When Evil Strikes

(12-06-2013)

I have recently shared about a young couple named Marcus and Maryann Kauffman who encountered the evil of sinful men when they returned home from visiting family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday. Marcus is 25 years old, and Maryann younger still. They have been married about a year and Maryann is 6 months pregnant.

Upon arriving back home in North Carolina, they saw a car that appeared to be broken down in their front yard. They stopped to ask if the person needed help. When the individual acted strangely, Marcus took his wife to a neighbor’s house and returned to investigate. He discovered that his house was being robbed by two black males. One of them began shooting at him while he was still in his car, and one of the bullets struck Marcus in the back of the head and lodged near one of his eyes.

Marcus was air-flighted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He remains in critical condition. The doctor gave a very optimistic report a couple days ago, but Marcus has experienced some setback as pressure on his brain due to bleeding and swelling has continued to be a problem. Marcus’ doctors had earlier performed a craniotomy to relieve pressure. They have also been using medications as well. As pressure continued to be a problem the doctor yesterday put in a shunt to drain fluid. He said that was the last option he had available. The doctor said he has done all he can do and they can only wait and see how this young man responds. Please continue to pray for Marcus and Maryann.

The outpouring of prayer and concern has been tremendous. Some had written to me that they were praying that the person(s) who committed this act of violence would be apprehended. It appears now that they will be, for the identity of one of the young men involved has been confirmed. See the article below for details.

http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20131205/SP01/131209817/1016

Khari Dewayne McClelland, Age 23

It has become all too common to read of reports of violence; shootings, stabbings, and beatings by young men in the African American community. The recent phenomena of the knock-out game where young black males walk up to strangers and sucker punch them, trying to knock them out with one blow, is one more symptom of the breakdown of morality among this cultural group. Such attacks have been made upon women, children, and the elderly.

Some have suggested that America is heading rapidly toward a race war. That such a thing could occur seems not only plausible, but I believe it is precisely what Satan and his human servants want. The government and media appear determined to foment division between the races. Their methods are many, and they are having an effect. Identifying the various methods and schemes of the adversary are beyond the scope of this writing. What I would like to address is the proper attitude of the disciple of Christ regarding threats to their safety and property, for these threats will increase dramatically in the days ahead.

Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Hebrews 10:34
For you... accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

I was saddened to read that Marcus kept a 45 caliber Glock handgun in his house, and it was stolen by the men who broke in. The news article linked above did not state plainly, but left the possibility on the table, that the thieves may have used Marcus’ own gun to shoot him. If this is true, then it is doubly a tragedy.

Let me confess that I was very slow to mature spiritually. When I was Marcus’ age I lacked the carefulness in considering all my ways before the Father that I have now that I am twice his age. There are many decisions I made in my youth without consulting the Father. Some of them proved to be quite costly. I am persuaded that as Christ’s disciples fail to consult with Him to know His mind and will for all things in these days of growing darkness, that the consequences of these “sins of omission” will increase dramatically.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Do you understand what the words above are communicating? As sons and daughters of God, we are not to make decisions in this life based upon our own understanding and reasoning. We are to look to the Father to know what His will is for us. When we do, He will give us the guidance we need to live righteously before Him.

Some months ago I posted a series of three writings on the topic of Christians and gun ownership. I am not going to repeat that information here, but I encourage any who are not familiar with those writings to review them.

Grab Your Gun Jesus
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-great-gun-grab.html

Gun Ownership and the Mind of Christ
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/gun-ownership-and-mind-of-christ.html

Waco, Texas and the Weapons of Our Warfare
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/waco-texas-and-weapons-of-our-warfare.html

There are Christian writers and ministers today who are encouraging believers to arm themselves and to defend their lives and property with instruments of violence. Several people sent me links to Chuck Baldwin’s recent writings advocating this very thing. Mr. Baldwin posted an essay titled Our Friends Are killing Us. In that writing, he stated the following:

How long are Christians today who say they believe in the Second Amendment (and the rest of the Bill of Rights) going to keep sending their tithes and offerings to these churches where the pastors refuse to publicly resist these draconian gun control bills such as were recently introduced by Obama and Feinstein? How long are they going to keep filling the pews of these do-nothing churches? As long as these say-nothing pastors see their pews and offering plates full, don’t expect anything to change.

I will say it plainly: if you attend a church and didn’t hear your pastor oppose the Obama/Feinstein gun control bills from the pulpit earlier this year, YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT CHURCH. The only thing holding this republic together is the people’s right to keep and bear arms--especially semi-automatic rifles with large-capacity magazines. By refusing to resist evil, your pastor has become an enemy of liberty.
[Source: http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/Articles/tabid/109/ID/1097/Our-Friends-Are-Killing-Us.aspx]

I shared the following with one man who wrote to me about Chuck Baldwin’s views.

After reading this article, my sentiments toward Mr. Baldwin have not improved. The entire writing is based upon gross error. He charges the church with apostasy (falling away from truth), yet his expressed views are themselves a complete departure from the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

At the root of the belief in natural law is a defense of an individual's personal rights. Behind the argument for natural rights is a prideful insistence that a man has certain inalienable rights, and he will not permit anyone to violate those rights, even to the point of defending them at gunpoint. You will find nothing among the teachings of Christ or the apostles that advocates such an attitude. In fact, they teach the complete opposite.

Matthew 5:38-42
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."

Did not Christ say, "If My kingdom were of this world My disciples would fight"? Christ has not called us to fight to defend inalienable rights that are attributed to natural law. We are called to die to self, to bear up patiently when suffering unjustly, and to forgive those who persecute us.

