Category: Nations

Christians Participating in Protests and Riots

The world today is mostly following a world order of countries governed by democratically elected representatives to run their own country. This system might seem fair humanly speaking as everyone has a say in how the country is run. Under such romanticised order of governance, utopic aspiration within a country however did not really materialise.

Crimes and corruptions are still prevalent and economic upheaval causing disruption and distress to the lives of citizen living in democratically governed countries are still the norm. What can be observed are only comparative wellbeing of one nation vis-à-vis other nations for social, academic and economic studies and discussion in order to improve future performance of a nation.

In fact, some countries that are not organised under democratic principles, their citizens are not necessarily worse off. Democracy is not the solution to bring human civilisation to a golden age in this fallen world. If it is, why won’t the most powerful democratic country in this world bulldoze this principle to all undemocratic countries where some of these countries are even her allies. Democracy is often used to justify regime change of a country at a huge cost to human lives and tragic destruction to the targeted country.

Democracy won’t bring such utopian fantasy to fruition. Greed and corruption won’t vanish into thin air within such society. Oppression and corruption in high places will continue. Citizen’s lives will continue to face pressure and challenges that are often man-made in nature dabbling with social engineering introducing unrealistic social economic policies by the elite on the governed.

Hence, under democratically governed countries, it is quite common to see protests and riots taking place where citizens take to the streets to challenge the democratically elected government of the day. The results of such antics are seldom pretty. Damaged properties can be repaired and replaced but lost of lives during such chaos and troubles are irreversible.

Unfortunately, Christians are also caught up in such swirl of disturbance and rebellion. When they are unhappy with the state of affairs of the nation and feel their rights have been trampled upon, they might even feel compel to join in the crowd and participate in such rebellious frenzy. They have a vested interest in their adopted country of residence so participating in protests and sometimes leading to riots seem justifiable, so some believe.

In fact, there are recorded events of protests and riots in the Holy Bible. In the book of Acts, there are two major incidents that are instructional for Christians to take note. The first protest took place in the city of Ephesus.

This incident arose due to loss of income suffered by workmen labouring in the idol related industry. When the gospel of Christ was successful in that city, the business of the idol producing segment of the economy was affected and retrenchment of workmen involved became a pain and those affected took to the streets to demand justice.

Acts 19:23-29
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

The participants of this protest were pagans and their target were Christians. They were there to air their grievances and expected their demands be met.

Another major incident took place in Jerusalem. This time, the Jews were protesting and rioting. Their target was the apostle Paul. Paul had been preaching all over in the Gentile world converting souls to Christ and eating away into the religious dominance of the Jews overseas. They were unhappy with Paul and were in the process of killing him during this incident until the Romans came and rescued him. Once again, the target of this protest was again a Christian. Continue reading Christians Participating in Protests and Riots

The Development of Religion According to the Bible

In the New Testament, the word “religion” is recorded in five verses. Curiously, the word “religion” is not found in the Old Testament. This does not however imply the absence of religion since the beginning of time.

Before the fall of Adam, both Adam and Eve knew God intimately. Religion in an institutionalized form as a system of beliefs to compel them to approach and worship God wasn’t necessary. Even after the fall of Adam, none of them were compelled strictly as a matter of form in their approach to God.

The incident of Cain is a case in point. When he approached God in his own way, God simply dismissed and ignored his offering. God didn’t rebuke him. God just didn’t accept his sacrifice and that was all. There wasn’t any penalty for approaching God in a way that was unacceptable to the Creator God.

This wasn’t the case after Moses showed up to deliver an institutionalized format of worship. The moment Aaron’s sons tried to be funny and offered strange fire, they were executed immediately on the spot.

Leviticus 10:1: And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

Leviticus 10:2: And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Numbers 26:61: And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Hence, religion is a serious business and not to be taken lightly. Until Moses showed up, religion before the Global Flood was still free and easy. It was up to men to approach God in an acceptable way with animal sacrifice given to Adam after his fall to cover his nakedness. Unfortunately as the human race progressed, they got further and further away from God.

Notwithstanding, there were still men seeking after the God of Creation, in particular, Noah found grace in God’s sight and were spared together with his family from the destruction of the entire world.

Genesis 4:25: And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Genesis 4:26: And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

After the flood, the way to approach God didn’t really change much. Noah continued with the same worship with animal sacrifice and was accepted by God.

Genesis 8:20: And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Everyone from Noah’s family knew God and knew the way to approach God. There wasn’t any need to regurgitate an acceptable format in this regard.

After the flood however, additional laws were given. Capital punishment came into effect for murder while before the flood, even after Cain killed Abel, he wasn’t put to death immediately but allowed to die like every other man on earth. So killing and lawlessness became rampant before the flood with no penalty and deterrence to compel men to exercise self-restraint. Continue reading The Development of Religion According to the Bible

Minutes To Midnight

While Christians go to sleep preferring to indulge in their latest toys and gadgets instead of watching for the Day of the Lord, the world watches the end of the world in trepidation. The Doomsday Clock is now set two minutes to midnight. This is the closest setting to midnight since 1953.

Doomsday Clock – Two Minutes to Midnight

Why the world connects midnight with doomsday? This is not without biblical implications. Bad things do happen at midnight. The first recorded incident was when the Lord slaughtered all the firstborn in Egypt before Pharaoh finally let the children of Israel leave Egypt.

Exodus 11:4: And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

Exodus 11:5: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Exodus 11:6: And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

Exodus 12:29: And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Exodus 12:30: And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Not a single Egyptian family was spared from mourning and burying a loved ones that night. Cruel as it may seem, the Lord sends judgment according to how fallen men respond to His dealings. The obstinacy of Pharaoh sealed their doom, including his own firstborn and eventually himself drown in the Red Sea. Continue reading Minutes To Midnight

War and Terror

It is commonly reported that terrorists are hijacking religion to commit terrorist acts for political gain. It seems to imply that all religions are fair game to be hijacked for terror and political activities. This may also allude that verses found in the Holy Bible could also promote terror and world conquest to exterminate infidels if they refuse to capitulate to biblical demands.

It is indeed true there are verses in the Old Testament that commanded wars and provided historical records of war. It is important to understand the local geographical nature of those conflicts and the mandate given to those involved in the conquests otherwise the enemies of the cross will take scriptures out of context to accuse biblical Christianity to be just another religion that could promote terror and regime change.

For the record, the children of Israel were given commandment to exterminate certain groups of people residing in Canaan.

Exodus 23:23: For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

Exodus 23:24: Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

Exodus 23:27: I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

Exodus 23:28: And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

Exodus 33:2: And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Exodus 34:10: And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

Exodus 34:11: Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Numbers 33:51: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

Numbers 33:52: Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

Numbers 33:53: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

In fact, this mission was already preplanned four hundred years before the nation of Israel came into existence when Abraham was given a preview of things to come.

Genesis 15:13: And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Genesis 15:14: And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Genesis 15:15: And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

Genesis 15:16: But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Deuteronomy 7:1: When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

Deuteronomy 7:2: And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

Deuteronomy 7:3: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Deuteronomy 7:4: For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

Deuteronomy 7:5: But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Deuteronomy 7:6: For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 7:8: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

The Lord did not give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Jacob because they were obedient and faithful. In fact there were the most obstinate and rebellious people. They were given the land because of the promise God made to their fathers.

Deuteronomy 9:1: Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,

Deuteronomy 9:2: A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

Deuteronomy 9:3: Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

Deuteronomy 9:4: Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 9:5: Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:6: Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

The Lord has determined to bring wars and destruction to certain nations for a reason. When iniquities become full, judgment will fall whether it is by the hands of the children of Israel or otherwise. In fact, God’s chosen people, the children of Israel were not spared from judgment too.

Deuteronomy 18:9: When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Deuteronomy 18:10: There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deuteronomy 18:12: For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 8:18: But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:19: And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

Deuteronomy 8:20: As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.

2 Chronicles 12:1: And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

2 Chronicles 12:2: And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

2 Chronicles 12:3: With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

2 Chronicles 12:4: And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 12:5: Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:6: Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.

2 Chronicles 12:7: And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:8: Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

So the children of Israel were likewise punished as well. God determines who can continue to stay alive on earth and who has to leave. When nations transgress beyond the point of God’s tolerance, judgment will come regardless whether these nations have the benefit of receiving the written oracles of God.

Romans 2:11: For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans 2:12: For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Romans 2:13: (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 2:14: For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Romans 2:15: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Commandments for the children of Israel to exterminate certain groups of people were restricted to those residing in Canaan and not the world at large.

