The Balance of Power Is Shifting: Are These the Beginnings of Sorrows?

 There are moments in history when the balance of power begins to change. Most people do not recognize the change when it first starts. They continue working, buying, selling, marrying, building and planning as though tomorrow will be just like yesterday. Yet beneath the surface, nations are moving, alliances are changing, and the stage is being prepared for events that will affect the entire world.

I am not saying that every headline is the final fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I am not setting dates, naming the day of the Lord’s return or declaring that a particular war is the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus warned us against being deceived by premature claims.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
—Matthew 24:4, KJV

However, refusing to sensationalize current events does not mean we should ignore them. Jesus commanded His disciples to watch. There is a difference between setting dates and observing the direction in which the world is moving.

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
—Mark 13:37, KJV

I believe we are witnessing the beginning of a major change in the balance of power throughout the Middle East. This may not be the final fulfillment of prophecy, but it could be part of the preparation for what the prophets said would eventually come.

Turkey’s Growing Influence

For many years, students of Bible prophecy focused mainly upon Russia, Iran, Europe and Israel. Turkey was often treated as a secondary nation. That may have been a serious oversight.

Turkey controls most of ancient Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. It occupies one of the most strategic locations on earth. It sits between Europe and Asia, Russia and the Middle East, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It borders Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Bulgaria.

Turkey also controls the Turkish Straits, through which Russian ships must pass when traveling between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It possesses one of NATO’s largest armed forces and has developed an increasingly capable defense industry, including drones, missiles and electronic-warfare systems.

Now Turkey is expanding its influence in Syria.

The present Syrian government has requested Turkish assistance in rebuilding and training its armed forces. Turkey and Syria have entered into military-cooperation agreements involving training, consultation, weapons, equipment and logistical assistance.

That point is important. Turkey is not merely forcing its way into Syria. The Syrian government has invited Turkey to help rebuild its national defenses.

Israel, however, considers an expanding Turkish military presence in Syria to be a possible threat. Israel recently attacked a Syrian airbase because it claimed Turkish forces might eventually use that facility. Turkey and Syria disputed Israel’s explanation, and Turkey strongly condemned the attack as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.

This creates a dangerous situation. Israel has repeatedly bombed Syria while claiming that such attacks are necessary for its security. However, if Israel attacks Turkish territory or deliberately kills Turkish troops, it risks a direct confrontation with a powerful NATO member.

Israel may have grown accustomed to striking weakened countries without facing an equal military response. Turkey is different. It has a large army, an advanced defense industry and a formal alliance with the United States and the other NATO countries.

The entrance of Turkey into Syria changes the calculation.

A Coalition From the North

Ezekiel described a future coalition of nations coming against the land of Israel:

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.”
—Ezekiel 38:5–6, KJV

The prophecy does not describe one country acting alone. It describes numerous peoples gathered into a coalition. The expression “many people with thee” shows that several nations will eventually unite around a common purpose.

Turkey occupies territory historically connected by many interpreters with Gomer, Tubal, Meshech and the house of Togarmah. We must be careful about drawing precise lines between ancient peoples and modern countries. Nevertheless, it would be foolish to dismiss Turkey’s geographical importance.

Ezekiel further declared:

“And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee.”
—Ezekiel 38:15, KJV

Daniel also spoke of a northern power becoming active during the time of the end:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind.”
—Daniel 11:40, KJV

I am not claiming that these verses are being completely fulfilled by today’s events. I am saying that we may be watching the early development of a regional arrangement that could eventually help bring several nations together against Israel.

Syria has been weakened. Iran remains involved throughout the region. Turkey is expanding its military, political and economic influence. Israel is fighting or conducting military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Every additional attack creates more anger, fear and opposition.

Nations that disagree on many subjects may eventually unite when they believe they face a common enemy. Israel’s policy of striking countries to prevent possible future threats could produce the very coalition Israel fears.

The Beginnings of Sorrows

Jesus warned that the last days would be marked by conflict, instability and distress:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
—Matthew 24:6, KJV

Notice carefully what Jesus said: “the end is not yet.” Wars and rumors of wars do not automatically mean that the final moment has arrived. They are warnings that the world is moving toward a time of greater trouble.

Jesus continued:

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
—Matthew 24:7, KJV

Then He said:

“All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
—Matthew 24:8, KJV

The Lord compared these events to birth pains. A woman’s first labor pain does not mean the child has already been born, but it tells her that a process has begun. The pains may be separated at first, but they become stronger and closer together as the time approaches.

I believe the beginnings of sorrows have started. The world is entering a period of increasing conflict, economic uncertainty, political division and spiritual deception. The balance of power is shifting, and arrangements that once seemed permanent are beginning to break apart.

Our response must not be panic. Our response must be spiritual preparation.

Preparing Spiritually for What Is Coming

Some Christians hear about prophecy and immediately begin storing food, water, fuel and supplies. There is nothing wrong with reasonable physical preparation. Proverbs teaches prudence:

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
—Proverbs 22:3, KJV

However, a basement filled with supplies cannot save an unprepared soul. A person may possess food for several years and still be spiritually starving. He may have weapons to protect his house while having no faith to protect his heart from fear.

The greatest preparation is repentance.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
—Acts 3:19, KJV

We must make certain that our relationship with Jesus Christ is real. This is not the hour for a careless, indifferent or halfhearted Christianity. We cannot live for the world six days a week and expect a few minutes in church to prepare us for tribulation.

