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Continuing our discussion, in part one of this series, we learned that insofar as His spiritual, adopted children are concerned, God views friendship with the world as an act of spiritual adultery. Let me share that verse with you again to refresh your memory:

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


So why does God view friendship with the world as an act of spiritual adultery? Quite simply, because as the spiritual Bride of Christ, we are loving the world, instead of loving Christ, our husband; and we are being loyal and faithful to the world, instead of being loyal and faithful to the Kingdom of God. That we Christians are in fact the spiritual Bride of Christ is made evident in such verses as the following ones:

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."


"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."


"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.‭ And five of them were wise, and five ‭were‭ foolish.‭ They that ‭were‭ foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:‭ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.‭ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.‭ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.‭ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.‭ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.‭ But the wise answered, saying, ‭Not so‭; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.‭ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.‭ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.‭ But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.‭"


In short, we have a divided heart, and divided loyalties. It is like a married spouse secretly taking interest in another person and engaging in extramarital sex on the side. We know that no spouse who truly loves his or her mate will tolerate their husband or wife being unfaithful like that. Will they? Of course not! Unless there is true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, there is a very good chance that the relationship will end in divorce. Well, believe it or not, God is the very same way. When we are married to the Lord, He wants everything: our whole heart, mind, soul and life. Is this not in fact what Jesus Himself said in the Gospels? Consider the following two verses:

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.‭ This is the first and great commandment.‭"


So when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, nothing less will do or will ever satisfy Him. We are either in the relationship all the way, or else we are not. We cannot be looking for greener pastures on the side. In fact, the Bible plainly inform us that He is a jealous God, and He will not tolerate our infidelity, as we can easily determine by the following group of verses:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"


"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"


"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."


"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,"


"(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."


As I explain in articles such as "Who is Babylon the Great?", "The Fruits of Disobedience" and "Oh Israel, Why Will Ye Die?" that was ancient Israel's problem in both the Old and the New Testaments. She repeatedly strayed from her spiritual husband and loved and worshipped the pagan, false gods of the world. Furthermore she prostituted herself with the government of Rome in the New Testament. That is why God, through His Prophets, repeatedly referred to Israel as an unfaithful, backslidden whore in the pages of the Old Testament. Remember again what the Apostle John wrote in his first Epistle. As we saw in part one, he said "Love not the world":

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."


Love not the world; because when we are loving the world, we are not loving God. You just can't be in bed with two lovers at the same time, folks. To do that is to be unfaithful to the Lord. We are committing spiritual adultery; and as James writes, it makes us the enemy of God. I hope that this point really sinks into your heart.

So in light of all of the Scriptural truth I have presented here, it is difficult to not conclude that we are likewise guilty of the very same thing when we choose to engage in political campaigns, promote certain candidates, vote for said candidates, or perhaps even run for political office ourselves. We have in fact made ourselves a friend of the world and denied Christ His due. We have become entangled "with the affairs of this life", which is exactly what the Apostle Paul admonished us not to do. Why? Because not only is it not pleasing to the Lord, but because it entraps us, and causes us to be sidetracked from wholeheartedly serving the Lord, which is our primary duty to God. Here is that verse one more time. Maybe if I keep repeating it, some of you will get the point:

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."


This very same principle can be applied to what Jesus stated in John chapter eighteen regarding His Kingdom -- and thus, our Kingdom -- not being of this world. That being the case, no matter how much you try to twist the Scriptures so that they seem to support your wayward beliefs, the fact of the matter still remains that when you engage in all of these political activities, and hobnob with high society, you are most certainly not doing it for God's Kingdom, because His Kingdom is not of this Earth. You are in fact supporting, promoting, campaigning for and voting for a wicked, corrupt, violent political system of man. You are no different from the ancient, stubborn Israelites who insisted that God give them Saul as their king. And by the way, we all know who is behind all of this wickedness and these earthly kingdoms. Just in case you have forgotten, allow me to share a few verses with you:

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."


"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."


"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"


"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."


"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."


"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."


"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth . . . And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."


In light of all of the strong Scriptural evidence which I've shared with you in this series, we must wonder why there are certain Christians who are so adamant about being involved in the political process. As I said earlier, I have met some of them online, and they are absolutely convinced that they are doing the right thing. Not only that, but these same Christians frown upon their brethren who choose not to vote, and in fact consider it being derelict of duty. According to these politically-minded Christians, we aren't good citizens, because we have failed to perform our civic duty. As I have already explained, I am convinced that it is they who have things twisted, and not those of us who are trying to adhere to the Scriptures by remaining separate from the world.

