Nougat 1

When we reflect on, rather compare, the present time with the past, it is quite evident that things have changed. It may surprise us to know that we also have changed over time. In today’s Holy Nougat, we are encouraged to live for Christ, lest we become examples of how Not to be.

“For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Nothing Sacred

To be honest, while I may get irreverent from time to time, I can’t not experience and express reverence towards other things, people and to our Triune God. Yet I have met and been acquaintances of people who are adamantly opposed to seeing the Gospel as good news. For they cannot envision Jesus as the Christ. Nor is God’s sovereignty acceptable to them.

In an era when we live Jesus’ Golden Rule literally and figuratively, it is not as easy to simply disagree, scoff and move on. Nor is it always possible or safe to contradict dissenting views, voices and theologies. In those moments, confronted by the reality of direct antipathy to God’s existence, to God’s sovereignty, or to Jesus’ deity and far less openness to the reality of God’s Spirit, how do we respond?

Do we simply see it as signs of the Time, do we impose our beliefs as evangelists (in accordance with the Great Commission and perhaps alienating them further), and do we completely dissociate from such people in order to keep our own lives sanctified, is there an alternative?

It may become a moot point, for the ‘persecuted church’ might not fare well by sharing the Gospel openly. And if Jesus’ prophetic words hold true, Christendom will soon be a faint memory. In some places it already is. And, if like me you do not enjoy being converted by others, then it is not so easy to voluntarily evangelize is it.

Of course it’s also depending on the extent of the lack of regard. We’ve heard of churches being burned, people being killed in cold blood in churches, and not only in non-Christian communities. In the last decade or thereabouts individuals have opened fire on others during worship services in the USA and Jamaica, with no regard for the others in the worship space, and definitely without regard for God’s presence in the space.

Before condemning such worship spaces with judgements on the depth of their faith and God’s retribution; we might need to consider one guaranteed response that places everything in perspective. Praying

This is the secret weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6. It is both offensive AND

defensive armor. So we are encouraged “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭

At all times ‬‬

On every occasion

Persistently

For all believers

Not just sometimes, for some people, or in those God-forsaken places.

For when the world begins to disbelieve God’s existence, when the house of God is no longer a safe and sacred space, when even the very possibility of Jesus’ divinity is offensive to others; we have but one recourse, we must pray for wisdom on how to respond. Pray for healing from the brokenness at the root of, and resulting from the signs of the End Times.

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May all we seek be found in Christ