Deuteronomy 20:10: When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

Deuteronomy 20:11: And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

Deuteronomy 20:12: And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

Deuteronomy 20:13: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

Deuteronomy 20:14: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Deuteronomy 20:15: Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

Deuteronomy 20:16: But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Deuteronomy 20:17: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

Deuteronomy 20:18: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

The nation of Israel was not given a mandate to conquer the whole world. Their primary mission was to exterminate those sinners God wanted to be removed from Canaan but they failed and compromised the mission. Those nations became a snare to them and eventually caused them to sin and they likewise had a taste of judgment.

Waging wars outside of Canaan was not a priority nor an absolute necessity. Unlike the inhabitants of Canaan destined to be completely wiped out, option of peace must first be extended to the inhabitants in those cities. If peace was rejected, they were given rules of engagement where not every souls that breathed were to be destroyed.

So when you think God is cruel and merciless towards the pagan nations, God allowed half a million people from His own chosen people to perish in a civil war for rebellion and apostasy against His law. The number of those slain during that conflict is more than three times the victims of those who died in the two atomic bomb attacks in Nagasaki and Hiroshima during world war 2.

2 Chronicles 13:16: And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

2 Chronicles 13:17: And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

The magnitude of those who perished is mindboggling where this number who died is twice the number of those who were wiped out during the tsunami resulted from an earthquake that hit the Indian ocean in 2004. This just demonstrates the wrath of God against all unrighteousness and fallen men often severely underestimate the holiness of God. It is worthwhile to note that God’s own people were not spared just as He did not spare those pagan Canaanites living on the earth He created when they committed abominable practices.

So the children of Israel continued to sin and rebel against the Lord and did not keep their covenant with God. Eventually God raised up the heathen nations, in particular, the Assyrians and the Babylonians to destroy their cities and carried them away for seventy years. They had a taste of being driven out just like what their forefathers did to the Canaanites of old for failing to keep God’s covenant.

When they were finally allowed to return from their exile and reside in their own land again in Israel awaiting for their Messiah to show up, they did not fare any better. Their Messiah then showed up but they rejected Him.

John 19:15: But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Matthew 27:23: And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:24: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Matthew 27:25: Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

So they killed their Messiah. Eventually Jerusalem was sacked by the Romans and the Jews banished for two thousand years and the rest was history. Those chilling words of taking responsibility for murdering their Messiah to be charged to their children are still frighteningly in effect till this day and they have been paying the price since.

With the nation of Israel now set aside, God no longer deals with one single nation alone. Thus the Lord moves forward His plan of salvation for the whole world. The nation of Israel is just a chosen vessel to bring forth the Messiah, the Saviour to the world and it has now been accomplished. The Church is now set in motion to fulfill her mission to bring the gospel of salvation to the end of the world.

The Church however, does not have a mandate to occupy real estate on earth. The Church is made up of individual members from all nations on earth who believe the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour. The Church is not an earthly nation and there are no Christian nations on earth. In fact the Church is a holy nation and certainly not an earthly carnal nation.

1 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Like the saints of old before the existence of the nation of Israel, the Church is heading to a heavenly country.

Hebrew 11:10: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrew 11:16: But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

The Church has no business fighting wars on earth to occupy real estate. As such, there are no commandments given to Christians to wage war on earth like the children of Israel. This is simply not the mandate for Christians because they have a different calling and take on different priority.

Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Any one who calls himself a Christian using scriptures to justify war on earth is out of line with biblical revelation.

There are commandments to wage wars in the Old Testament but they are only restricted to one geographical location on earth. The mandate was not given to any one else other than the children of Israel which is now history. Any one seeking to resurrect those commandments to justify wars on earth does not have a leg to stand on theologically let alone claims to be a believer of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, this world continues to be at war. We have been told in no uncertain terms there will be wars and rumours of wars.

Matthew 24:6: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

The biblical reason for wars is greed. Nations will continue to go to war for real estates and resources. The strong will dominate the weak and this has always been the case since time immemorial.

James 4:1: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:2: Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

After all, how can the world have peace when the Prince of Peace has not returned to earth to set up the Kingdom? So wars will be here to stay. This will culminate at Armageddon where the Lord will settle once and for all the controversy of wars with Israel and the nations on earth.

