Joshua spoke to the children of Israel as he prepared to die in that blessed hope yet to come. “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.   And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15).

Today’s church really amazes me. Not always in a good way. That is the reason for this article. If one looks to places such as Africa, and the East, we see two different groups that call themselves Christian. In the non West areas, Christians face martyrdom on a daily basis.

The Islamic ruled world not only treat Christians like a slave class, they have no issue destroying churches, schools, and homes. Look at Pakistan last year. Because of a false report that a minister had desecrated the Quran, massive groups of buildings and their contents were burned to the ground. Christians had no churches, no homes, and lost their belongings. Even children are forced to work in the brick kilns areas with their parents.

In India, they face attacks from both Hindu and Islam followers. If not killed, these Christians after assault continue to preach Christ crucified. They face two enemies in that nation. Two fronts to defend against.

In areas of Africa, Islamic groups like Boko Haram not only kill Christians. They raid Christian villages and kidnap Christian students. Some are ransomed, some are found, some escape, and some are executed.

In China, President Xi Jinping and his controlled administration tell churches who can be pastors, priests, etc. They have to have his picture in the churches, no crosses, and according to some reports, is planning to rewrite the Holy Scriptures. In this new blasphemy, The state would be the savior and Jesus is the anti-Christ.

So what happens in the West? Sinful ideology sits in the pulpit and pews. Those who preach Christ crucified are ridiculed, cursed at,’canceled’ and jail because of the thought police. Yes, sometimes they are physically assaulted and killed, but not generally.

There are three camps in the West that take the name of Christian. The first are those that except all perversion and sin, because all they preach is God is love and therefore He accepts you and doesn’t ask you to change. These aren’t Christians nor preach the Christ of Scripture. Paul warned of these (Galatians 1:8-9). These are the wolves (Matthew 7:15). They openly blaspheme the Sovereign God and His Son. They, like the world, call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

Then there is the devout camp. These are the ones that preach  ‘thus says the Lord’. They believe every word of Scripture is true. They believe that you come to Christ as you are, but Christ doesn’t leave you how you came in (2 Corinthians 5:17). They preach like Jesus, John the Baptists and the Apostles. They call man to repentance (Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:3). Repentance is the changing of mind and heart. Something only the Sovereign God alone can do. They preach the Cross of the Crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2). They preach that the only way to eternal salvation with God is through Jesus the Christ (Acts 4:12).

Then there is the third group. These are those that believe like the second group. But whine when troubles come. As Christians are being jailed because of the thought police (England) and for standing for their rights (Canada and the US), they whine and complain. Going to jail for the faith should be a joy. If they lock you in jail, then they have defeated their own purpose. They gave you a captive audience. Think about it. They lock you up for telling a couple people about the salvation power of Christ, then they place you in a locked building of multiple people who can’t get away from you. Like Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25-32). Whining and being silent are spoke against in Scripture (Matthew 10:33). These are the ones who will be to scared of loss and danger to speak the name of Jesus (Matthew 15:8).

Jesus told us, as true disciples, what we would face.“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” (Matthew 24:9-10).If they hated the prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles, then why would Christians not believe that we will be hated as well. Jesus came to save us from God through the salvation of God through Himself. He didn’t say it would be an easy life. He didn’t say he came to love everyone and let them live as they want. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.   And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.   He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.   And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.   He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 34-39).

Pastor Adrian Rogers said it best. Salvation is free. Discipleship will cost you everything.You have to decide now, which Christian camp you are in before the war. We fight small battles now, but the war is yet to come. Put on the Armor God gave us. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.   Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.   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.   Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
   Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;   And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;   Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.   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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;   And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,   For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20).