We need the Word of God.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
—Psalm 119:11, KJV

We need prayer—not merely hurried words spoken before meals, but earnest prayer that brings us into the presence of God.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
—Luke 21:36, KJV

We need the power of the Holy Spirit. Human determination will not carry us through times of persecution, deception and fear. We need the Spirit to give us wisdom, courage and holiness.

We must also refuse hatred. Prophecy does not give Christians permission to hate Jews, Muslims, Turks, Iranians, Arabs or anyone else. Every soldier and civilian is a soul for whom Christ died. We should never rejoice over the destruction of those who are not prepared to meet God.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”
—Ezekiel 33:11, KJV

Watch Without Fear

The world is changing. Turkey’s growing influence in Syria may be one part of a larger regional transformation. Alliances are shifting, old powers are weakening, and new centers of influence are emerging. These developments may eventually contribute to the coalition described by the prophets.

We must watch, but we must not be afraid.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed.”
—Psalm 46:1–2, KJV

The purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy our curiosity. It is to call us to faithfulness. God did not reveal these things so we could argue over maps while neglecting our souls. He gave us warning so that we would be ready.

The beginnings of sorrows are not a call to hide in fear. They are a call to awaken from spiritual sleep, repent of sin, return to prayer, study the Scriptures and faithfully proclaim the gospel.

Jesus is still Lord. Nations may rise and fall, alliances may form and wars may spread, but God has not surrendered His throne.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
—Luke 21:28, KJV

Church, it is time to wake up. It is time to trim our lamps, strengthen our faith and prepare our hearts. We may not know exactly how quickly these events will develop, but we know what Jesus told us to do:

Watch. Pray. Be faithful. And be ready.

When Christians Become Partakers in Evil Our Loyalty Must Be to Christ Above Every Nation

 Recently, I read an article on Ron Unz’s website, “How ‘Israelism’ Has Replaced Christianity as the American Civic Religion.” The article argues that many American Christians have allowed devotion to the modern State of Israel to replace their devotion to Jesus Christ.

Unz sometimes speaks too generally about Jewish people. We must distinguish between the Israeli government, Israeli citizens, Jewish settlers, religious extremists, Jewish supporters of the war, and Jewish people who courageously oppose injustice. No entire race or religious people should bear collective guilt for the actions of particular leaders.

Nevertheless, the article raises a question that Christians cannot avoid:

What happens when professing Christians knowingly defend, finance, bless, or excuse evil because it is committed by the government of Israel?

Words That Should Trouble Every Christian

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently called for Israel to kill “30 to 40” people in Gaza every night. He spoke about people who were not presenting an immediate threat and declared that some were “not worthy of life.”

These were not the careless words of an unknown person. Ben-Gvir is Israel’s national security minister. He sits in a position of governmental authority and helps shape national policy.

His words were dehumanizing, dangerous, and evil.

Every human being—Jew, Palestinian, Muslim, Christian, Arab, or Gentile—is made in the image of God. No political leader has the moral authority to declare an entire class of people unworthy of life.

The Bible says:

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
— 1 John 3:15, KJV

Ben-Gvir’s words do not represent every Israeli or every Jewish person. His political party does not command the support of a majority of Israel’s population. There are Jews in Israel and throughout the world who oppose the war, condemn the killing of civilians, defend Palestinian rights, and plead for peace.

We must recognize those distinctions.

At the same time, Ben-Gvir is not entirely separated from the political system that has placed him in power. He leads an elected party and remains part of the governing coalition. Responsibility therefore extends beyond one man. It includes those who knowingly support his program, the officials who keep him in office, the leaders who excuse his language, and anyone who carries out unlawful commands.

This does not justify blaming every Jew. It does justify asking what has happened to a society when such language is tolerated in the highest levels of government.

The Danger of Generalization

I understand why people begin speaking in general terms. We commonly say “the Americans,” “the Russians,” “the Muslims,” “the Republicans,” or “the Jews.” Human nature tends to place people into broad categories, especially during war.

When a country identifies itself as the Jewish state, when its leaders claim to speak for Jewish people, and when those leaders are elected by Israeli voters, it becomes difficult for many observers to separate the government from the people.

Nevertheless, Christians must try to make that separation.

The guilt of a political leader must not automatically be transferred to every member of his race or religion. Jewish people who resist injustice should not be charged with the deeds they opposed. Jews living in America and other countries did not elect Israel’s government. Even within Israel, many people voted against the governing coalition or now oppose its conduct.

The prophet Ezekiel wrote:

“The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

We should therefore identify wrongdoing as precisely as possible. We can speak of the Israeli government, particular military commanders, extremist settlers, religious-nationalist parties, and the citizens who knowingly support their actions.

That is not weakening our condemnation. It strengthens it by placing responsibility upon those who truly bear it.

My Greatest Concern Is the Church

My deepest concern, however, is not simply what Ben-Gvir says. My concern is what professing Christians say in response.

Some Christians appear willing to defend almost anything committed by Israel. They excuse the killing of civilians, the destruction of homes, the displacement of families, and language that treats Palestinians as less than human.

If the same words were spoken by a Muslim leader, these Christians would immediately condemn them. When an Israeli official speaks them, however, they search for some biblical prophecy with which to justify them.

This is a dangerous spiritual deception.

