Maybe you, too, have noticed that Christians are in confusion, conflict, and chaos. Social network users, including Christians (especially those new to the faith looking for examples of how to walk in Kingdom ways) and non-Christians, watch us engage in these ways, as does our Almighty God and Redeemer Lord. This includes sarcastic, put-them-in-their-place memes and comments we amuse the pride of our flesh-selves with, and by arguing over – rather than discussing – salvific and non-salvific doctrine. Some of these arguments among the Body remind me of the food disputes over the years: eggs vs. no eggs, entire egg vs. egg whites only, coffee vs. no coffee, and on and on and on it goes… only, for Christians, it’s about doctrine and “being right” in the eyes of man – when the only One right is Messiah Jesus.

I pray Erwin W. Lutzer speaks to our hearts through several excerpts from his book, The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness.

“Some Christians in our culture wag their finger, pronouncing doom on offending sinners. They are angry at those who ‘stole their country’—the liberalism taught in the schools, depravity, and the politicians who constantly push for legislation that undermines our faith tradition and values.

“Yes, we might have ‘righteous anger’ as we see our culture destroyed, but if our anger spills over into our Christian witness, it only fuels the stereotype that the world already has of us. Yes, we are called to expose the sins of the world, but to do so with redemption, in humility and compassion. And, yes, with courage. And tears.

“Anger and rebuke change nothing. In fact, they cause our leftist friends to entrench themselves ever deeper into their hatred of Christians. Moreover, these actions don’t represent our Master who ‘when he was reviled, he did not revile in return, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly’ (1 Peter 2:34).

“Anger, vengeance, and a spirit of retaliation are not the ways of the Master. But as we shall see later in this book, neither is silence nor cowardice.”

Lutzer included this excerpt from Tim Keller’s “Exiles in a Foreign Land,” from Living in a Pluralistic Society (Bible Study)—full reference in Notes at the back of Lutzer’s book:

“Pastor Tim Keller, who is known for his understanding of both the church and culture, warns that we must not just be focused on out culture, but on ourselves. We must see our own failures more clearly than the failures of the world. He writes:

“‘Christians should be humbled before the new pagan pluralistic situation. Just as with the exiles, the situation is due in large part to our own failings. The Church did not lose its position of privilege simply because of evil enemies of the faith. We lost our position as part of God’s judgment on our pride, our hypocrisy, our love of power, our prejudice, our bigotry and failure to hold onto the truth. This is the way in which God gets people’s attention.’

 “[Then Keller adds a rebuke we all need to hear.]

“‘We must be far harder on ourselves in gracious, humble repentance, than we are on the unbelieving culture around us. That was a major lesson for the exiles and for us. Our first response should be repentance. We should be very understanding toward people who have failed to believe in Christ because of the weakness of the Church’s testimony. A lot of what is happening in our culture today may be more our fault than we are willing to admit’. . . .

 “Oftentimes we are despised, sometimes for good reason, sometimes not. The question is, are we willing to confess our weakness, seek God, and pay the price of living for the gospel? God wants us to represent Him even at a time when He appears to be losing.”

Of course we know Messiah Jesus, our Creator, Redeemer, and King, has won the Victory for us and the Kingdom of Almighty God through the Cross and the Resurrection, and from eternity past to eternity future is Preeminent over all. We are to walk by faith, not by sight, remembering that God counts trust in Him as righteousness.

Back to Lutzer, who also included an excerpt from A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanuken that addresses a heart issue that affects Christians, especially these days:

“. . . Vanauken talks about his first encounter with Christians. That night he wrote these words: ‘The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians—when they are sombre and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths’. . . . The world’s hatred of the gospel might be a positive sign, provided that it is offended by the message and not because we are obnoxious.”

Lutzer also addresses “Social Media, Where Vengeance Is Disguised as Justice”:

“I am grieved by the way in which social media is being used (or rather misused) in today’s overheated and angry culture. Christians are falling into the snare of sniping at each other in ungodly ways, all ‘for the sake of truth.’ I am reminded of Paul’s words in Galatians: ‘through love serve one another. . . .  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another’ (Gal. 5:13,15). Yes, we now have a platform where we can, if we wish, bite and devour others.

