You Are Not The Majority!

 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Luke 6:22

It has been made abundantly clear during the past 12 months that our freedom to worship is not guaranteed.    It has taken one full year for the people in California to worship in their buildings without fear of prosecution by state officials. Up until Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last September, the liberal Supreme Court sided with the state’s restrictions on churches’ in-person attendance. Her replacement by conservative Justice Amy Coney    Barrett has changed the court’s position. However, the latest decision, a 5-4 ruling, should cause deep concern for every Christian. Four of the nine justices argue that the first amendment, which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” does not apply   during what the states deem as an emergency. If just   one more justice had agreed with the liberal justices, states could close church doors throughout this county, and every Christian who chose to defy the government could be subject to imprisonment.

But do not lose heart, Christian. You were never in the majority anyway. Only by God’s providence have we as Americans been able to worship for the past 245 years freely. Jesus warned us 2,000 years ago that people will hate us, exclude us, and speak evil of us just because we follow Christ. We should not be surprised at the events occurring against the church in our country and worldwide. Peter warned us in 1 Peter 4:12-14; “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

So what now? How should we respond to what might happen in the future? The answer is quite simple, keep living for Christ. Love your enemies, do not repay evil for evil, share the Gospel. As a Christian, you will never be     in the majority in this world. Those who belong to their father, the devil, far outnumber the children of God. But, as long as God gives us a day to live, we should use it for His glory. What say, you Christian? Will you live this day and every day He gives you for Him and His glory?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark