There He was, the King Himself, standing before Pilate, awaiting His death sentence. A large crowd had gathered outside. There was no mistaking it, these people were angry. They wanted this man, Jesus of Nazareth, dead. “Crucify him! Crucify him!” was all that could be heard. This man must have done something terrible. But who were these people that were so angry at the Son of God? Maybe they were rapists, thieves, and murderers. Possibly they were the local liars, drunks, or some other evildoers. Actually, they were the religious people, the church goers, the ones claiming to be God’s people.
Ever since that infamous day, history has repeated itself. People claiming to be God’s people have seen those who love Jesus and try to follow His teachings as their enemies and have persecuted them any way they could. From the Jews, to the Roman Catholics, to the Protestants, the mainstream church of the day has always been the enemy of those who try to govern their everyday lives by the simple clarity of the Scriptures.
I am concerned that we have signed a deal with the mainstream church of our day—a deal for peace at all costs.
Any Scripture that teaches rebuke, reproof, or correction is considered out-of-date and is not allowed to be used to help shape the faith and practice of today’s Christian. Many individuals, church leaders, and even whole churches have begun to believe that love and acceptance alone is a better way to point others to Christ. Those who would raise a voice of warning are seen to be critical and stirring unrest, so they are quickly silenced.
As we search the Scriptures, we see that Jesus, then the disciples, then the early church, had nothing good to say or think about the false church.
While out witnessing or talking to people about the Lord, I’m amazed at the backlash from the mainstream church of our day. Mainly, the Protestant church.
A simple man walked up to a Christian concert holding a sign reading ‘Jesus saves from sin’. Without him ever saying a word, he was attacked. “Quit judging us!” “You don’t know our hearts!” “You’re a disgrace!” “Bigot!” The man slowly walked away.
Many times, the people who get angry when discussions involving God come up are actually folks who claim to know Jesus. The sinners seem to let the message penetrate their hearts. If you were to go to an intersection in a city and simply hold a sign proclaiming something about Christ, you would soon see that this is true.
As I was standing in line at a fast-food restaurant, I noticed that the young man preparing my sandwich had many interesting tattoos. Some were of tombstones, skulls, and other graphic designs. I calmly asked him if he could explain what the tattoos meant to him. He began going into detail about each one. I then asked the young man if he knew Jesus. He got sober and explained that he wanted to believe in God but couldn’t. I quoted a few Bible verses and told him that God was waiting for him. I noticed that God’s Word was having a great effect on the young man.
Meanwhile, I also noticed that the lady behind me was beginning to get frustrated. Finally, she interrupted our conversation and told the man, “Jesus loves you just the way you are. You don’t have to change for this man.” This lady later told me what church she went to and how judgmental she thought that I had acted. I was amazed. I had only told the young man about the Savior!
Before I left the restaurant, I walked back over to the young man to bid him farewell. As I approached, he looked up with tears in his eyes. “Thank you”, he said “I can tell that you truly care about me. I will go home and really think about what you said.”
That night, as I reflected on the day’s events, I wondered why that professing Christian woman had such a problem with my interaction with the young man. Why did she get so angry? I felt like the Lord gave me an answer: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon –Matthew 6:24.
She was a nice young lady. And, yes, she professed that she was a Christian, but she clearly did not live a life that was in obedience to God’s Word. Rather, outside of going to church, one would not be able to tell at all that she was a follower of Christ. I’m sure if I would have met her at the park, we could have had a nice chat. I’m sure she would have been courteous and polite. I’m sure she would have presented herself as a good citizen and nice person. But when it came to being excited about Jesus, sharing the gospel, and talking about God’s Word, her true colors came out.
Am I saying that a person must be an Anabaptist to make it to heaven? Absolutely not, but I am saying we must obey the Bible and follow Christ to make it to heaven. Most professing Christians are super nice and seem godly, until you start talking about God.
Since when has the definition of a Christian been ‘a nice person’, or ‘a good citizen’? Is that all there is to it anymore—simply do what you want, find a fun church that doesn’t require anything from you, get a good job, get married, have a few children and just like that you’re a ‘Christian’? God help us!
When He was having a discussion with a group of people about whether or not they were true followers of God, Jesus said, …If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth … Ye do the deeds of your father … Ye are of your father the devil… –John 8:39-44.
Has the true church slipped so far as to not be able to call things as they are? God’s Word gives us clear understanding on the matter: Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light –Ephesians 5:10-13.
Jesus says Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid –Matthew 5:14. Do we expose sin and heresy in the same way that light exposes darkness? Or are we too attached to a comfortable life with no enemies? We do not need to be scared of the world, or of the false church, because we know that we have what they need! For years the mainstream churches have been getting farther and farther away from the truth of God’s Word. Are we afraid to recognize this? Are we afraid to separate ourselves from this? Will we stand up against it like the early church did?
There is a reason why the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, died hating the Anabaptist people—because they rejected his interpretation of the Scriptures. The Anabaptist people were not respecters of people. Rather their only respect was for God and His Word, and that without compromise. It was for this that they were persecuted. It would have been much easier for those godly young men to just be quiet and try to get along with the Catholics and Protestants, but they refused and both groups sought to extinguish them. Still, they lived on, trusting only in their God. When we joined the church of Jesus Christ didn’t we promise to continue fighting the same fight—the same fight that Jesus fought; the same fight the early church fought—the fight against the false church? Or have we agreed to get along, for the sake of peace? After all isn’t it better for business, for friendships, and for reputation?! God forbid!