The apostle John warned:

“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
— 2 John 11, KJV

In its immediate context, John was warning the Church about receiving and endorsing false teachers who did not abide in the doctrine of Christ. We should not pretend that John was speaking specifically about the modern State of Israel.

The moral principle, however, remains: knowingly endorsing and assisting evil makes us participants in it.

There is a difference between ignorance and deliberate approval. A Christian who has received false information may be deceived. A Christian who learns the truth and condemns wrongdoing is not responsible for it. But a Christian who knowingly celebrates civilian suffering, excuses murderous language, or teaches that God approves of injustice becomes a moral partaker in that evil.

Christian leaders who use the Bible to persuade their congregations that Israel can do no wrong bear an especially serious responsibility.

Israel Has No Moral Immunity

Some Christians believe that because Israel is “God’s chosen people,” the modern Israeli government must be defended regardless of its conduct. That teaching cannot survive an honest reading of the Old Testament.

God repeatedly sent prophets to condemn Israel’s rulers for oppression, violence, idolatry, corruption, and the shedding of innocent blood. Israel’s calling never gave its leaders immunity from judgment. In fact, their calling increased their accountability.

The Lord declared through Amos:

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
— Amos 3:2, KJV

Being chosen did not mean that evil became good whenever Israel committed it.

The same is true today. The modern State of Israel must be judged by the same moral standards applied to Iran, Russia, Palestine, China, or America.

Supporting the right of Jewish people to live in safety does not require supporting every action of the Israeli government. Condemning the crimes of Hamas does not require treating every Palestinian as a terrorist. Mourning Jewish victims does not require ignoring Palestinian victims.

Every innocent life has value before God.

Christianity Without Christ

“Israelism” becomes idolatry when loyalty to Israel takes precedence over the teachings of Jesus. It becomes a substitute religion when support for a foreign government becomes the test of Christian faithfulness.

Jesus did not say:

“Blessed are the warmakers.”

He said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, KJV

Jesus did not tell us to declare our enemies unworthy of life. He said:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44, KJV

These commandments apply even during war. They apply to Jews, Palestinians, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, Iranians, and Americans.

Our loyalty is not to Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Donald Trump, an Israeli political party, or an American political movement. Our loyalty belongs to Jesus Christ.

Judgment Must Begin With Us

It is easy to condemn an Israeli minister. It is more painful to examine the American Church that gives political, financial, and theological support to such policies.

Peter wrote:

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.”
— 1 Peter 4:17, KJV

The first question for Christians is not simply, “What is Israel doing?”

We must also ask:

Why are Christians calling evil good?

Why do we excuse conduct from Israel that we would condemn from another country?

Why do some Christians show more loyalty to a modern government than to the words of Jesus?

Why are Palestinian Christians treated as though their suffering does not matter?

Why are Jewish voices for peace ignored?

Why has opposition to war become a greater offense in some churches than hatred, vengeance, and the shedding of innocent blood?

We Cannot Bless What Christ Condemns

I reject antisemitism and the collective condemnation of Jewish people. I also reject the teaching that the Israeli government possesses divine permission to commit injustice.

Those positions are not contradictory. They are both required by Christian truth.

We must condemn Hamas when it murders innocent people. We must condemn Israeli officials when they call for indiscriminate killing. We must condemn settlers who terrorize Palestinian families. We must condemn antisemitism wherever it appears. We must also condemn Christian leaders who bless evil because it serves their political theology.

Every person must answer for what he does, supports, excuses, or celebrates.

Christians cannot bless what Jesus condemns. We cannot call hatred righteousness. We cannot treat Palestinian lives as worthless. We cannot use prophecy to excuse cruelty. We cannot bid evil “God speed” without becoming partakers in its deeds.

Our allegiance belongs to Christ alone.

When a nation demands that we ignore His commandments, we must obey Christ.

When political leaders tell us that some people are not worthy of life, we must answer that every person bears the image of God.

And when Christians are tempted to defend evil because of the flag under which it is committed, we must remember the words of the apostles:

“We ought to obey God rather than men.”
— Acts 5:29, KJV

What Happened to the Missionary Spirit of the Church? Iran Is a Mission Field, Not Merely a Military Target

 In 1955, my parents gave their hearts and lives to the Lord. That decision changed the direction of our home and family. The Bible became important in our household, prayer became a part of our lives, and my mother began reading missionary stories to us.

As a young boy, I loved hearing about those men and women who heard the call of God and answered it with their lives. They left familiar homes, crossed oceans, learned unfamiliar languages, entered dangerous places, and endured loneliness, disease, persecution, and sometimes death. They went because they believed people in distant lands possessed souls for whom Jesus Christ died.

Those missionary stories helped shape my understanding of Christian service. Missionaries did not look across the world and see people who needed to be destroyed. They saw people who needed to hear the gospel.

Jesus said:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15, KJV

Every creature includes the people our government calls enemies.

Every creature includes Iranians.

Every creature includes Palestinians.

Every creature includes Arabs, Persians, Jews, and Muslims.

Every creature includes those who oppose us, misunderstand us, and may even hate us. The Great Commission contains no exception for people living in nations that our government considers hostile.

