Yesu Mulungi - African Christian Perspectives

 Arthur Owiti

Posted November 18, 2008

 

Brother Kato,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. As I study the articles being posted on your site basing the book of Acts I have realized the early church response to secular government was truly commendable. They were under dictatorships that were very fierce if found on the other side of the law. One of the teachings they held close to was that they were to enter the kingdom of God with much tribulation. Sadly today's brand of Christianity has led to the erasing of that doctrine from many Christian minds.

 

  The Church had to submit at the same time endure persecution from the same government; it was not easy but they relied on the grace of God and comfort in the Holy Spirit.

 

The FAILURE TO TEACH MOST OF TODAY’S CHURCH THE FACT OF TRIBULATION has led to the recent hateful and vengeful reaction to government which is not in our favor. Instead of that scriptural doctrine of tribulation, there is the '' a little heaven down here '' mentality that hates government which interrupts that heaven.

 

    The early church's response to government is commendable. Paul’s conduct and speech before Agrippa almost won his heart to accept the faith. Stephen's martyrdom was full of grace; he did not unleash ''judgment verbose'' to his murderers. Instead he cried with a loud voice that God would forgive them--- what an example; A man full of the Holy Spirit and faith chose only to behold heaven and his Savior but refused to avenge his attackers.

 

We should emulate the early church in truth; they did not avenge when hey were accused falsely of doing and saying wrong things. In fact Jesus asked Paul why he persecuted him yet we know Paul persecuted the church. It is because any attack on the true church is an attack on Jesus Christ.

 

This means we do not have to avenge or curse our detractors even if it is the government not because we are weak but we know that VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL AVENGE FOR US. Ours is to endure and keep on speaking the truth to the point of death. Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit as we patiently endure these hard times. Patience is long suffering which we need to employ in this wicked world. We TESTIFY, WATCH IN PRAYER AND WAIT for OUR SAVIOR AND KING JESUS CHRIST.

 

,                                                                                                               Arthur Owiti