September 2018
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. Lk 12:49-52
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him. Jo 7:40-43
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Mat 10:34–39
Most everyone has heard the famous Rodney King statement: “Can’t we all just get along?” He stated this in 1992 after being beaten by police during the Los Angeles riots. That is what we think will make life better, if we all could just get along and get over diversity and individuality and just be one. We have seen it on television in the Star Trek Borg. Everyone got along with no individuality. They were a collective with one purpose, one mind. The Borg approached new nations and told them: “You will be assimilated. Your uniqueness will be added to our collective!” Then they would dismantle the uniqueness of the individual as they added that nation and its characteristics into their collective. With a single purpose and directive to be bigger and better than anyone else, they would move on to rule and destroy other nations. That sounds like the nation of America. She wants to assimilate every other culture into her collective and make them like her as she becomes bigger and better than everyone else. But is that God’s purpose?
Contrary to the goal of making America great and bringing us all into one people, Jesus did not come with that purpose in mind. He said He came to bring division and a sword (Mt. 10:34; Lk. 12:51). It sounds so contrary to our way of thinking about God. Surely, He wants us to get along. We must bear in mind that God said His ways are not our ways and vice-versa. Is it possible that our ways of unity is not His way of unity.
Let’s go back to the history of the bible and see what is going on. There was peace and unity in the Garden of Eden with God until the serpent came along and deceived the first family. After the intervention of evil into the peace of the garden, division came between God and mankind. There had been unity between God and man prior to the serpent’s coming. God wanted peace and unity but evil destroyed it.
We see in the story of God’s first interaction with Abraham, the progenitor of the Children of Israel, that God called him away from his family and brought separation rather than togetherness with Abraham’s natural father and siblings. We see Jesus declaring later in Mt. 10:21: “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.” What could all that be about?
Evil had corrupted the earth and men were at war one against another. God sought to bring unity back in the family through the bloodline of Abraham. There was unity among them for a time but the power of evil was a constant disruptor. We saw in the story of the biblical towns of Sodom and Gomorrah a type of unity of the people but it was a unity of doing evil together. Their unity in wickedness brought their total destruction by God (Gen. 19:24).
Why Is There a Constant Cry for Unity and Is it God’s Plan for Us?
Jesus came to do the will of the Father but He claims also to have come with a sword and division rather than unity. How do we explain the seemingly controversial mission? God appealed to His people, the Israelites, over and over to repent and return back to Him over a period of thousands of years, but they continually rebelled. Yet God had mercy on His people and remembered His promise to the family of Abraham. Looking from heaven upon the plight of His children in bondage, He heard their cry of agony and purposed to bring deliverance. The deliverance was not to come by unity but by division and a sword as Jesus proclaimed.
A sword would come to punish evil doers and divide His people out from the evil doers. “Lk 12:51- Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division…” When Jesus came to Jerusalem, He did not come with a fighting sword of metal. He told His follower, Peter, to put up his sword in a time of physical danger. Jesus came with the sword of the Word of God and it would divide believers from unbelievers. Truth would separate the lie and liars from those who held the word in sacredness. Parents would have to choose God over their children and children would choose God over their parents. The decision of faith over unbelief would divide families rather than bring them together.
Where Does the Lie of Unity Come From?
Just like the Star Trek movie about the Borg entity, there is an effort today for us to assimilate into one mindset and get along. Satan led a rebellion against God in heaven to set up his own kingdom against God’s rule. He is still trying to do that today! It is the purpose of Satan still to prove that he is bigger and better than Father God. It is Satan who wants to organize the whole earth as his domain. He accomplished a certain unity at the Towel of Babel, until God destroyed it. He had brought a unity in Sodom and Gomorrah too until God set those cities ablaze. He tried again and again through unity of religion, war and dictatorial efforts to unite a people for himself; but the Sovereignty of God always intervenes. God stands supreme over Satan’s efforts and the work of evil is always thrown down, eventually.