We can live a life that seems to be without sin, but still be living in disobedience. The Bible calls us to action! We are called to be lights, to be witnesses, to pursue godliness, and to live uprightly, not just to put on a good show. I believe this is what has become popular in our day. Lying, cheating, stealing, and killing are attributes that even the world rejects. It’s the ‘in thing’ to be respectable, to make a nice living, and to be upstanding citizens. But is this the life of a born-again believer? Should we fit in with the American dream? Should the only thing that’s different between us and the Protestant church be a head covering? I think we should prayerfully consider this move, the move to join hands with the mainstream church.
I personally know many Protestant Christians. I’m not trying to say they are bad people; many are good folks. But that is not what we are talking about. I believe we need to draw a line and slow down this draw to join them in any compromising manner. Let’s look at just a few of the differences between the Protestants and Anabaptists.
War
Can you believe in war, killing your enemies, and still be a New Testament Christian? Most Protestants are supporters of fighting for our freedoms and our rights. Many will go as far as calling Anabaptist people cowards for not fighting.
Years ago, a group of professing Christians gathered around the biggest bomb ever made. This bomb was about to be sent into a foreign land to destroy an entire city; this bomb was meant to kill everything in its path. Men, women, and children alike would perish because of this bomb; that was the plan. As this group was gathered around this bomb they began to pray, they asked God’s blessing on this bombing mission. They then thanked Him for its success—killing nearly one quarter of a million souls.
Jesus calls us to love our enemies. This topic clearly separated the churches during the various wars. Most of the ‘Christian’ churches in the world supported the war effort of their country. The Anabaptists would not, and they were sorely persecuted for it. So, can we be a Christian and continue to support war? If we support war, where will it stop? Will we also prepare to defend ourselves and our families against violence and lawlessness? The American church calls ‘defending ourselves’, our families, and our country, heroism or bravery; the Bible calls it.
Entertainment
It seems that most Christians in America have no problem watching as many ballgames and sports events as they desire. Movies and television are found in nearly every home. Going to the beach, casinos, and festivals are commonplace. Spending thousands on big hunting trips and expensive vacations is completed without a second thought. To be honest, there really are no limits to what the Christian in America can do, as long as it seems right to them. Jesus tells us multiple times to deny ourselves. It seems that we look for any loophole possible to indulge in all the self-gratifying activities we want! It’s no wonder the church is struggling with pornography and many other sins of the flesh. When we learn how to deny ourselves, pick up the cross, and follow Jesus, then we will start to see a clear, distinct, and large separation between us and the mainstream church of our day.
Non-conformity
It is common to conform to one’s surroundings. This is one reason we don’t send our children to public schools. Jesus is also very clear that we need to come out from among them and be separate, to say “No” to evil communication and the ways of this world, and to not be afraid of identifying ourselves with the people of God. It almost seems that dress is really the only thing that separates many of us, and that is changing also.
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 –1 John 2:15-16. Where are the people that hate the world? Where are the people that want to be as separated as possible? Where are the people that are not afraid to be laughed at? Where are the people that are not afraid to be different? Oh, where are God’s people?! If history repeats itself, there will soon be no difference between the church and the world. Oh, where are the men?!
I’ve heard many Anabaptist people say they can’t say that those in the worldly church are not Christians; they just don’t want to go in that direction. Is that truthful? Is that the message we want to send to our youth, and to our children? I don’t believe so. The Bible says that few will make it. If we pass on to our children that the Protestant church is also ok, and that they just do things differently, we are destroying everything that Jesus preached. We are saying that we do what we do, not because the Bible says, but rather we decide what we do based on our circumstances and what others around us think! No wonder our children are more interested in the modern church of today than ever before—there’s no line drawn!
There was a modern church that caught my attention. They seemed to be on fire for the Lord! The pastor preached as a dying man. They were very interested in reaching the lost. But there were so many Bible teachings that they simply ignored! I finally took it to the Lord. “What is going on here God!” It was as if God told me to ‘just wait’.
Soon after that, the pastor was released from his position because he was having an affair. Then it all became clear to me—you can have a nice church, you can preach a good message, and you can help the poor, but if you’re not willing to obey ALL of the New Testament teachings, you’re not a true Christian, and you will not find victory. It’s easy to take Christianity so far, but it is not easy to sell all that you have, put your all on the altar, and follow your Master. I know this is bold, but it is the truth of God’s Word.
I was speaking to a young lady in a Protestant setting, who wanted to give her life to the Lord. She was ready to do what it took, or so she said. I asked her if she was ready to suffer for Jesus, if she was ready to separate herself from her old friends, if she was ready to be hated by the world, and ready to be different. I asked her if she was willing to change how she looked. It didn’t take long before she shockingly responded with an emphatic “No!” “I want to start going to church, but not all that other stuff.” I later noticed her with her friends pointing and laughing at me. Being cool does not define a true Christian but being rejected for the sake of the Gospel does.
This is a tough article to write. It’s not a popular message and not very encouraging. But I think it’s a message we must consider today, not only for our sake, but for our children’s sake, and that of the church of tomorrow. We must draw clear lines of separation, without any compromise. We must honestly evaluate the modern church of our day with the clear teachings of the New Testament. We must call sin, sin. We must call disobedience, sin. We must call compromise, sin. We must once again choose to suffer with the true people of God. This does not mean that we shun people or act distasteful towards them, but with love in our hearts, and a message on our lips, we point the masses to Christ!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek –Romans 1:16.