“Of course there are responsible bloggers, but as I read some blogs and comments written by Christians, I have noticed the following:

“First, whatever the perceived fault that is being exposed, it is often exaggerated and put into the worst possible light. No one seems to be willing to give a fellow believer the benefit of the doubt. Responses come in attack mode, with exaggerated comments, embellishments, and distortion. The sniping and accusations among Christians after the 2016 election made me wonder whether we had forgotten that we are citizens of a larger kingdom. As fallen creatures, all of us are prone to believe the worst about others rather than to believe the best. Of that, let us repent.

“Second, I often find very little charity, but rather anger and self-righteous rhetoric with no concern about any reconciliation or love that might ‘cover a multitude of sins.’ Matters that should be dealt with privately are exposed for the whole world to see. Many online pontificate with an air of self-assurance as if they have the responsibility of bringing somebody down because of some perceived indiscretion. This is a long way from Paul’s admonition: ‘Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted’ (Gal. 6:1). . . . 

“Long before the rise of social media, Paul wrote, ‘Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear’ (Eph. 4:29). . . .  The cross makes us brothers and sisters with those with whom we have nothing in common, except that we have been purchased with the same blood and brought by the same Savior into the presence of the same heavenly Father.”

My flesh gets upset and my spirit grieves when I see nonbelievers, especially, and some Christian claimants, post memes and comments about or against God and His Word, including misrepresentations of both. Speaking with God about this recently, this came into my heart: It isn’t right or fair to expect anyone who does not have the Spirit of God in them to understand Scripture or God. So when they mock or misrepresent it and Him so as to shame believers, keep this in mind: Only those whose hearts, minds, eyes, and ears have been opened by God can receive revelation of His Word and, therefore, of Him: they have no relationship with Him – yet. Pray for them.

Here’s a significant last Lutzer excerpt regarding “Transgenderism, Sexuality, and The Church”:

“However, if we do not guard our hearts, a discussion of both homosexuality and the transgenderism debate can readily lead to a self-righteous attitude among those of us who have never had such aptitudes or desires. It’s easy to portray those who struggle with gender dysphoria (or identify as the opposite gender rather than their biological sex) as somehow belonging ‘out there’ and forgetting that we’re all members of a fallen humanity and humbly grateful for God’s undeserved mercy toward us [emphasis mine]. . . . 

“Every human being is created in the image of God and deserves respect; but not every human being deserves our approval of their conduct and lifestyle.”

As Lutzer stated earlier, God allows – expects – us to have and feel righteous anger, but we are commanded to be angry but not sin. We may try to legislate or shame others into a different behavior, just as those who rebel against/hate God (and us) try to legislate us to accept (and or fund) sins and abominations, but only God can change a heart. And that includes our own.

I daresay if nonbelievers are already unsure about believing in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, and God’s love for each of us, how must our confusion, conflict, chaos over doctrine, and our missing the mark on “exhort but with love” behaviors repulse them? That’s a rhetorical question: The answer is evident in their social sites posts and lack of clamoring to learn more about Jesus and His saving grace and love from us after having observed us. Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, can we truly expect to draw flies (the lost who need Christ Jesus) with vinegar/pride-based vitriol, sarcasm, and arrogance rather than honey/agape love based in and on God’s own heart for them and His truth, the Truth being Messiah Jesus?

Regarding doctrinal disagreements, I mentioned this in another writing but it bears repeating. Dr. Michael K. Lake (author, researcher, and founder of both Biblical Life and Kingdom Intelligence Briefing websites) said: “If my King doesn’t do it, I don’t do it.” To me, that’s good advice and keeps it simple: If Messiah Jesus didn’t do it or teach His apostles and disciples to do it and thus for them to teach it to all who followed in history – both before and after His Resurrection – then I don’t do it. It’s enough of a challenge to do what I’m supposed to do, much less play “spiritual tennis” about that which many dispute.