Revelation 16:16: And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Hosea 4:1: Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Hosea 12:2: The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Micah 6:2: Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Jeremiah 25:31: A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

What Israel failed to accomplished in time past God will bring to past the extermination of Canaanite from His house.

Zechariah 14:21: Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Israel will finally settle in nicely in the land grant promised to their fathers according to the division of the land documented in Ezekiel 48 stretching from Hamath in the north to Kadesh in the south whether the nations on earth like it or not.

So whenever anyone brings out any verses from the Bible to justify terror and wage war, he is reading in the wrong place of history. Commands to wage war were only given to the children of Israel concerning a small piece of land in the Middle East that connects three continents more than three thousand years ago. No Christian in the New Testament is ever commanded to wage earthly wars on earth for the purpose of occupying real estate on earth.

Meanwhile in spite of chaos and conflicts in the world, Christians while on earth have been officially conferred to be representatives of the heavenly country with a mission to reconcile sinners to the Lord. They have been commissioned as ambassadors for Christ to offer peace not war.

2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

So Christians, know your status and mission on earth. It is one thing to protect yourself and your loved ones from criminals and terrorists which is scripturally justifiable, it is another to participate in terror to wage war. Don’t be manipulated by anyone on earth to commit terror and wage war for political gain. It is not befitting the status as an ambassador for Christ.


Christian Lawyers Fighting Against Death Penalty

It is fashionable to become anti-death penalty advocates in these days where you will attract a following for joining this righteous cause and of course become respectable in this modern world to be associated with such activist movement. However, should Christian lawyers join this bandwagon?

Fighting such cause is usually the hobbyhorse of left wing bleeding heart liberals seeking to challenge the established norms of society since time immemorial. Many western countries have since abolished death penalties and victims of murders and other serious crimes do not get justice due to them where criminals are allowed to live when they actually deserved death for their crimes.

Some Christian activists go into emotional spasm claiming sanctity of life and dignity of death to champion the cause of criminals and their rights but conveniently forget about the rights of victims of crimes committed against them and their family. They have this half-baked romanticized notion quoting scriptures out of context to justify their noble cause.

They claim Jesus forgave the thief on the cross so we should likewise forgive criminals. What they failed to realize is that the repentant thief did not escape capital punishment but he received salvation where Jesus told him this:

Luke 23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

It is tragically pathetic that highly educated Christian lawyers lack spiritual insight. They can’t distinguish the difference between God forgiving sins of a sinner and the State executing punishment on a criminal where the sinner has to face the consequence of his crime.

The gospel of Christ is not designed to save a sinner from physical death but to grant him forgiveness of sin that comes with the free gift of eternal life.

You might probably have heard these lawyers quote the gospel where Christ came to save sinners so criminals deserve a second chance. Again they fail to understand Christ came to save sinners from their sins and not to justify their crimes and to avoid punishment mete out by the State.

They would also quote the Lord’s teaching on the sermon on the mount as though they have solid biblical justification for their righteous cause to give murderers second chance for sanctity and dignity of life which is precious according to their opinion.

Matthew 5:38: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matthew 5:39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

There you have it. So the Lord Jesus Christ came to abolish retribution?

Why stop at verses 38 and 39? Why not quote the next three verses?

Matthew 5:40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Matthew 5:41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matthew 5:42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

So you death deserving murderers, please don’t just ask these left wing Christian lawyers to spare your lives, ask them for their wealth too. Better still murder their loved ones and ask them to champion your cause to avoid the death penalty.

These foolish activists keep insisting that life is precious and should not be taken away but what about the life of the victims? Aren’t they precious too? They claim that if we take the life of a murderer, we are no better than the murderer. This is humanism in all its glory!

You just can’t believe their ridiculous logic to justify the life of murderers but do nothing to the victims and their family. In fact, since they adopt such cavalier attitude towards murder victims and their family, it would be a great idea for murderers to test their resolve by raping and murdering the loved ones of these foolish activists and see whether they continue to sing the same tune and dance to the gallery.

When the Lord preached the sermon in preparation for the coming Kingdom of heaven, those commandments were meant for individuals to adhere and not the State to comply. These left wing Christian lawyers hell bent on riding the hobbyhorse to champion anti-death penalty know not the scriptures and whereof they affirm. They think they know better than the Creator of the universe on how to govern men on earth with their misplaced compassion.

Let’s take a quick survey on the evolution of the justice system on earth since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden.