There is a reason that Chuck Baldwin's writings appeal to a large number of people, including many Christians. They advocate protecting the flesh and avoiding personal suffering. Yet, in truth, those who embrace his worldview will end up suffering the most, both physically and spiritually, in coming days. The government is arming up and it has seemingly endless resources as well as advanced technology. Those who rebel against the government in coming days will be squashed like flies. Yahshua has given His disciples only one instruction regarding avoiding the unrighteous persecution of religious or political entities: "Flee!"

Matthew 10:23
"But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next..."
[End Excerpt]

It must ever be kept in mind that The Way of Christ is a crucified life. It is death to self, death to personal rights, death to human reasoning. Man’s ways are not God’s ways. Christ conquered the adversary by yielding His life up freely to evil men who were enraged against Him. We will not conquer by arming ourselves to the teeth and fighting fire with fire. The apostle Paul stated, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly), but divinely powerful...” This same apostle declared the following:

Ephesians 6:12-13
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The armor of God is not bullet proof vests, rifles and hand guns. Why? Because our adversary is not flesh and blood. Let me invite you to look again at the image of the young man accused of violently and callously shooting Marcus Kauffman.

This is NOT the face of the enemy. This is one for whom Christ died. We were all enemies of Christ, sinners, and deserving of death, when Christ died on the cross for us.

Romans 5:6-8, 10
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us... while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.

Let me share with you what I have discerned about the moral decline of the African American population. Satan has been waging relentless warfare against African Americans. He has enlisted many servants, from those who control the vast fortunes of global corporations that produce sexually corrupt and violence glorifying music, to the government that has instituted welfare and social policies that ensured the destruction of black families. From the days of Margaret Sanger, eugenicist, racist, and founder of Planned Parenthood, there has been a war of extermination being waged against blacks. The majority of Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinics are in poor, minority neighborhoods, and the greatest percentage of abortions performed per capita occur among the black community. Satan has been pulling out all the stops to destroy this race. There are many wealthy, powerful, and influential men and women who have covertly engaged in this cultural and racial destruction with him.

I am ever mindful of the depravity that resides in my flesh. I know the depths of evil of which I am capable. Had not Yahweh chosen me as a Son, and disciplined me as a father corrects his own child whom he loves, my life would be one of great moral debasement and depravity. I wonder at times what would my life have been like had I been raised in a community where violence and sexual immorality was glorified as it is in the black community? If I spent my waking hours listening to gangster rap; being surrounded by a gang culture; knowing nothing but the collapse of the family where fathers are absent and mothers that do not abort their babies are left to raise them by themselves; if my community was saturated by a drug trade that the American government controls, ensuring a flood of illegal and life destroying substances to the community, while that same government locks up those who buy and sell the drugs they supply; if my heroes were athletes, singers, and political leaders who modeled immorality, and rebellion against God and man; if a lack of respect for human life began at the womb, and saturated every part of my culture, then how might I turn out?

The young man above was created to bear the image and likeness of God. Satan has led humanity into the bondage of sin. Man’s fall has been precipitous. Daily we observe further evidence of the depths to which man has descended, as an ever growing gap manifests between man and his Creator. As grievous as the history of enslavement of the black people in America has been, it pales in comparison to the enslavement cast upon the neck of mankind by Satan. He comes only to kill, steal, and destroy.

When I see the image of the young man above, I see someone who has been taken captive by the deceit of Satan. How different his life could be if he came to experience forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life in Christ! The darkness of his countenance would be changed to light. Anger and selfishness would be replaced with love and compassion. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Our true enemy is Satan, and those spiritual forces of wickedness that are hell bent on corrupting, debasing, and destroying mankind.

As Christians, we are called to be God’s ambassadors, pleading with the world to be reconciled to God through Christ. Our task is NOT to kill those who are evil and violent before they can kill us. Christ’s greatest victory was obtained by laying down His life for others - WHILE THEY WERE YET HIS ENEMIES. Are we not called to follow in His steps?

Brothers and sisters, we need to consider carefully our ways. Before you go out and purchase a gun, a rifle, or some other instrument of violence to use against those whose lives are in bondage to Satan, consider your ways! Inquire of Yahweh to know His counsel. Will He advise you to a course that is the opposite of His Son? Yahshua could have called more than twelve legions of angels. The forces at His command make the armies of this world appear weak and insignificant in comparison. Christ foresaw that His disciples would die at the hands of evil men, yet He did not call forth the heavenly armies. The scriptures testify the following.

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Let the adversary come for all our worldly goods. Do not resist him. Heed well the words of Christ.

Matthew 5:39-40
“But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.”

Our victory will not be won with guns and bullets. It is won as we love not our lives even unto death. We are victorious as we overcome Satan. The Devil would have all men to rise up in murderous rage against one another. As we yield our members to accept whatever evil others cast our way, and we say “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” then we are acting as sons of the Most High.

Brothers and sisters, consider your ways! Will you be herded by Satan and his disciples to act according to his will? Will you arm yourself to inflict violence on others before they can do the same to you? Or will you lay down your life, your rights, your possessions, as Christ emptied Himself for us? Will you have compassion, and manifest forgiveness toward other men, even those who are evil, knowing that you too were once an enemy of God and He chose to have mercy on you?

Keep the following principles of the kingdom of God in mind:

James 2:13
Mercy triumphs over judgment.

And

I Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails.

We are entering a time of such darkness that any Christian who does not yield their life to the direction of the Father in all that they do, these ones will suffer grievously. Let us press into the Father to know His mind. Let us encourage one another to walk by the Spirit. Be the one in your circle of influence who is always exhorting others to take the path despised; the path of vulnerability, of weakness, of humility, of forgiveness, of utter selflessness. It is the path Christ walked, and He is inviting others to follow in His steps.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063