Nevertheless, brothers, I call on you in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to agree, all of you, in what you say, and not to let yourselves remain split into factions but be restored to having a common mind and a common purpose. – 1 Corinthians 1:10 CJB

Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, if we desire that others believe in and receive God’s grace not deserved by sinners (everyone) but given freely by God, shouldn’t we demonstrate grace-laced truth to them as a first example and, to the best of our ability, continue in this, assisted by Holy Spirit—and do this with each other as well? When what’s coming really gets going (it’s obviously already arrived on our “shores,” but in still yet smaller “waves” than what’s quickly heading our way), and people search for truth and God during the confusion, conflict, and chaos, will we give them the blessed hope as living examples of God’s astonishing love and purpose for them not only through our words but actions? Do the ways we express our King, His love, and His Kingdom in our thoughts, words, and actions glorify and magnify Him and His magnificence and love that are beyond our feeble understanding or do we demonstrate our Christianity is nothing more than “clothing with logos” we put on like a billboard but not the real thing advertised? Is any of this easy? No! And is why we need Holy Spirit’s help. Every. Day. Anew.

“I exhort you, therefore, brothers (and sisters), in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please Him; it is the logical ‘Temple worship’ for you. In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh’ [this world, this age]. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function, so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah, we comprise one Body, with each of us belonging to the others. But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us.” – Romans 12:1-6 CJB

Borrowing from Colossians 1:6-13 CJB, I offer this prayer for us:

Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask You to fill us with the knowledge of Your will in all the wisdom and understanding which the Spirit gives; so that we may live a life worthy of the LORD and entirely pleasing to You, being fruitful in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God. Father, I pray that You will continually strengthen us with all the power that comes from Your glorious might, so that we will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully giving thanks to You, Father, for having made us fit to share in the inheritance of Your people in the Light. You have rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us – brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus – into the Kingdom of Your dear Son. Father, give us the understanding needed so we look like, sound like, are in a true, eternal deeply loving relationship and friendship with You. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ holy name, thank You.

May God our Father give us clean hearts and renew in us right spirits. May He lead us in His Kingdom ways. In Jesus’ holy name. (Please see the two significant books I recommend just below here.)

Additional Suggested Readings

This is the copy I got, though there are updated versions—your choice to make

Description: As the world races toward its momentous end-times encounter between good and evil (known in the Bible as Armageddon), a deepening antagonism is developing worldwide against conservative Christians. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, this hostility now includes the United States, which elevated from the lowest category of government restrictions on Christian expressions as of mid-2009 to an advanced category in only the last three years. This trend may point to one of the most overlooked aspects of Bible prophecy, a war that ultimately pits born-again believers against religious Christians. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN BLOOD ON THE ALTAR YOU WILL… * Read the Global developments that indicate Antichrist is on Earth and preparing to emerge * Become acquainted with the government report on how true believers will be driven underground * Understand how Religious Christians are set to join Antichrist in persecuting those born-again * Discover how university experiments prove a Lucifer Effect is concealed within all humanity * Learn how scientists have isolated the Evil Gene that will transform the armies of the Beast * Grasp the social implications involving technology that will be used for the final battle * Hear the new theory of the Image of the Beast that has powerful implications about man * Walk with the authors as they disclose the occult organizations devising psychotronic weapons * Realize what Jesus meant by the Days of Noah and its connection to new genetic horrors * Uncover how the Mark of the Beast will change those who receive it into murderers. In Blood on the Altar: The Coming War Between Christian vs. Christian, leading national and international researchers, scholars, authors, and speakers share urgent information and specialized knowledge about this coming war and what you can do to prepare for it. Contributing authors: Thomas Horn, Gary Stearman, Chuck Missler, Cris Putnam, Michael Lake, Sharon Gilbert, Derek Gilbert, Larry Spargimino, Paul McGuire, Douglas W. Krieger, S. Douglas Woodward, and Terry James, with foreword by Stephen Quayle.