Kingdom of God Advances: Humanist Nations Totter
With a gasp of horror, conservative Christians felt their hearts ripped loose as the election counts came in. Anyone having the slightest caution of Biblical understanding reasoned that the American people have just received a severing blow to their pocketbooks and their freedom. Like a gravity bomb from 10,000 feet, the impending crash appears predestined. What exactly do faithful Christians do when the end of days appears, as objects in your rearview mirror, closer than you think?
This is no time for quoting fuzzy platitudes. We hate those don’t we? Just trust, help is only a prayer away, footsteps in the sand, blah, blah, blah, don’t worry be happy! Somehow mushy Christians with no answers sound just like the lost children of this world, when the brick wall is looming. Now, is the time to leave mushy-minded pablum behind, and start working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:2). Of course, the fear and trembling Scripture is discussing has to do with getting our direction right before God. We ought to fear and tremble when we consider the urgent need for us to get things right with the Lord, and the consequences in both our lives and in history when we do not. Every cause has its effect. Fear and tremble at the thought of being an evil cause; one that attempts to disestablish the true reigning King. Fear and tremble when we knowingly, and repeatedly, violate the laws of the King and His kingdom. However, we fear and tremble wrongly when we coldly calculate that God’s grace in our lives is insufficient for the day.
This is the sin that now so easily entangles us. We feel our feet being caught in the net but are just as convinced as our godless neighbors, that our God will not rescue His own. I have firmly determined that I will believe God. I will say, “The law of my God is in my heart, my steps do not slip (Psalm 37:31). I am a sinner but repentant saying, “When he falls he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand” (Psalm 37:24).” These are not platitudes. These are words as sure as any boulder in these mountains under my feet. We will not slip. I will not slip. That is my conviction.
All of this is not the end. Rather, it is a new beginning. We not only walk in safety, we run. We advance against the enemies of our God. Perhaps like our brethren in Nehemiah’s day, we build with one hand and with the other we carry the sword. This is not the time to become unwound. It is a blessed moment in history when those who struggle against God have expended all they have in the fight, and now find themselves both philosophically and financially exhausted. They are ruining everything, but we are called to build.
Many Christians have been convinced we are at the end of defeat, and that the reading of the final chapter of history has begun. They tremble at the future and rage against the past that brought us here. That brick wall seems awfully close. You can see the individual grains in the mortar joints. But, the Psalms (all of Scripture really) present a different end to the story. Psalm 22:27 reads, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee.” Psalm 67:4 encourages, “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for thou wilt judge the peoples with uprightness, and guide the nations on the earth.” Solomon rightly prayed, “And let all kings bow down before Him, all nations serve Him” (Psalm 72:11). These and many others discuss the reign of God’s kingdom, on earth, among nations. The kingdom of God is advancing on earth among nations. It is not just a heavenly kingdom for which we hope. It is an earthly kingdom as well, and it will conquer all of God’s enemies. Our hope is heavenly but it is also earthly. We are not to be waiting around for the final defeat of the church by the advancing antichrist. We must do exactly what Jesus told us, “seek first the kingdom of God and righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”
Given that we are to be kingdom builders while we are here, our work is before us not behind. We ought to daily, hourly, be conceiving what step we might take, what service we may render, to advance the cause of our living God in this age. All of the answers for the collapsing civilization in which we find ourselves, are awaiting rediscovery in God’s word. There is nothing lacking, except perhaps stalwart men and women who will proclaim everywhere the glories and wisdom of God’s advancing kingdom. Are we looking for economic wisdom? It is found throughout the Book. Do we seek solutions to our wars? An entire handbook on godly warfare has been included in the holy pages. Have we confusion about criminal justice or the courts? God has laid out the law for every bit of what we need. What we have is a manual for Christian civilization.
The Bible is not merely a collection of stories and moral anecdotes given to fix our weary hearts. It is much more. It is the source of heavenly sagaciousness designed as the foundation for Godly civilization and rule. For the computer whizzes among us, it is the source code for righteous nations.
Nothing the enemies of God, the secular humanists, atheists, modern day Pharisees who have sought to be wise but became fools; none of them will defeat the forward momentum of God’s kingdom. His nation, His nations, will prevail in history, not just in heaven (where there are no nations). We have gazed with fear at the seeming, advancing edge of humanist destruction. It is in the news, on the internet, invading our ears and eyes. Do not be shaking at these appearances. We may be like Jehoshaphat’s army, striding out to watch God conquer His foes and advance the kingdom (2 Chronicles 20). We cannot fear and we cannot grow weary in doing righteousness.