In our day in America where there is a theory for all citizens to serve in a democracy of unity, Satan again has a stronghold on people’s mind to bring unity through faith in democracy rather than through faith in God. Democracy, however is failing to bring about its goal of a people living in equality and unity as the Declaration of Independence states. The oppressive nature and history of some sectors of the people refuse to allow equality through religion. Their unchanged hearts cannot bring all people into the fold of their pseudo Christianity. Their Christian teaching varies from Scripture and hardliners refuse to cooperate. Efforts to bring everyone under a democratic or republic banner has turned into straight out warfare as hardliners refuse to abandon their party principles.
We see in America an effort like the Borg to assimilate every nationality in the nation to a philosophy that unites us into one. It sounds great except this unity is contrary to God’s righteous plan. The nations that formed America and that maintained its unity for all these years did so at the sacrifice of the individuality of their beliefs. They fought for unity of nation over their religious beliefs. They sacrificed or compromised some beliefs to form a united front against common enemies to their unity. Now that the unity of whites in the nation has been obtained, they cannot allow uniqueness to separate us. The square pegs must fit into the round holes. Unity of nation or unity of the white race has become the banner, thus the slogan of white supremacy. Compromises continue as religions realize that the unity of nation must survive at all cost. Christ had a different way.
Churches that were staunch opponents of homosexuality have compromised and accepted its legality for the sake of national unity. Past separating issues of gambling, lottery, pornography, prostitution, adultery and abortion have given in to the normalcy that is called the white Christian American church. The nation’s Christian church has settled into a tolerance of immorality rather than sanctification. These compromised positions usher in a common unity that has brought America closer to one another in everyday decisions of life while pulling down the very concept of one’s individual right to faith and conscience.
What is the Impact of the True Gospel in America
America is not so unique. It is a nation of multi-faceted people who are trying to promote nation and themselves. Other nations such as Britain, France, Spain, Rome, Greece and German, etc., have had the same goals. These nations who enjoyed past greatness arose to power and eventually encountered the Sovereign God of the universe who examined and judged their path to greatness as He will also do with America. The nation of America started out recognizing God as Supreme over the nation but has since abandoned that belief for faith in its own power. It, too, will have to answer to the “Sovereign One” who is greater than man.
The Gospel vs. America
The nation of America has taken a portion of the gospel message and promoted it for self-glory. America claimed to be Christian but white Christians promote themselves rather than Jesus. Pseudo-Christianity poses as true Christianity but only Christ can unite us. Some preachers purchase million dollars planes at the expense of believers and claim it is needed to preach the gospel even though Jesus never used extravagances in His ministry. Even the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem was borrowed and most likely returned to its owner after use. Jesus accumulated money in His ministry but it was given to the needy whereas ministers in America take money from the needy to heap upon themselves riches for mansions and planes. The gospel of Jesus in America has been perverted for the wealth of preachers. Jesus foretold of this false gospel and its preachers so no believer should be caught off guard (Joh 10:10).
As the nation of America has become more and more wealthy, it has given itself over to the will of the rich and oppression of the poor. As with any nation, God still watches over the needs and cries of His people and He still helps the defenseless. America believes that God is on its side and that it has no reason to worry but God always sides with the righteous poor and defenseless. American white Christians have not seemed to come to the realization that Jesus did not come for the rich or the religious.
Why Jesus Came
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isa 61:1-3
Nowhere in this declared purpose of Christ does it state that Jesus came for the purpose of the rich oppressors. America is under the rule of the rich and the oppressed are the poor, immigrants, prisoners, orphans and widows, which Jesus came to seek and to save. These are the very people God has purposed to protect and for whom He will seek vengeance.
Jesus came to Jerusalem and preached to the poor. He did not set up meetings with the rich or establish great temples for His ministry. He walked among the poor, hungry, lonely, oppressed, sick and bereaved and promised them rest. Before Jesus could start His ministry He encountered the opposition of Satan trying to deter His ministry. Christ set out in ministry to deliver His people from bondage and torment.
Christ counseled the poor, persecuted, hungry and mourners that the kingdom belonged to them. He assured them that they were the blessed. He spoke “woe to the rich and religious hypocrites.” The poor that believed in Him were encouraged, counseled and instructed. They were told to wait on His deliverance while He pulled down strongholds. Christ came to tear down Satan’s unity. People have to decide whether to enter Christ’s kingdom or Satan’s kingdom. This decision has divided homes, cities and religious institutions. Christ came to divide the wicked from the righteous. He came to separate the wheat from the tares (Mt. 13:30). His light would reveal the darkness and pull the cover off it. Jesus came to liberate the captive; not help rich oppressors.