The first murder took place where Adam’s eldest son Cain murdered his brother Abel. Instead of taking away the life of the murderer immediately, God spared his life and even protected him from human retribution.

Genesis 4:10: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11: And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
Genesis 4:12: When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13: And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 4:14: Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Genesis 4:15: And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

So Cain the murderer lived on till he expired many years later. Unfortunately, without the deterrent of death penalty, life on earth didn’t get better. When you think men governed by their own conscience should know how to get along with each other when there was no death penalty, it got worse.

Genesis 4:23: And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
Genesis 4:24: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Lamech the murderer justified his crime and claimed the long laid down principle of the justice system without death penalty and so he abused it. So criminals didn’t need any left wing liberals to champion their cause during those days. It was by default they could get away with murder. It was a great era for criminals where murderers got away with murder scot-free and lived on on earth. Of course God’s justice system prevails with horizon that stretched far beyond this present sun. The sinners that sinned will die whether now or in the future and there is more to physical death thereafter.

So without death penalty during that Age, violence took over the whole world and God had no choice but to destroy the world and perform an ultimate reset to the world justice system.

Genesis 6:12: And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Genesis 6:13: And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

So the Age where human conscience that was supposed to guide human affairs failed miserably. Without death penalty to restraint the raging madness of fallen men, that world came to a tragic end.

After the global flood, eight survivors from the previous world were given the commission to repopulate the world. The justice system from the previous world has to evolve because human conscience failed to govern men on earth.

Genesis 9:6: Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Capital punishment was then introduced to keep fallen men in check and prevent the recurring raging madness of violence that plagued the world before the flood. This is a universal law found in all known nations in the world where murderers are put to death for their crimes.

This law was further codified in the penal code for the nation of Israel when they received the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.

Numbers 35:31: Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

It is the responsibility of the State to execute criminals to maintain social order in society. Capital punishment serves as a deterrent as well as a retribution to potential criminals which prevents society from descending into lawlessness. This time proven God ordained law is now being challenged by ignorant and foolish men trusting their fallen mind to govern men in this world that have not changed and will not change since the fall of Adam.

Genesis 8:21: And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

It is a terrible shame for Christian lawyers to take a different position from the God of the Bible who concluded that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Hence, capital punishment is a necessary evil without which, the entire world would be wiped out once more like the flood before that.

Left wing liberals tend to rationalize away evil and offer sentimentalized solution believing this will do greater good for mankind. They could not be more wrong. In fact, the prophet Daniel saw it coming more than 2500 years ago that men in the last days will attempt to overthrow God’s ordained law and reject the Almighty’s mode of governance on earth.

Daniel 7:25: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

It is escalating fast and furious these days as we see the coming of the Lord draws nigh. This is especially the case when Christians being in the legal profession or otherwise, join in the choruses of left wing activists to champion abolishment of death penalty for criminals. These self-conceited Christians fail to realize that the institution of the Church is not ordained to replace the institution of the State. In fact the State is ordained by God to govern men on earth while the Church serves a different function running in parallel with the State on earth. The Church concerns the spiritual realm while the State governs the physical domain on earth.

Romans 13:1: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:2: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Romans 13:3: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Romans 13:4: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Romans 13:5: Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Some specific members of the State are ordained by God to execute vengeance on evil doers on God’s behalf on earth. Even members of the Church are subject to the powers that be concerning matters on earth. Are Christians so foolish to challenge God’s ordained ministers and seek to influence, coerce and repudiate these ministers with their own opinions and conceited views on punishment of evil doers based on their own sentimental emotions and faulty logic?

If these foolish Christian lawyers still think it is their prerogative to champion the prevailing winds of change in the legal landscape that is sweeping across the western world, let them take note of what the apostle Paul has to say concerning capital punishment.

Acts 25:11: For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Paul was accused of many things by the Jews and he went through the whole legal process available to him as a Roman citizen during his days. He acknowledged and confirmed the validity of the death penalty and he submitted himself to the legal process and if he be found guilty, he was willing to die. Are Christians lawyers going to challenge Paul on his view on capital punishment?

It is not just the apostle Paul who recognized the God ordained functions of the State, even the apostle Peter exhorted Christians to submit to these ministers serving in the physical domain because they are indeed God-sent ministers to punish evil doers and this obviously include capital punishment to be meted out to criminals where there is justifiable cause that commensurate with the nature of the crimes committed.

