Intolerance Towards God

“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is clearly recognized by them, for God has revealed it to them.  For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened.  Professing to be wise, they become foolish, and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore God also gives them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who change the truth of God into the lie, and fear and serve the created things more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  For this reason God gives them up to vile passions. For even their women change the natural use for what is contrary to nature.  Likewise also the men, abandoning the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men performing what is shameful, and receiving the retribution within themselves, the penalty which is fitting for their error.  And even as they do not like to have God in their full true knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with every unrighteousness, sexual perversion, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, depravity; whisperers, defamers, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.”  Romans 1:18-32

 

The world is following a story line, we are on God’s timeline.  Things are changing very rapidly in the world today.  Certainly there is an agenda and though it is prophetically spoken to us in God’s Word, we are still on God’s timeline.

 

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, desiring to hear pleasant things, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.” 2nd Timothy 4:3-4

 

“But evil men and pretenders will grow worse and worse, leading astray and being led astray.”  2nd Timothy 3:13

 

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation.”  2nd Peter 3:1-4

 

There is a growing intolerance towards God and the things of God.  A lot of ideas are being put out there, ideas that are contrary to God, contrary to His Word, contrary to what was once the social norms of our civilization. 

 

A few weeks ago there was a small protest in my local community and the organizer of the protest was interviewed by the media.  She (if I am even allowed to use that term) said it best, that the problem was the churches and families need to change the way they think.   

 

Truly a Church that is wholeheartedly following God will not be in agreement with the agendas of today’s movements. 

 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”  2nd Corinthians 6:14-17

 

This intolerance towards God is not going to change, yet why is it that we who call ourselves Christians, as a whole, are refusing to address these issues, when appropriate.  Will we not accept persecution?

 

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  2nd Timothy 3:10-12

 

We must tarry on, not purposely making the goal of forcibly pushing the world into biblical beliefs, but rather preaching the Gospel that all who will listen might be converted and Saved.  I want you to consider something for a minute as we see the world being transformed before our very eyes.

 

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not done homage to the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4

 

Now this is speaking to those who were Saved after the start of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation.  The Rapture would have happened prior to the commission of the Tribulation (1 Thes. 4:16-17) and during that time period great multitudes get Saved.

 

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”… 1st Thessalonians 5:9

 

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door having been opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after these things.”  Revelation 4:1

 

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one was able to number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10

 

Recently I received an email from a local grocery store where my family is a member of the co-op.  They spoke of the movements and their support of them and how they tolerate everyone, everyone is welcome…no matter what. 

 

Well folks I get news for you, if you haven’t been paying attention, everyone is NOT welcome.  Those who hold to the Word of God, those who truly are Saved and serve God, by definition are not welcome.  For, while we preach the Gospel and desire that God would work in the hearts of all men, irregardless of their particular sins (Ro. 3:23), we also know that this world is becoming more intolerant towards God on a daily basis, though they don’t say it that way.

 

When we look at the prophetic future and see that those who hold fast to the Truth, those who seek to follow Christ wholeheartedly are beheaded for doing so (during the Tribulation), then can we not see where such movements are eventually going to go and the spirit behind such things?!

 

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not done homage to the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4

 

I’m too old to bother going to college to get a degree, but I did go for a year when I was fresh out of high school.  If I were to attend school now and wrote in such a style as you read here, for certain my assignments would receive failing grades.  The Supreme Court just ruled more rights to the so-called LGBTQ community (now LGBTQIA+, might as well use the whole alphabet 😉 )  These so-called rights unfortunately take away from the rights of others who are in agreement with God and His Word.

 

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.”  Acts 5:29

 

The intolerance towards God is going to continue and during the Tribulation it will hit its absolute max peak, causing the beheading of those who refuse to walk contrary to their Creator.  Until the Rapture happens, Believers need to stand strong against this onslaught.  While our calling is not to engage in carnal warfare regarding such ideas (2 Cor. 10:5-6), we must stand strong on the Word of God, we must hold to the Truth, the Bible, we must wholeheartedly follow God and when such things stand in our path, we must appropriately follow God.

 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on all the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.  Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”  Ephesians 6:10-20

 

“All Scripture is breathed by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2nd Timothy 3:16-17

 

When a pastor has a sermon laid on his heart that talks of such things, he should not shy away from boldly proclaiming God’s Word (Ac. 9:28).  When a Believer runs into a situation where they are confronted, whether at work or at a social event, they ought not to be cowardly about why they believe such things are contrary to the Most High. 

 

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.  But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”  Luke 12:8-9

 

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, prostitutes, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

 

If the apostles had to endure beatings, stonings, persecutions, imprisonment and we assume that it is completely alright to when appropriate not take a stand for Jesus Christ, we are in error.  The souls of men are on the line, will you not take a stand for Jesus? 

 

“For you endure if someone brings you into bondage, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you on the face.  I speak in dishonor, as though we had been weak. But in whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also.  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I excel them: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.  From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in hardship and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; besides the other things, that come upon me daily: the care of each of the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things of my infirmity.  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.”  2nd Corinthians 11:20-31

 

“Still others had trial of mockings and floggings, yes, and of bonds and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tried, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, oppressed; of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.  And all these, having borne witness through faith, did not obtain the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made complete apart from us.”  Hebrews 11:36-40

 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:21

 

Amen!