In our nation, the rich are the oppressors but they also claim to be true Christians just as the rich and religious leaders of the Jewish temples. Jesus did not condone them, rather Jesus called them out as greedy dog that never had enough. He told them of their fate and eternity in hell because they destroyed those that put their trust in God. Isaiah declared that Christ would come to proclaim “the day of vengeance of our God: to comfort all that mourn (Is. 61:2).” We hear the religious crying for the return of Christ but Amos spoke for God when he asked: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light…I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me…I will not accept them…But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream (Amo 5:18-24).” Amos goes on to declare that the people’s god was Moloch (to whom they sacrificed their children) and He would carry them away in captivity. The prophet Amos declared God’s displeasure with His promised people and foretold judgment for their sin and rebellion.
Like nations past, many of America’s religious leaders and the wealthy believe that they are the righteous and in arrogance proceed to do their own will, rather than repent. Christ came to comfort those that mourn of the sin in the land and to bring them relief as He goes on to judge the wicked.
What Was the True Message of Jesus
Jesus brought a hopeful message to those that were to be judged. Every soul was told to repent because the kingdom was at hand. The righteous poor, the wealthy and the wicked had the same opportunity to repent, turn around and be accepted by God. Every soul was told to love God with all their heart and soul and strength. Obeying the Commandments to love God and neighbor would mean turning from selfishness, arrogance and pride, which God hates. If the rich would love their neighbor and share with the needy, the cry of the poor would not bring God’s wrath upon them. Like the rich young man who would not follow Christ because of his riches, they are hindered by their greed and lust for more (See Mt. 19:23).
The rich believe their joy is in their material possessions but God wants them to find their greatest joy in things eternal in Him. Christ taught that the just shall live by faith, but the rich are dependent on their own wealth. Jesus taught: “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these thing should be added unto you.” The rich are seeking the things first and have little or no dependence on God.
Christ came to set His people free from the bondage and captivity they were under from the rich, oppressors and Satan’s kingdom. Today is no different. Believers, the poor, widows, prisoners, immigrants and orphans need deliverance from the rich oppressors and Satan’s kingdom. However, many that oppress the defenseless today do not consider themselves as ungodly. Just as the rich Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees thought themselves righteous, so do many religious leaders today. Just as the rich man thought he should be acceptable to God when Christ came, many rich today think their charitable deeds (tax deductible) will make them acceptable to God. They are like many “Christian” politicians who believe they are doing a good service for God and man though they do not have a changed heart.. The word declares that only what we do for Christ will last and God still requires a broken heart, a contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18) and works from a true heart for Christ.
Many people of our nation are as the rich young man that had too much wealth to pursue Christ. The gospel message of the poor in spirit, the meek, merciful, mourners, persecuted and peacemakers have gotten lost in the riches of today’s American church. People have been deceived and Satan is well on his way to bringing about a religious unity that has nothing to do with the true gospel message of Christ.
Is it too late for the church of Christ to turn around and remember Christ’s true message or will it continue to follow a false Christ and unite under a religious banner that is actually the Antichrist one world religion that is destined for damnation. Remember Jesus has already defeated Satan! The message of forgiveness in John 3:16 is for all mankind who would forsake the evil way and choose Christ as their Savior. None who seeks salvation is too far gone to be saved. Every sin was put on Christ’s cross so that each of us could be forgiven of our sin and come to a Holy God through Christ. God reaches out to every soul regardless of nationality, color, culture, sin, age, gender or race and invites them to enter in through Christ, the Lord. Today can be the new beginning and first day of the rest of one’s life. “Except a man’s born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).” Be born again into the right kingdom where God, the Father, is Master, Jesus is Lord; where the Holy Spirit leads and you are a child of the Most High God. As an heir of God, all things are yours. The Shepherd promises to provide for His sheep, and there is no lack in Jesus, who has inherited it all. While we have joy and fellowship in Christ in this life, Jesus says our mansions are being prepared in heaven and we will spend eternity in His presence with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:8). That will be true unity!
Truth and Life Ministries of Christ with Apostle Joyce Reba Payne 