They Answered the Call

From the late nineteenth century through the first half of the twentieth century, thousands of Christian men and women answered the missionary call. Some went into areas dominated by Islam, carrying Bibles, medicine, education, and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Samuel Zwemer, sometimes called the “Apostle to Islam,” spent much of his life in Arabia and Egypt. He studied Islam, learned the language, distributed Christian literature, preached Christ, and called other Christians to recognize the spiritual needs of the Muslim world.

James Cantine joined Zwemer in establishing the Arabian Mission. They entered a region where there were few Christian workers and where conversion could bring persecution, rejection, and death.

Lilias Trotter left a promising life in England and went to Algeria. She spent nearly forty years serving among Muslims in North Africa. She learned Arabic, entered Muslim homes, taught women and children, and presented the love of Christ through both her words and her life.

Mary Bird went to Persia, now called Iran, as a medical missionary. She treated sick women and children while sharing the gospel. In a society where male physicians often could not treat women, her medical ministry opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed.

Temple Gairdner and Douglas Thornton served in Egypt. They learned Arabic and used preaching, personal conversation, literature, music, and education to communicate the gospel to Muslims.

Dr. Paul Harrison served for decades as a medical missionary in Arabia. Eleanor Calverley began serving as a physician among the women of Kuwait in 1912. Their medical service demonstrated Christian compassion in places where many people had little access to modern medical treatment.

These missionaries did not ask, “How many Muslims can be destroyed?”

They asked, “How can Muslims be reached with the gospel?”

They did not ask how many bombs could be dropped upon Muslim cities. They asked how many Bibles could be distributed, how many sick people could be treated, how many children could be educated, and how many souls could be introduced to Jesus Christ.

They understood the words of Paul:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:13–14, KJV

What Has Happened to Us?

What happened to that missionary spirit?

Today, some conservative evangelical Christians appear more willing to finance bombs than missionaries. They become excited when military strikes are announced. They celebrate reports of people being killed in Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, or some other part of the Middle East.

They speak of Muslims, Iranians, and Palestinians as though these people were a faceless mass without families, fears, hopes, or souls. They appear to forget that every person killed enters eternity.

What happened to the burden for the lost?

What happened to weeping over souls?

What happened to praying that God would open doors for the gospel?

What happened to believing that our enemies can be saved?

The Bible says:

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.” — Proverbs 24:17, KJV

That command is plain enough. Christians are not to rejoice when an enemy falls. Yet rejoicing over the death of people labeled our enemies has become common in certain sections of American Christianity.

God told Ezekiel:

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” — Ezekiel 33:11, KJV

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. His desire is that sinners repent and live. If God does not rejoice in their deaths, why should His people?

Christ Came to Save, Not Destroy

When a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven. They asked:

“Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” — Luke 9:54, KJV

That sounds remarkably similar to the spirit heard among some Christians today. They are ready to call down fire upon entire countries and populations.

But Jesus rebuked His disciples:

“Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” — Luke 9:55–56, KJV

Perhaps that rebuke needs to be heard again in the American Church.

The spirit that rejoices when fire falls upon cities is not the missionary Spirit of Christ. Jesus did not come to destroy men’s lives. He came to save them.

That does not mean Christians must approve Islam. Islam denies foundational truths about Jesus Christ, including His divine Sonship, crucifixion, and saving work. We cannot surrender the truth of the gospel in the name of religious unity.

But opposing false doctrine does not give us permission to hate the people deceived by it. The Muslim is not beyond redemption. He is a soul who needs Christ.

We were also sinners when Christ reached us:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8, KJV

Something Is Happening in Iran

Many Christians are unaware that a significant number of Iranians appear to be turning to Jesus Christ.

The exact number cannot be known because many Iranian Christians worship secretly in underground house churches. Public conversion from Islam can bring surveillance, arrest, imprisonment, loss of employment, family rejection, or other forms of persecution.

Nevertheless, credible evidence indicates that a substantial and growing movement of Iranian converts to Christianity exists. It is largely a Persian-speaking, house-church movement operating under serious persecution.

A large anonymous survey conducted in 2020 by the secular research organization GAMAAN received responses from more than 50,000 Iranians. Approximately 1.5 percent identified as Christians. Applied to the population, that could represent hundreds of thousands of believers—possibly approaching one million. The exact figure remains uncertain because underground Christians cannot be counted safely.

Whether we call this a revival is ultimately a spiritual judgment. Numbers alone cannot measure a work of God. But the evidence of growing interest in Jesus Christ among Iranians is real.

Christian satellite television, internet ministries, Persian-language Bibles, personal testimonies, and secret house churches have carried the gospel into places traditional missionaries could not easily enter. Iranian authorities continue to arrest converts and house-church leaders, demonstrating that the government considers this Christian movement significant enough to suppress.

The Lord is apparently working behind doors that dictators cannot completely close.

Jesus said:

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.” — Luke 10:2, KJV

Iran is part of that harvest field.

The Person Beneath the Bomb

When Christians celebrate bombs falling upon Iran, they have no idea who may be beneath those bombs.

The person beneath the bomb may be an Iranian Christian worshipping secretly in a house church.

He may be a young man reading a Persian New Testament for the first time.

She may be a mother who watches Christian satellite programs after her family has gone to sleep.

They may be a group of believers quietly singing hymns and praying in the name of Jesus.

Or the person beneath the bomb may be someone who has not yet heard the gospel but is searching for truth.

That person may have been one conversation, one Bible, one Christian broadcast, or one missionary encounter away from coming to Christ.

