persecution --within-- the church

[Christ_empowered]

I really like David Wilkerson. I know there are no perfect human beings or perfect Christians--we follow Jesus, with all our flaws and such--but ever since I (miraculously) landed at a Teen Challenge place for 12 months and they had me read The Cross and The Switchblade, plus some other things...I've been a big fan.

So, I was reading excerpts from something he wrote way back when...70s, maybe...a vision in which he foretold things that (cue eerie music --here-- ) are coming to pass right now. Legalized gay marriages, some entire denominations going for all things gay and other obviously sinful practices, occult stuff taking over society and then the church, too.

He wrote that the day will come when people will be persecuted within established churches. In his vision, he saw that, towards The End Times, God will have what Wilkerson termed a "faithful remnant" (I think that might be a throwback to the OT, when x # of Israelites were left who hadn't gone the way of Baal and friends), in churches all over the place. People who love Jesus will be around, but things will get rough, even within established churches.

OK. Do you think this is happening now? I'm not trying to be alarmist or what have you, I just...had this on my mind today. Thanks.

 

[Hermit]

Throughout Religious and Christian history alarm bells were and still are ringing.
It is only alarming if one is afraid of being caught out.

 

[Runner]

The Cross and the Switchblade was the first book I read after being born again in 1971! As I recall, my fiancé gave it to me. Here's a short video in which David Wilkerson explains what he means by the remnant:

Here's a longer one:

This kind of ties in with a discussion I recall with Jethro about "Christianity" as a whole being on a misguided path but individual Christians across all denominations being genuinely Spirit-filled. Those individuals would be the remnant that Wilkerson is talking about. Of course, probably 99% of Christians would probably watch the above videos and say "Yeah, he's talking about me and my church! We're part of the remnant!" (I'm not saying who is and who isn't, merely that we all tend to overrate our own spirituality.)

Certainly unbiblical views have infected society to such an extent that the infection has found its way into many established churches and denominations, to the point that many members have felt "persecuted" and left. I can only assume this will only get worse. I think it comes down to what Jethro and I were discussing, that "Christianity" as a whole has conformed to the world to such an extent, and has become a political and economic movement rather than a spiritual movement to such an extent, that the remnant has to be found in the lives of individual Christians across all denominations.

 

[Douglas Summers]

He wrote that the day will come when people will be persecuted within established churches. In his vision, he saw that, towards The End Times, God will have what Wilkerson termed a "faithful remnant" (I think that might be a throwback to the OT, when x # of Israelites were left who hadn't gone the way of Baal and friends), in churches all over the place. People who love Jesus will be around, but things will get rough, even within established churches.

This is nothing new, Christ already told us this beforehand. All of the NT. I would read it through before I read anyone else's book.

 

[Eugene]

He (Wilkerson) wrote that the day will come when people will be persecuted within established churches.

Persecution within?
1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Rightful judgment?
1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Forgivness?
2Co 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Co 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks for the replies. I wasn't trying to sound alarmist or holier than thou, I just look at society, and I see how a lot of what Wilkerson discussed could easily come to pass, if it hasn't already.

The NT Scripture selections are/were spot on, Eugene. This is --not-- a new problem. Having said that, society as a whole is much different now, and things seem to be changing rather rapidly. I vaguely remember talk of homosexual unions in both the legal realm and within some mainline denominations 15 years or so ago, but...wow. Somehow, the issue got massive media attention, very quickly. Now, there's the gender deconstruction issue going on, so...I suppose we'll all see where that goes.

The bits and pieces I read (Wilkerson's material) about the occult disturbed me. I was an occult dilettante in my younger years. Maybe it was the "Bipolar" or...whatever...that led me to a bizarre fascination with the occult, but...yeah. Interestingly enough, years after I lost all interest in Jung, divination, Aleister Crowley, drugs, etc...the occult seems to be trendy, at least with the younger set. With the Barna studies forever pointing out low % of even self-professed Christians w/ an appropriate Christian worldview, and the younger segment of the Millennial generation largely rejecting traditional Christianity (and, to be fair, most established religions, in general...), Wilkerson's material is...disconcerting, to say the least.

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Douglas Summers]

The NT Scripture selections are/were spot on, Eugene.

(2 Tim. 4:2-4) Rebuking sound doctrine. (2 Pet. 2:1-22) The visible church making merchandise (push and promote false doctrine) of true believers. Study the early Roman church and it's Pope's. It will make you sick. Study the Salem witch trials in Salem, Mass. by the Puritans. Read the Scriptures and study the history's so that you are well
equipped. Study the Mormon history in Utah. Know the truth. Check out things for yourself, and above all......know God.

Christ in us
Douglas Summers

www.toptenz.net/top-10-worst-popes-in-history.php

Top 10 Worst Popes in History. Posted by ... After the death of the Apostles and in the following centuries apostasy entered the early ... reading about some of the apostasy.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/
Timeline: The Early History of the Mormons - PBS
www.pbs.org/mormons/timeline/timeline2.html

www.smithsonianmag.com/...history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

Within the church, just be a good Christian to the best of your ability. Regardless of persecution or acceptance, this is how we should be.

 

[for_his_glory]

Jesus gave strict warning to the seven Churches in Asia as He had John write to them. We still see these Churches today and the warnings have never changed. Rev chapter 2 and 3.
When Jesus said He would keep us from the hour of temptation doesn't mean we will not be persecuted, but while facing persecutions even to death we will not fall to the temptation of taking the mark of the beast to save our own life.

 

[Douglas Summers]

Within the church, just be a good Christian to the best of your ability.

It is not something we have the ability to do on our own, The born again believer has the comfort of the Spirit of Christ. Christ feels the persecution of His own. When Saul was persecuting the Church, Christ felt the pain of His own, (Acts 9:3-5)