1 Peter 2:13: Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1 Peter 2:14: Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Before the advent of the Church Age, human governments have been institutionalized to govern the affairs of men on earth. Even with capital punishment in force, this however, did not stop men from killing each other. Capital punishment serves to certain extent as a deterrent to prevent a repeat of what happened prior to the flood.

Foolish Christians argue that since capital punishment could not prevent murder, so it should be done away with. God is not going to allow these self-conceited Christian activists to bring back the violence that plagued the previous world yet. There will come a time where all human restraints will be removed during the time of Jacob’s trouble when the Church is removed and these self-conceited fools will receive their just recompense of rewards living on earth to experience unspeakable violence then. The Age of conscience failed to govern fallen men on earth and human governments will eventually fail as well.

With the arrival of the Church Age, this does not in any way abrogate the institution of human governments. The Church and human governments run in parallel and they serve different functions on earth. The Church Age is a window period where sinners while living out their lives on earth as a probation may have a chance to hear the gospel and obtain salvation and eternal life in Christ. As we survey the spiritual landscape looking at the current state of the Church, we know the Church will likewise fail as well. The Church cannot and will not prevent men from killing one another so that men may live peacefully ever after.

But when you look forward to the Kingdom Age where the Lord Jesus Christ will return and reign on earth and you think death will be a thing of the past, you would be badly mistaken. Rebellion will still be present and punishment on earth will be meted out which includes capital punishment.

Zechariah 14:17: And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Zechariah 14:18: And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zechariah 13:3: And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

Isaiah 65:20: There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Even during the Kingdom Age living under a perfect human government with the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne and Satan banished for a thousand years, men will still fail and rebel. This will culminate in a grand final rebellion at the end of the Kingdom Age where all rebellions will eventually be put down and become history in the Eternal Age.

Revelation 20:7: And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Revelation 20:8: And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation 20:9: And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation 20:10: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

There is very little hope that scriptural proofs will convince some of these Christian activists from championing the removal of death penalty. Some not only champion removal of death penalty, they even champion the rights of perverts to practise their perversion and deviant behaviour. This is an affront to the thrice Holy God, the Creator of the universe who governs the affairs of men in all Ages and will never overlook sins of men.

Numbers 14:18: The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

A Christian may choose to forgive the trespasses and transgressions of a criminal, but he has no business interfering with the law of the land to prevent justice to take its course. Like the repentant thief who believed the Lord and received pardon and salvation, he could not escape capital punishment due to him. His physical body may be lost but his soul is saved.

Christians activists championing abolishment of death penalty brings the Church into disrepute. Such acts implicitly demand compliance from the State and the Church may suffer backlash for intruding into domain that does not belong to the sphere of influence of the Church. The principle of separation of the Church and State must be strictly upheld otherwise this may invite the State to meddle with the spiritual affairs of the Church.

There is no conflict between the State and the Church on the matter of capital punishment and in fact, capital punishment is a direct commandment from the Holy Bible. Unless these Christian activists are apostates where the Holy Bible has no use to them, Christians must never sing and dance with activists seeking to abolish death penalty. After all what has a Christian got to fear about death penalty? Is death penalty interfering with their Christian faith?

Convicted serial-killer Morin Stephen Peter who became a Christian while in prison withdrew all appeals after pleading guilty to capital murder. His conviction and genuine Christian faith could teach these self-conceited Christian activists something on capital punishment.

Capital Punishment for Morin Stephen Peter

The wisest man ever lived concluded that the malady of this sin cursed world is not because of the administration of capital punishment by human governments. It is precisely because of the lack of speedy execution of God’s laws on criminals that is responsible for evil to breed and allows wickedness to flourish.

Ecclesiastes 8:11: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

It is indeed tragic that Christian lawyers who are so well versed with the finer points of laws of the land and are professionally acquainted with the inner workings of court proceedings but are so spiritually blind to the laws of God and His wills for men from the Holy Bible.

Are they wiser than Solomon? Are these Christian activists greater than the words of the living God? God may perhaps arrange for them or their loved ones to experience some horrible crimes to befall them to help them see the truth and then they may sing a different tune.

Capital punishment will be here to stay for a very long time until the dawn of the Eternal Age, which is at least a thousand years away. So why waste time and fight against God’s explicit commandment?