By Mark Davis Pickup
The future threatens to be difficult for Christians. Governments are apt to pass laws and implement policies that directly offend Christian consciences, not only in America but internationally, as we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Civil disobedience may be required. Christians can expect to be pressed to the wall to accept immorality or told not to evangelize. At some point we will have to choose whether we will obey man or God. Do not be surprised when this happens. Remember that the Apostles faced similar predicaments.
“The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name [Jesus],” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!””[1]
You may have noticed anti-Christian bigotry and hostility are increasing and becoming bolder, more overt. Our once great western Christian civilization is being attacked and brought down at every turn. I fear direct legal and technological persecution of the church, its people, its ministries, hospitals, and education. Prepare yourselves. We will need the wisdom of Solomon to discern what we must do. For example, will we be intimidated into silence about the wanton slaughter of the youngest members of the human family by abortion? Will we lose our tongues over medical killing by lethal injections of suicidal disabled and terminally ill people.
We must remember that medicine used be Hippocratic: Doctors pledged to obey the ancient Hippocratic Oath which prohibited both abortion and euthanasia. But Hippocratic medicine has been overthrown by an aberrant and distorted form of medicine governed by bioethical utilitarianism. Clever wordsmiths euphemistically promote killing of unwanted preborn children as “choice” or “reproductive rights.” They couch euthanasia for those with serious disabilities and have despaired of life, as “self-determination” and “autonomy.” The disabled and terminally ill who are suicidal get medical help killing themselves by lethal injections euphemistically “medical assistance in dying” when in fact it is medical killing. Homicide. Do not be swayed by clever wordsmiths who will make evil sound good and good sound evil, or what is right appear wrong and what’s wrong appear right. There will come a time—not so far in the future—when obeying Christ’s great commission will be prohibited, under the guise of tolerance, or some other pretense. Will we obey man or Christ: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”[2]
Do not be surprised if the Bible is declared hate literature. In some jurisdictions, it already has been. It may even be banned from libraries, hotels, and schools. Beware, we are entering into a treacherous time of shadows.
Perhaps the barbaric Brave New World we are entering will provide opportunities for your greatest witness as you stand with the light of Christ shining in you against the darkness of a twisted generation of unbridled depravity. We do not yet know the full darkness of the abyss into which we are descending, but Christ will be with us. The psalmists wrote:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.[3]
There is nowhere on earth that God’s presence is not found. Remember what He said to Jeremiah:
“Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.[4]
Regardless of what depravity, brutality, persecution, and fear we may face in the coming years, God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and He will be with his people. Do not lose your moral courage. He is with you and me. I know this firsthand: He has been near to me throughout 35 years of neurological terrors of MS, and cancer. Like Saint Paul, I am convinced nothing can separate us from the love of God.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[5]
Stand strong, fellow Christians. Witness for the hope of Christ that abides in you.
[1] Acts 5:27-29; Cf. Acts 4:18-20
[2] Matthew 28:19-20
[3] Psalm 139:7-10
[4] Jeremiah 23:24
[5] Romans 8:38-39
Mark Davis Pickup has lived with aggressive multiple sclerosis for over 35 years. Although electric wheelchair dependent, Mark has spoken across the United States and Canada promoting the sanctity, dignity, and equality of all human life. He has addressed politicians and legislative committees (both Canadian and American), university forums, hospital medical staffs, religious and denominational leaders, community groups, and organizations about the critical importance of protecting all human life from conception to natural death. Mark is also a widely published writer on bioethical and Christian issues. Mark is the recipient of numerous awards including the Monsignor Bill Irwin Award for Ethical Excellence, the William Kurelek Award for fostering respect and appreciation for the dignity of human life (Canada), and a Governor General’s Medal for Community Service.
This article has been reprinted with permission and can be found at humanlifematters.org/2021/01/the-future-threatens-to-be-difficult.html.