Do not be fooled by appearances. This is a golden hour in time for building and restoring what evil men have torn down. Do not be deceived into believing that all is hopeless and the end of the ages is upon us. It is not. The sun still shines and we are to work before the night comes when no man can work. The night will come but it is not here. God has promised repeatedly that His rule will extend visibly to all the earth. Kings will bow down to Him from every nation (see Psalm 2). We fear for our lives. We fear for our credit. We fear for cities whose tenements will be in terror at the slightest slip. It is time to resolve, without wavering, that we will work for the progress of the kingdom, regardless of these towering giants. Ours is not a life of quavering before troubles. It is a life of faith to faith that conquers kingdoms and shuts the mouths of lions. Our Savior has sent us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. This is a time for Christian brothers and sisters to advance in faith not in fear. Christian civilization will be rebuilt stronger than it ever has been. He will not fail. We, His army, will succeed.
For Christian Culture,
Don Schanzenbach
Related Articles
Thy Kingdom Come (on earth?)
Cultural Blessing—How May We Prosper?
Do Not Be Discouraged, Be Faithful
Suspender Man™, Don Schanzenbach, has long been an outspoken advocate of recapturing culture for Christ. He holds a MA in applied Biblical studies and a doctorate in applied theological studies in the field of political philosophy and government from New Geneva Seminary. He has been thinking, writing and speaking on Christian culture for two decades.
Amen!
As you know, Don, the reason the election results were so devastating to most Christians is because, in disobedience to Psalm 118:8-9, they had their confidence (hope) in “princes” instead of Yahweh. It’s time to get back to not only trusting and hoping in the KING of kings and LORD of lord and PRINCE of princes, but rejoicing in His sovereignty and that everything goes wrong just right.
From His lofty perspective, the election results were, in fact, exciting because Americans not only got what they deserved (Daniel 4:17) but what they needed. Hopefully after another four years of Obama, Americans will be humbled , return to their God, and repent of their confidence in man and his governments.
In my opinion, everything is pointing to what is the very beginning of what may very well be the most exciting paradigm shift in American history, outside possibly the early 17th-century when the Puritans established their governments upon Yahweh’s commandments, statutes, and judgments. What a day we live in and how blessed we are to be ambassadors of the Almighty!
Blessed to have found you and may Yahweh use to open many hearts and minds to His sovereign plan.
Got to thinking that some of your list might be encouraged by my two part audio series I preached at a conference outside Branson Missouri entitled “Troublesome Times – Bah!” The first message can be accessed at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/tapelist.html. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Note, this is a new website not yet officially launched, but still mostly functional.
Let’s hasten the day of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 12). Let’s look forward to His revenging disobedience by letting our obedience be fulfilled (2 Corinthians 10: 6). His law is perfect (Psalms 19: 7). Let His law become our law!
You nailed it, Mr.Schanzenbach. Things look bad, but our God is sovereign and in control of all things, and He commands us to advance in His cause. There are going to be tough times ahead, and not just in America, of that I have no doubt. But as you point out, we need to focus not on the tough times before us(giving in to fear and trembling at the grim prospects), but on the assurace we have that God and His kingdom will be victorious in this earth.
As you state, “The Bible is not merely a collection of stories and moral anecdotes given to fix our weary hearts. It is much more. It is the source of heavenly sagaciousness designed as the foundation for Godly civilization and rule. For the computer whizzes among us, it is the source code for righteous nations.”
I just wish more in the CHurch truly understood this. I pray that God will raise up more men like you who understand this fundamental truth and are willing and eager to press the crown rights of Jesus Christ over all areas of life and thought. May God bless you in your efforts herein.
Thank you for your kind words.
Wonderful article, Mr. Schanzenbach!
I agree that the answer lies within the binding of our family Bible! That document that has become our national idol, the U.S. Constitution, is one of the roots of our country’s downfall and ultimate demise.
We need Christian men working from a Biblical world view to step forward & reclaim our country for Christ & His Perfect Law system.
We need righteous men who will fearlessly lead our nation in the direction of Yahweh’s Kingdom…
I share an old hymn that my wife or I been singing for many years. I found this song in an old Methodist hymnal — you won’t find it in ANY church hymnals today!
God Send Us Men
Lyrics written 1909 by Frederick J. Gillman (1866-1949)
Published: 1916 / Tune: Kedron, 1799
God send us men whose aim ’twill be
Not to defend some ancient creed,
But to live out the laws of Christ
In every thought and word and deed.
God send us men alert and quick
His lofty precepts to translate,
Until the laws of Christ become
The laws and habits of the state.
God send us men of steadfast will,
Patient, courageous, strong and true,
With vision clear and mind equipped
His will to learn, his work to do.
God send us men with hearts ablaze,
All truth to love, all wrong to hate;
These are the patriots nations need;
These are the bulwarks of the state.
And the solution for restoration has been laid out:
Deuteronomy 11:
22 ¶For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love Yah your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;
23 Then will Yah drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for Yah your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.
Esther 9:
2 The Jehudites gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jehudites; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
Very good indeed.
As I posted before and listed several of many events unfolding before our eyes, His the leveling of the playing field may be sooner, rather than later. See posted my comment to “Christian Moral Choice—Whom Do We Fear?”
And things are advancing in everyone of those events.
“And when you see these signs, look up for your redemption draws near.”