How can we pray for revival in Iran while supporting the destruction of Iranian people? How can we send missionaries with one hand while financing bombs with the other? How can we claim to love souls while rejoicing when those souls are killed?

Iran’s Government Is Not the Iranian People

The government of Iran should not be confused with the people of Iran.

One can oppose the actions of the Iranian government without hating Iranians. We can condemn religious persecution, political oppression, terrorism, and threats of violence without treating every Iranian as guilty.

Likewise, opposing the conduct of Israel’s government does not mean hating Jewish people. Condemning terrorism does not mean hating Palestinians. Governments, military organizations, religious systems, and ordinary people must not be treated as though they are all the same.

Every person must be recognized as an individual created in the image of God.

The Church must not allow governments and media outlets to determine whose lives possess value. Our allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, and Christ commanded:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV

Jesus did not tell us to love only the enemies who live far away from military targets. He commanded us to love our enemies even when loving them is difficult and unpopular.

Rediscovering the Missionary Spirit

The Church must recover the missionary spirit that once moved Christians to cross oceans with Bibles rather than cheer missiles crossing borders.

We need missionaries who will learn Persian and Arabic.

We need Christians who will support Persian-language Bible translation and broadcasting.

We need churches willing to pray for underground Iranian believers.

We need people who will minister to Iranian refugees and international students.

We need believers who will ask how the gospel can enter the Middle East rather than how another war can begin there.

Most of all, we need the compassion of Jesus:

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36, KJV

Jesus looked upon confused and scattered people with compassion. He did not regard them as disposable. He saw a harvest:

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” — Matthew 9:37, KJV

The need in Iran is not for more hatred. The need is for more laborers.

The need is not for Christians to rejoice over Iranian deaths. The need is for Christians to pray for Iranian salvation.

Souls for Whom Christ Died

The missionary stories my mother read to us taught me that distance, language, culture, and danger should never prevent Christians from carrying the gospel to those who need Christ.

Those missionaries were not perfect. They were human beings with weaknesses, limitations, and sometimes cultural misunderstandings. But at their best, they possessed something the modern Church desperately needs: they believed the souls of people in foreign lands were worth the cost of reaching.

Iran should not be regarded merely as an enemy to bomb. Iran is a mission field filled with souls whom Christ desires to redeem.

Palestinians are souls for whom Christ died.

Iranians are souls for whom Christ died.

Muslims are souls for whom Christ died.

Jewish people are souls for whom Christ died.

Our calling is not to rejoice in death. Our calling is to proclaim life through Jesus Christ.

Let the Church put down the spirit of hatred and recover the missionary spirit. Let us stop asking how our enemies can be destroyed and begin asking how they can be saved.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:10, KJV

Do Our So-Called Enemies Have Souls Worth Saving?

 When will conservative evangelical Christians stop acting as though our so-called enemies have no souls to redeem?

I have listened to professing Christians cheer when bombs fall upon Muslim countries. I have watched them rejoice over the deaths of Iranians and Palestinians as though these human beings were merely names on a military map. There seems to be little sorrow, no burden for the lost, and scarcely any recognition that every person who dies enters eternity.

These are not merely “targets.” They are human souls.

They are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, grandparents and little children. They are people for whom Christ died. Many have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How can Christians rejoice when they are killed?

God Has No Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked

The Lord declared through the prophet Ezekiel:

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” — Ezekiel 33:11, KJV

God does not delight in the death of sinners. His desire is that they turn from sin and live. If God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, why do Christians celebrate it?

Again, the Lord said:

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” — Ezekiel 18:23, KJV

The heart of God is redemptive. God calls sinners to repentance. He sent His Son into the world to save the lost—not to provide religious language for our political hatred.

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” — Luke 9:56, KJV

Those are the words of Jesus. Yet many who claim His name appear more excited about destroying their enemies than reaching them with the gospel.

Christ Died for Muslims Too

The Bible does not say that God loved only Americans, Israelis, Westerners, or conservative voters. It says:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” — John 3:16, KJV

The world includes Iranians.

The world includes Palestinians.

The world includes Arabs, Persians, Jews, Muslims, and every other people.

Islam denies that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, rejects His atoning death, and denies the biblical truth of His crucifixion and resurrection. Christians cannot accept those teachings. Nevertheless, the Muslim who has been deceived by false doctrine is not beyond the reach of God’s grace.

Paul wrote:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8, KJV

Christ did not wait for us to become righteous before loving us. He died for us while we were sinners and enemies:

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” — Romans 5:10, KJV

We were once the enemies of God. Suppose God had treated us the way some Christians want Muslim nations treated. Where would we be?

Jesus Commanded Us to Love Our Enemies

Jesus did not say, “Love your enemies unless your government declares war upon them.” He said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV

Christians are commanded to love, bless, do good, and pray. That does not mean approving terrorism, oppressive governments, or false religion. It means recognizing that even our enemies bear the image of God and possess souls that can be redeemed.

Jesus continued:

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:45, KJV

Loving our enemies is not an optional political position. It is evidence that we resemble our heavenly Father.

When Christians rejoice at the death of Muslims, Iranians, or Palestinians, what image are they displaying? Is it the image of Christ—or the image of a fallen world filled with hatred and vengeance?

Heaven Does Not Rejoice When a Sinner Is Lost

Jesus described the joy in heaven when one sinner repents:

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” — Luke 15:10, KJV

Heaven rejoices when sinners are saved. Yet some Christians rejoice when sinners are killed before they have an opportunity to hear and receive the gospel.

