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“Moses answered the people, ‘Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see what the Lord will do to save you today. You will never see these Egyptians again. The Lord is fighting for you! So be still!’ ” (Exodus 14:13-14 God’s Word Translation©)

Today these words came to mind. These Christians who, because of the pandemic, are defying the law, accusing government of blasphemy and challenging the police, claiming to be fighting for all Christians in defending institutional religious customs, need to be reminded of these words from God through Moses as the Hebrews stood trapped between the Reed Sea and the Egyptian army. If we want to change the mind of government we need to fall upon our knees in utter humility and pray that God will work something out. Then God will get the glory. If these congregations win their court cases they will feel they have won. That feeds pride, not proclamation of Good News.

“You are light for the world… let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14a, 16 God’s Word Translation©)

Repeat – “Then they will… praise your Father in heaven.”

If organized religion was faithful in serving Jesus they would not need public protest and media manipulation to replace their cultural irrelevance.

Note: [The evidence for faithfulness is love, and that is demonstrated by feeding the hungry, providing safe water for the thirsty, welcoming strangers, providing climate appropriate clothing to the naked, visiting those who are sick to provide for their needs and socializing with those in jail. (Matthew 25:35-36)]

How do I know when to be a protester? I have protested against the government, very publicly, and this is the basis I follow for knowing when to protest and when to adapt. This is not theory, dogma or philosophical thinking. This is what I have lived, and God grant I will never lower this standard.

1. If I gain any personal benefit from the successful outcome of the protest, it is wrong to proceed. If I gain then my actions may be (or become) selfish, and even if only the appearance is that I stand to gain, then my protest is not driven by God.
2. If people affirm my object, and I am energized by that, I cannot proceed. Right is right, and if I need human compliments to be strong in the cause I have no cause that comes from God.
3. If I gain fame or notoriety from my actions I must stop. The cause is not for me, and if I become the focal point of the protest I have lost the purpose. For example, during a protest I help organize the media wanted to interview me. I had to decline assertively as they did not want to take “No” as an answer. Another person, who had no role in the protest at all, came to the scene and basked in the media coverage, gaining brownie points for advancement. That was as it should be.
4. If people oppose what I am doing this is to be expected. If I stand for a godly cause and purpose then evil people and religious zealots will become vocal and actual enemies. If religion supports my cause I stop. God does not work through religious institutions, who have power, but through The Spirit whose purpose is to bring glory to God alone, not through financial, political or cultural clout.
5. If at any point I trade humility for pride in what I am doing, I am compelled to cease. Human pride, close-minded confidence and disregard for spiritual wisdom from Scripture mean I am off the rails.

I have never published this testimony before, but in the present age I felt led this afternoon to be vulnerable and make this known.

May God “receive glory and honour and power” (Revelation 4:11).

Repeatedly I am confronted by people who claim to be disciples of Jesus, but all they want to talk about is their right to gather in a building and do their thing. Religion buildings do not come from God. The early Church did not build. The Roman Emperor Constantine (and his wife, and his Mother especially) started that in AD332. Buildings follow the pattern of his throne room, not heaven. The early Church believed what Jesus said, “Go and preach…teaching…” Paul made it clear that our bodies “are the temple of God”, not bricks and mortar. The cross, the centre of Christian living, has been displaced with religious rituals. Jesus died. Where is the life of sacrifice modelled by the Saviour? Jesus said, “Take up your cross every day…”, but in North America Christians take up their protest and placards and selfish interpretations of what is really important. When the early disciples said, “We must obey God rather than human regulations” it was because they were told to stop evangelizing, not gathering for religious worship! How does self-centred demands for personal traditions of worship teach God’s love or preach Good News that we can be forgiven and have eternal life?! Paul preached in the market place, beside the river (in Philippi), in prison (!!). Is it the poor and homeless and patients in ER with infections who are demanding their rights? No, it is those who live a life of privilege instead of the cross!! Do you want to be known as people who have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13), then start witnessing to the love and kindness of God, not whining about government rules that are designed to save lives. People of faith should not need a secular government to tell them to care more about others’ safety than personal dogma.

“10 Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11 Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. 12 This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world” (Ephesians 6:10-12 God’s Word Translation©).

Believers in Canada are fervent supporters of President Trump and contemptuous of Prime Minister Trudeau (or the reverse), slanderous of Pope Francis, blindly loyal to their own denomination, close-minded advocates of one economic system or another, and even emotional terrorists against those who defend different sectarian rules of belief…

Shake yourself and see the light. NONE of these things is eternal! None of these people or philosophies will get you into heaven, nor are they strong enough to keep you out of it.

There is only one loyalty that deserves your obedience, Jesus and the cross upon which you crucify all your personal opinions and allegiances and addictions.

When you rant for or against something that has its roots only on this earth and not in the heavenly realm can people tell you are a disciple of Jesus? Or do you just look like anybody with a chip on your shoulder or an impulsive bully? “After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 God’s Word Translation©).

Our enemy is the great deceiver, Apollyon/Abaddon (the destroyer), not a pope, politician or partisan pugilist.

If Satan feels glee there must be dancing in the palaces of evil at how much energy is wasted on false allegiances, and how much division and hatred and anti-Christian behaviour you display. Take up your cross everyday, not your soapbox. Offer comfort to believers, not conflict over ideology. “These are the people who cause divisions. They are concerned about physical things, not spiritual things” (Jude 19 God’s Word Translation©).

James clearly describes what believers can stoop to when they are driven, not by the cross, but self because “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you?” (James 4:1 God’s Word Translation©).

Speak boldly about who God is, not what you think!