Land of the Free?

And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. (1 Kings 14:24)

Some Christians had a wonderful Independence Day with their families, some no doubt took in a movie or went to the lake, or participated in a community event. Still others probably took their perennial role as "Grill Master" and whipped up some delicious burgers, dogs, brats and steaks. The Christian liberty enjoyed in these United States is rightly seen as a double edged sword of sorts, a mixed bag if you will. On the one hand our nation's "freedom of religion" has allowed Christianity, in all its various forms, to flourish in this country. And on the other hand one of the unintended consequences of this "freedom" has been to produce a worldly, carnal, materialistic professing church that has grown spiritually fat, soft, and lazy in the absence of persecution. Just as when a wild animal is domesticated and no longer harbors its acute natural fear being killed and eaten, the professing church has become dull of hearing, seeing, and discerning the rampant and deadly spiritual deception of the destroyer within the flock.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not taking the position that Christians ought to seek persecution as some sort of badge of honor, nor am I contending that God cannot or does not in some cases sovereignly choose to protect His own from persecution, but the fact remains that persecution often sifts the children of God from the children of Baal. This is because a genuine readiness to suffer thins out the number of true Christians from the ranks of professing believers; it eliminates those whose walk goes no further than a cheap profession.

And in case you're wondering how some Christians spent Independence Day in the Land of the free, take a look at how the gospel is being received in New York, Kansas, and Florida in these last days: World Net Daily reports "Now praying gets 7 Christians arrested - Cops call holding Bibles while lying prostrate 'disturbing peace'".

Friends I mentioned in a post just a few brief days ago how the United States is mere inches from tyranny. Could more evidence be required? How much longer can it be before preaching the whole counsel of God is considered a "hate crime"? In my opinion we're witnessing nothing less the final act in the plan of the ages, the setting of the stage for the rise of anti-christ and the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ in great glory and power. No man knows that day nor hour, but may we who are called by His name look up, pray up, and speak up for His imminent return.

Maranatha Lord Jesus!

UPDATE: It looks like we can add Maryland to our Independence Day Hall of Shame.