Truly "The World" is walking today in Darkness, Delusion, Despair, and Deception -- "blinded in the eyes of its understanding by the god of THIS world and the prince of deceit" (2Cor 4:4). The fearsome problem is, though, that in a VERY large part, MUCH of the "so-called church" is NO better off !!

I am dismayed as I read on a "christian forum" that I follow where individuals actually condone and encourage the blatant anarchy and destruction that is taking place (supposedly) in the name of the black man - George Floyd of Minneapolis - (supposedly) killed by a white police officer on May 25, 2020.

Not to minimize the death of ANY human being (and certainly NOT because this individual was black) --- however, what sane and rational manner of thinking could in ANY way justify the ensuing terrorism, anarchy and lawlessness that has resulted over this ONE man. Does the (supposed) injustice perpetrated against one man in ANY way justify the mass anarchy and lawlessness taking place, with the personal assaults and destruction of property of multitudes of innocent people ??? Thousands of people die EVERY day - black, white, police, men, women, children, guilty and innocent - WHERE is the outcry over THESE deaths ??

By ALL means, if the policemen in question are, IN FACT, guilty of criminal behavior, then let them be brought up on charges before the courts and dealt with justly as would be ANY other person. Those taking part in the riots are doing to those policemen and the populace at large EXACTLY what THEY claim is done to the blacks whom they CLAIM to be protesting on behalf of --- namely, denying THEM of THEIR rights and protection under the law and of proper judicial procedure !!!!!

NO, this outbreak is nothing less than PLANNED anarchy and social upheaval, purposed and orchestrated by those who despise order and justice and ferment lawlessness and social upheaval for their OWN purposes and ends -- to overturn the current order of society and usher in their OWN twisted version of "The perfect Society". It is TERRORISM - plain and simple - and the individuals involved in it need, in MY opinion, to be dealt with as what they are - TERRORISTS !!

From a Christian perspective, it is certainly an out-birth of the warfare taking place in the "heavenly places". It is moreover, an orchestration of lawlessness and upheaval by the "god of this world" and "the prince of the power of the air" - toward his end of destroying the Church and tormenting and enslaving humanity in general.

What, to MY mind, is even MORE alarming than the massive, mindless "mob hysteria" of the above scenario, is the underlying bigotry of MANY so-called "christians" toward the police, law enforcement agencies, government and "BIG Business (capitalism). I can hear the indignant protests now, "How dare you call ME, a 'born-again christian', a bigot ??" Before you protest TOO loudly, examine your heart before God. How ready and willing are you to condemn the "evil establishment" for ANY offense with the smallest of REAL proof ?? How willing are you to automatically accept ANY allegations of "police brutality" (especially if perpetrated against a so-called "innocent minority figure") without ANY real proof. How willing are you to automatically believe, condone and support virtually ANY "conspiracy plot" involving the "evil establishment", big government, law enforcement, or "one-world order" without ANY serious investigation or corroboration AT ALL, believing every fantastical and fanatical post found on YouTube or other Internet "news???" sources ?

Where is the outrage and the mass protests when a white policeman is murdered by a black (or ANY other color) criminal during the fulfillment of his sworn duty to uphold the law and protect society. Does HIS life not matter - nor the grief, pain and loss to HIS wife and children ???

Let us have a little "Reality Check" !! ------- Do you EVER consider the conditions under which most policemen (and women) work ? Surrounded 24-7 by life threatening danger - exposed to the WORST specimens that humankind can produce - expected to always remain cool, in-control, reserved, aloof - never under ANY circumstances let their emotions get loose - always give the other person the benefit of the doubt. They are EXPECTED as part of their job to routinely go into life threatening situations, never knowing if some "pig hating psycho" is behind the door or around the corner, waiting to kill him/her.

What do these individuals for the most part receive for their sacrifice and dedication ?? Being but human beings like myself (and YOU, I trust), they are nonetheless persecuted and crucified for ANY error of judgment or mistake in transacting their assigned duties. They are routinely called upon to make split-second decisions involving life-and-death (including their OWN). Despite the unimaginable pressures to perform with unerring exactness that they must work under, they are generally given NO latitude by the "outraged press and public" when they occasionally fail to live up to this "superhuman" standard of perfection. Do we EVER consider how WE would perform under similar circumstances (shall we not "walk a mile in their shoes" BEFORE rendering judgment) ??

If this isn't bad enough, what does he/she receive in return for this life threatening devotion to the service of protecting YOU and ME, of keeping the streets safe and society secure, of allowing us peace of mind to go about OUR business of making a living and raising a family, oftentimes of having to confront and deal with youths because their parents were too busy and indifferent to deal with their children THEMSELVES !!!