That ought to break our hearts.

Every bomb that falls upon a civilian population may close the door of earthly opportunity for someone who has never known Christ. Every child buried beneath rubble is a life created by God. Every grieving mother is someone Jesus commands us to love.

War reduces people to statistics. Jesus sees every individual soul.

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” — Matthew 10:30, KJV

Partakers of Evil Deeds

The Apostle John warned:

“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 11, KJV

When Christians give unconditional support to governments committing injustice, excuse the killing of innocent people, or celebrate military violence without regard for human life, they risk becoming partakers of those evil deeds.

We do not have to fire the weapon personally to share moral responsibility. We may become participants through our approval, financial support, political advocacy, propaganda, and rejoicing.

Paul wrote:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” — Romans 1:32, KJV

Having pleasure in evil is itself a serious spiritual matter.

This principle applies to every side. Christians must condemn the murder of Israeli civilians. We must condemn terrorism and hostage-taking. We must also condemn the killing of innocent Palestinians, the destruction of civilian communities, collective punishment, starvation, and every other act of injustice.

We cannot have one moral standard for our allies and another for our enemies.

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.” — Proverbs 20:10, KJV

Our Warfare Is Not Against Flesh and Blood

The Bible tells us:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12, KJV

Muslims are not the Church’s flesh-and-blood targets. They are our mission field.

Iranians are not beyond redemption. Palestinians are not disposable. Jewish people are not collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government. Ordinary people must not be stripped of their humanity because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or government.

The weapons of the Church are not bombs, missiles, drones, or military alliances:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV

Our weapons are truth, prayer, faith, love, mercy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What Happened to the Great Commission?

Jesus commanded:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15, KJV

He did not say, “Bomb every creature who belongs to a hostile nation.”

How can we preach the gospel to people while rejoicing when they are killed? How can we tell Muslims that Jesus loves them when our words and political behavior suggest that we do not care whether they live or die?

The Church cannot fulfill the Great Commission while embracing the spirit of vengeance.

The Apostle Paul asked:

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:14, KJV

Perhaps instead of asking how quickly our enemies can be destroyed, Christians should ask how missionaries can reach them. Instead of praying for bombs to fall, we should pray for gospel doors to open. Instead of celebrating death, we should plead for repentance and salvation.

The Spirit of Christ Weeps

When Jesus approached Jerusalem, He did not celebrate the judgment that was coming upon the city:

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.” — Luke 19:41, KJV

Jesus wept.

He knew the city’s rejection. He knew its unbelief. He knew judgment was approaching. Yet He did not laugh, cheer, or wave a national flag. He wept.

Where are the tears of the Church?

Where is our sorrow for the Iranian soldier, the Palestinian child, the grieving Israeli parent, and the Muslim family that does not know Christ? Where is our burden for those who may enter eternity without hearing the gospel?

The spirit that rejoices in human suffering is not the Spirit of Christ.

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.” — Proverbs 24:17, KJV

That command could not be clearer.

We Must Choose Whom We Will Follow

Christians must decide whether their hearts will be shaped by Jesus or by political propaganda. Governments teach us to fear and hate their enemies. Jesus commands us to love and pray for them.

I am not asking Christians to approve Islam, terrorism, oppressive regimes, or injustice. I am asking Christians to remember that every person caught in these systems possesses a soul.

We can oppose evil without hating the evildoer. We can demand justice without rejoicing in death. We can defend innocent life without treating an entire population as guilty. We can pray for Israel without blessing injustice, and we can care about Palestinians and Iranians without endorsing their governments or religious beliefs.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither should we.

If we celebrate the slaughter of people Christ commands us to love, defend the killing of innocent civilians, and give our blessing to governments committing evil, we become partakers of that evil.

The Church must stop asking, “Whose side is our government on?”

We must ask, “Where would Jesus stand?”

He would stand for truth.

He would stand for mercy.

He would stand beside the suffering.

He would call sinners to repentance.

And He would remind us that our so-called enemies have souls worth redeeming.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9, KJV

When “Blessing Israel” Makes Christians Partakers of Evil

 For years, Christians have been told, “You must bless Israel.” We have heard that standing with the modern State of Israel guarantees God’s blessing, while questioning its government brings God’s curse. Genesis 12:3 is repeatedly quoted:

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.” — Genesis 12:3, KJV

But God spoke these words to Abraham. Their ultimate fulfillment is in Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of Abraham:

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” — Galatians 3:16, KJV

The promise cannot rightly be turned into a blank check for the modern Israeli government. God never commanded Christians to bless injustice, excuse the killing of innocent people, or give unconditional support to an earthly government.

What Does It Mean to Bid Someone “God Speed”?

The Apostle John gave the Church a serious warning:

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” — 2 John 9, KJV

John then wrote:

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 10–11, KJV

The immediate subject is the support and endorsement of false teachers who deny the doctrine of Christ. Nevertheless, the principle is unmistakable: Christians must not place God’s name and blessing upon those who reject Christ and practice evil. To bid someone “God speed” is to express approval, encouragement, and support for what that person is doing.

If Christians pronounce God’s blessing upon an earthly government while it commits injustice, are they not lending the name of Christ to those actions? If they defend everything that government does, provide unquestioning political support, and silence those who speak for its victims, are they not in danger of becoming partakers of its evil deeds?

