Fractures

 "His strength is what becomes complete through our weaknesses".

2 Corinthians 12:9.

I've never got on with electric razors, enjoyed certain types of soda drinks, and find myself intolerant to a couple of desserts... and tomatoes are now a no no.

We all have things like that.

Recently, I purchased a new electric razor, just to see if my opinion of such a thing should change. After using it, it felt like I hadn't shaved.

Sometimes, our reservations are entirely justified.

This week, Doug Wilson posted a really interesting blog on recent public goings on in respect to his church's social event, and the "curiosity" shown towards this by a certain federal agency. What I especially liked about his insights was his notation that you don't get this level of attention from said 'powers' unless you're saying or doing something that warrants such, and that should cause us to sit up and tune in.

When he speaks of the necessity for Christians to be noticed in this fashion, he isn't just mouthing platitudes. Some churches in the last few years literally put their whole presence on the line because they knew that the entire conformity routine that was imposed was pure control in realms where it did not belong. That meant they found themselves oppressed by local and even state legislators to buckle and relent, but they knew that their dissent was lawful and moral, and even more important, a spiritual necessity for both themselves and the health of the world around them. Being genuinely neighbourly requires going the extra mile for others and laying the axe to the root of all the pretences and outright lies behind what is 'required'.

Most, as Doug points out, were entirely unprepared - quite literally non-equipped - to gear up to do what was required, so when the pushing started, they found themselves scrambling for a belief structure that allowed for their conformity to state requirements.

It isn't the first time the majority of the church has done so.

In the horrendous 1914-18 destruction of Europe, conscientious objectors were publicly shunned for their "cowardice" for rejecting state policy, and the church in England, for example, echoed everything stated in respect of the nation giving 'its full measure' on the bloody, unrelenting wastelands in France. Similarly, the majority of the German church which sided or passively accepted the hydra-like squeeze of the National Socialists upon the Christian authorities, even when this meant a total bleaching of semitism from the essential roots of the faith.

So, where does that leave us?

Well, like those politicians who fervently supported policy on lockdowns, social hygiene requirements and virtually enforced vaccination, we have a striking number of churches and church leaders who not only gave no resistance when the mandates imposed closure of places of worship, but would almost certainly co-operate with similar circumstances again in future, even though the social effects have been brutally destructive and the mounting numbers of new excess deaths are now casting a long shadow over the 'effectiveness' of what was implemented medically.

We need to heed the lesson that we think we can neglect.

We need to come to terms with what has really happened here.

It's really easy for the mainstream bodies to disqualify this as a 'single' voice that they can ignore.

Nathan was just that to David.

Jeremiah was just that to Judah.

Paul was exactly that to churches that had departed from the faith.

Jesus Himself is exactly this when He issues His warnings to the seven churches.

This isn't about personal preferences or even individual choices.

It is about the future well being of the body of Christ on earth.

So, take a listen to Doug, and think about how these matters apply to us... right now.