What they too often DO receive is slander, persecution and crucifixion by society and ESPECIALLY by the PRESS for any and all infractions of judgment, performance and duty. For doing the job which SOCIETY has given to them, they are assailed by names like "pig, murderer, bigot, fascist, etc."

Rarely are they applauded and appreciated for a job well done, nor do we EVER stop to consider what our streets and society would be like without them, despite their occasional failures. I think that the current situation in Seattle should open our eyes just a little. Forget about the idyllic and simple-minded claims that without the "oppressive state", "good people" (on whatever planet it is that they live) would live together in peace, love and harmony (how naive can you get ??). Without law enforcement, the ENTIRE nation would be such an armed camp, where the evil and violent preyed upon the weak and innocent.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing. ** Romans 13:1-6

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves. Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king. ** 1 Peter 2:13-17

Now, before I get some "knee-jerk" reaction from some so-called "christian anarchist" regarding the above scriptures, let it be known that I do NOT post them as a claim to BLIND and MINDLESS obedience to authority. I know (as well as YOU do) that the TRUE Biblical Mandate is to obey secular authority so long as it DOES NOT contradict God's authority --- Very TRUE and Good !! However, TOO MANY who merely wish to justify THEIR disobedience seek to twist and ridicule this scripture to justify their own GODLESS behavior and ends. Also, please spare me the childish sophistry about, "Yes, but WE don't have a King". Substitute the appropriate authority title !

I merely wish to point out that THESE scriptures (and others) state that secular authority WAS and IS instituted by God to prevent social chaos and anarchy, and to keep man's evil and violent tendencies under control. As I pointed out above, without this, ALL of society would be one giant Seattle. Thusly, God EXPECTS ALL people (especially Christians) to be under his appointed authority, and to EXPECT appropriate consequences for disobedience.

One aspect of "the deplorable condition of the so-called 'christian' church" that I mentioned at the beginning is that, in MY view, too much of it has lost sight of the job that it was given to perform.

Particularly on the forum that I mentioned, there is a constant rhetoric (by certain individuals) pushing and chiding members to become consumed in the affairs of politics and social function.

Now, I AM NOT saying that, as Christians, we do not have a place and obligation to vote intelligently and in favor of the most godly candidate - to serve in society where God might place us - and to use ALL of our gifts to help make the society in which we must (for now) live into as good a place as is within our means and power. However, this IS NOT our PRIMARY function, as many seem to have lost sight of. The Sole and PRIMARY mission (WORK) that God (Jesus) gave to His Church (US) is to propagate the "Word of Reconciliation" -- to proclaim to lost and fallen mankind that the doorway back to God has again been opened, and that there is NO obstacle (save unconfessed and unrepentant SIN) standing in the way of entering in.

All these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people�s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. ** 2Cor 5:18,19

THIS is the "Work of God" -- anything else (as the Apostle Paul states) is "another and FALSE Gospel" !! Though it may seem like a VERY subtle and hard to discern point to many, to claim that one is NOT "a true or proper Christian" if he/she does NOT see the work of the Gospel as being the "saving or transforming of society and/or the political structure" is to convert the Gospel of Grace into a Gospel of Works -- A "FALSE and Alien gospel - ANOTHER gospel". It is to bring its adherents under the bondage of "works', as those who Paul fought against in Galatians sought to bring THAT Church under the bondage of circumcision.

So then they said to him, "What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?" Jesus replied, "This is the deed God requires -- to believe in the one whom he sent." ** John 6:28,29

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel -- not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed !! For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery ** Galatians 1:6-8; 5:1

Many seem to have forgotten that Jesus DID NOT come to redeem, to save or to transform society or "the World". He came solely to save MAN, and that whatever is done to it, one day this world as we see it will be "consumed in fire and pass out of existence". We have allowed our minds and consciousness to become consumed and twisted by the "foolishness and philosophy of THIS World", forgetting that the Bible states in MANY places that to God "the wisdom of this World is but Foolishness" and conversely, to THIS World, "The wisdom of God is foolishness" !! (1Cor 1:20;2:6;3:18,19)

We have so fixed our eyes upon "what can be seen" (this World) that we have come to twist the TRUE Gospel into a "social gospel", and have come to believe that our TRUE Work is to "save society from itself", to make earth into heaven, and to transform the kingdom of THIS World into the "Kingdom of God". Yet, at His most crucial moments, when the TRUTH was most needed, Jesus states a number of times that, "My Kingdom IS NOT of THIS World" !! (John 8-23;18:36)

Jesus spent His entire ministry teaching us that the Ways and Philosophy of THIS World would NOT effect the Ends and Purposes of Heaven and of God !!! (Math 26:51-56)