Can We Bless Those Who Reject Christ?

Jesus said:

“He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” — John 5:23, KJV

The Apostle John wrote:

“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” — 1 John 2:23, KJV

And Jesus declared:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” — John 14:6, KJV

How, then, can Christians claim that rejecting Jesus Christ does not matter because the people involved are associated with the modern nation of Israel? The gospel does not provide one means of salvation for Jewish people and another for Gentiles. Peter proclaimed:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12, KJV

We should love Jewish people. We should pray for them. We should oppose antisemitism, racial hatred, and violence against them. Paul expressed his deep concern for Israel:

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” — Romans 10:1, KJV

Why did Paul pray for their salvation? Because ancestry alone does not save anyone. Jewish people, Palestinians, Arabs, Americans, and all other people need salvation through Jesus Christ.

Loving people does not require endorsing their religion, nationalism, government, or military actions. Genuine Christian love speaks the truth and calls every person to repentance and faith in Christ.

Christian Zionism Has Confused the Church

Christian Zionism has persuaded many believers that the modern State of Israel occupies a place above moral examination. Actions that Christians would condemn if committed by another government are defended when Israel commits them.

Civilian deaths are dismissed. The suffering of Palestinian families is minimized. Churches are damaged, communities are displaced, and children suffer, yet some Christians continue to say, “We stand with Israel.”

But what exactly are they standing with?

Are they standing with innocent Jewish people who need protection from hatred and terrorism? That is right.

Are they standing with innocent Palestinians who need protection from bombing, displacement, hunger, and violence? That is also right.

Or are they standing unconditionally with a government and defending everything it does? That is where Christians can become partakers of evil.

Scripture commands:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” — Ephesians 5:11, KJV

It does not say to reprove darkness everywhere except in Israel. God has never had two standards of justice—one for Israel and another for the nations.

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.” — Proverbs 20:10, KJV

If killing innocent people is wrong when our enemy does it, it remains wrong when our ally does it. If forced displacement, collective punishment, cruelty, and vengeance are evil in one nation, they are evil in every nation.

Biblical Israel Was Not Above God’s Judgment

Even ancient Israel never possessed an unconditional license to practice evil. God repeatedly sent prophets to confront Israel’s rulers and people.

Isaiah cried:

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” — Isaiah 5:20, KJV

Jeremiah stood against false prophets who promised peace while the nation remained in sin:

“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” — Jeremiah 6:14, KJV

Amos condemned those who oppressed the poor:

“For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” — Amos 5:12, KJV

The prophets did not hate Israel. They spoke because they loved God, truth, and righteousness. They understood that covenant privilege did not remove moral responsibility.

If God judged ancient Israel for oppression and bloodshed, why would Christians imagine that the modern State of Israel is exempt from judgment?

“For there is no respect of persons with God.” — Romans 2:11, KJV

Our Allegiance Belongs to Christ

The Church does not belong to Israel, Palestine, or America. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ.

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20, KJV

No national flag belongs beside the cross as though the two possess equal authority. No government should receive the unconditional loyalty that belongs to Christ alone.

When political Zionism demands that Christians remain silent about injustice, we must obey God rather than men. When religious leaders tell us to bless actions that violate the teachings of Christ, we must refuse. When politicians use Scripture to justify bloodshed, the Church must answer with the Word of God.

The Christian standard is not, “Is Israel doing it?”

The Christian standard is, “Is it righteous in the sight of Jesus Christ?”

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9, KJV

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” — Matthew 5:7, KJV

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” — Matthew 22:39, KJV

Love the People, but Do Not Bless the Evil

This message must not be used to promote hatred against Jewish people. Jewish people must never be treated as collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government. Many Jewish people themselves oppose injustice and mourn the deaths of Palestinians. Likewise, Palestinians must not be treated as collectively responsible for the crimes of militant organizations.

Every innocent life has value before God.

We can love Jewish people without endorsing Judaism’s rejection of Christ. We can love Israeli citizens without endorsing every action of their government. We can love Palestinians without endorsing terrorism. We can pray for everyone while refusing to place God’s blessing upon evil.

Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV

This personal blessing means seeking their good, praying for their salvation, and responding without hatred. It does not mean blessing their false doctrines, violent policies, or evil deeds. We bless people by pointing them to Christ; we do not bless evil by calling it good.

The Church Must Decide

The Church must decide whether it will follow Jesus Christ or political propaganda. We cannot condemn one nation’s violence while blessing another nation’s violence. We cannot preach that Jesus is the only way to the Father and then imply that those who reject Him already possess God’s approval.

Second John’s warning should cause every Christian to examine his allegiance:

“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 11, KJV

If “blessing Israel” means loving Jewish people, praying for their salvation, protecting them from hatred, and seeking peace, then Christians should do so.

But if “blessing Israel” means granting unconditional approval to a government, excusing injustice, defending the killing of innocent people, or blessing those who reject Christ while they carry out evil actions, then Christians must refuse.

We must not become partakers of another government’s sins.

We must stand with Christ.

We must stand for truth.

We must stand for justice and mercy for Jewish people and Palestinians alike.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” — Micah 6:8, KJV

False Shepherds and False Doctrines

“The sheep in the church may spend their lives fearing the wolf, only to be devoured by a false shepherd.”