As I thought about this, it occurred to me that it is quite probable that some of these politically-active Christians have actually become deceived by a false doctrine known as Dominionism, or Dominion Theology. Based on an erroneous interpretation of Genesis 1:28, this doctrine teaches that we Christians are supposed to dominate this world, including in a social, economic and political sense, and thus prepare it for Christ's eventual Return, at which time we will hand things over to Jesus. Of course, this doctrine is based on the Futurist theological perspective, which I personally have come to seriously doubt, as I explain in the series entitled "Jesus Christ's Return: Have We Been Deceived?".

My friends, there is absolutely nothing in the Scriptures which says this. Quite to the contrary, as we learned in part one, the Bible teaches that all earthly kingdoms are crushed. Why are they crushed? Because as we discussed only moments ago, Satan is the god of this world, and all governments and political power belongs to him by God's design. Remember what he said to Jesus in Luke chapter four:

". . . All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."


Who gives people political power? Satan! So what does that tell us about all of these Christians who are involved in secular politics? It tells me that whether they realize it or not, they are actually working for the wrong master. They have been hoodwinked into believing that they are serving God, but are they really?

So the idea that we Christians are supposed to take over the governments of the world through political means is absolute nonsense. Not only that, but as we have already discussed, there is an inherent danger when Christians become involved in secular politics. What is that? It is that they will become trapped in them; so much so, that they begin to make their political interests and goals the priority in their lives, instead of God's Kingdom and preaching the Gospel to the lost. They will lose their first love, because they are in love with the world, and committing spiritual adultery.

But that is not all. If there is one thing that Jesus and the first Apostles clearly taught, it is that if we truly embrace and live our Christian faith, we will suffer for it. We will be persecuted for it. We will most certainly not be loved and admired by the world. If you doubt that this is so, ask some of our Christian brethren who are currently being persecuted in such places as India, Pakistan, China, the Arab nations of the Middle East, and other countries around the world where Islam is the dominant religion. Consider the following group of verses as additional proof:

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another."


"But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls."


"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."


"‭‭They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.‭"


"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."


"When they [the Jews] heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him [Stephen] with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."


"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."


"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."


"For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:"


"I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities."


"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day."


"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;"


"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."


"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"


"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."


"‭‭And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and ‭of‭ Barak, and ‭of‭ Samson, and ‭of‭ Jephthae; ‭of‭ David also, and Samuel, and ‭of‭ the prophets:‭ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,‭ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.‭ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:‭ And others had trial of ‭cruel‭ mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:‭ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;‭ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and ‭in‭ mountains, and ‭in‭ dens and caves of the earth.‭ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:‭ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.‭"


"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."


"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."


"And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."


"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."


As you can see, the pages of the New Testament do not in any way promise us a rosy life as we live out our faith. They in fact plainly say that if we are going to truly live our faith in both word and deed, we had better be prepared to take the heat. If we boldly live and share our faith, a lot of people are not going to like it, because by so doing, we will at the same time expose the sins in their own lives, and they will fight back with a certain viciousness, as I described to you in the previous paragraphs. As Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of John:

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin."


Of course, as some of you will know, for many Christians who engage in online witnessing on the social networks, for quite some time now, we have been experiencing a low-key type of persecution in the form of blatant discrimination, and rather obvious censorship of our views by the liberal-minded owners of such networks. In fact, I was just reading recently that liberal-owned search engines -- such as Google -- have begun to filter out conservative and Christian viewpoints on their SERPS, or Search Engine Results Pages. But honestly speaking, in my view, all of this hardly deserves to be classified as persecution, because it is nothing like what other brethren in other countries are experiencing. Most Western Christians have no idea what real persecution is.

While persecution of any type may be annoying, or even very dangerous depending on its severity, at the same time, we need to realize that it is also a strong indication that we are getting the job done. After all, the bear never fights back until you encroach on his territory or enter his cave. Similarly, it is when we back off, cool down in our faith, and no longer seem to pose a serious threat, that the enemy no longer bothers us.

Please go to part four for the conclusion of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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