a crutch,” or maybe he was wondering how Christ made us strong.
The Apostle Paul explained how his physical weakness made him spiritually strong because he had to rely on the Lord. And despite protests and government officials ruling against his ministry, even in his “weakness” it’s amazing all the things that Paul was able to accomplish for the Lord! Paul admits that if it weren’t for his physical weakness, he might become overconfident and conceited and take the glory for himself instead of where it belonged with the Lord.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:7-10
I sure feel weak sometimes, don’t you? Especially, during the hardships and inconveniences we’ve all endured the last few months. It’s not always easy to remember that our strength comes from the Lord, especially when we think we can handle everything ourselves or we feel defeated and distressed.
In our weakness, with the Lord’s strength, we can do this!
“That’s the paradox of depending on God: The more you’re weak, the more you depend on him. And the more you depend on God, the stronger you are.” Pastor Rick Warren
Whatever it is God has called you to during this pandemic crisis or the next crisis or just in everyday life, put aside your own agenda and doubts and follow God’s lead and lean into him.
You may look or feel weak, but you can wink and smile because you know that in God’s eyes you’re stronger than you’ve ever been before.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13
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