Jesus warned:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
—Matthew 7:15, KJV

Paul warned the elders of the church that false teachers would arise even from among church leaders:

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
—Acts 20:29–30, KJV

A preacher should not be judged by the size of his congregation, the wealth of his ministry, his popularity, or his ability to stir people’s emotions. Every doctrine must be examined by the Word of God.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
—Isaiah 8:20, KJV

1. The False Prosperity Gospel

Some church leaders preach that financial prosperity is evidence of faith and that giving money to their ministries will bring material wealth. Meanwhile, these preachers become rich at the congregation’s expense.

The Bible directly warns about religious leaders who use godliness as a means of financial gain:

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
—1 Timothy 6:5, KJV

Paul did not say that financial gain is proof of godliness. He said that those who teach such things are “destitute of the truth,” and he commanded believers to withdraw from them.

The desire to become rich exposes people to temptation and spiritual destruction:

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
—1 Timothy 6:9, KJV

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
—1 Timothy 6:10, KJV

Peter warned church leaders not to serve for dishonest financial gain:

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”
—1 Peter 5:2, KJV

False teachers make merchandise of the people they claim to serve:

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.”
—2 Peter 2:3, KJV

Jesus and His apostles did not promise lives of luxury. Jesus said:

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
—Matthew 8:20, KJV

The true gospel offers forgiveness, reconciliation with God, holiness, eternal life, and the presence of Christ. It does not promise that every faithful Christian will become wealthy. Any preacher who uses the gospel to enrich himself at the congregation’s expense is behaving as a false shepherd.

2. The False Promise of Escape From Tribulation

Some church leaders promise Christians that they will be removed from the earth before they experience tribulation. This teaching can create a false hope because Jesus never promised His followers freedom from persecution and suffering.

Jesus plainly said:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33, KJV

Paul and Barnabas taught Christians that tribulation is part of the believer’s journey:

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
—Acts 14:22, KJV

Paul also wrote:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
—2 Timothy 3:12, KJV

Jesus did not say that His followers would be removed before persecution came. He told them to endure:

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
—Matthew 24:9, KJV

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
—Matthew 24:13, KJV

When Jesus described His coming and the gathering of His elect, He placed that gathering “after the tribulation”:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.”
—Matthew 24:29, KJV

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds.”
—Matthew 24:31, KJV

The Bible teaches that believers are not appointed to God’s wrath:

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:9, KJV

However, tribulation and divine wrath are not the same thing. Tribulation is what the saints suffer from an evil world; wrath is God’s judgment upon the wicked. God can preserve His people spiritually during tribulation without removing them from every earthly trial.

Jesus prayed:

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
—John 17:15, KJV

A doctrine that promises escape when Christ commanded endurance may leave Christians unprepared for persecution, hardship, and testing.

3. “Once Saved, Always Saved” Used as Permission to Sin

Some church leaders teach eternal security in a manner that allows people to believe they may continue deliberately in sin without repentance and still inherit eternal life. That teaching turns the grace of God into permission to live wickedly.

Jude warned of teachers who would misuse grace in precisely this way:

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.”
—Jude 4, KJV

Paul rejected the idea that grace permits a Christian to continue in sin:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
—Romans 6:1–2, KJV

The Bible commands believers to pursue holiness:

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
—Hebrews 12:14, KJV

Jesus said that those who remain in Him must bear fruit:

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered.”
—John 15:6, KJV

Paul warned believers against believing that they could live according to the flesh without consequences:

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
—Romans 8:13, KJV

He also warned that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived.”
—1 Corinthians 6:9, KJV

Grace does not merely pardon sin; it teaches us to reject it:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
—Titus 2:11–12, KJV

Salvation is by grace through faith, not by human works. Nevertheless, the faith that saves produces obedience and a changed life. Any doctrine of security that gives people permission to continue in willful, unrepentant sin is a corruption of biblical grace.

4. Refusing to Preach Eternal Punishment

Some church leaders speak of God’s love but refuse to preach His holiness, judgment, and eternal punishment. They give sinners comfort without calling them to repentance.

Jesus spoke plainly about everlasting punishment:

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
—Matthew 25:46, KJV

In the same verse, Jesus described punishment as “everlasting” and life as “eternal.” If eternal life is without end, then the punishment described by Christ must also be taken seriously.

Jesus also warned:

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
—Matthew 10:28, KJV

Paul described the punishment awaiting those who reject God and refuse the gospel:

“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
—2 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV

John recorded the final judgment:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
—Revelation 20:15, KJV

The coming judgment is the reason the church must preach repentance:

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness.”
—Acts 17:30–31, KJV

A preacher who refuses to warn people about judgment is like a watchman who sees danger approaching but remains silent:

“When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
—Ezekiel 33:8, KJV

We must preach God’s love, but we must not use His love to erase His justice. The message of eternal punishment is not preached because we hate sinners. It is preached because we love them enough to warn them and point them to the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

The Responsibility of a True Shepherd

A faithful shepherd must proclaim the whole counsel of God:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
—Acts 20:27, KJV

True shepherds do not exploit the flock for money. They do not promise an escape that Jesus never promised. They do not turn grace into permission to sin. They do not hide the reality of judgment in order to avoid offending people.

They preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. They call sinners to repentance, believers to holiness, and the church to faithful endurance.

Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
—John 10:11, KJV

The true Shepherd gave His life for the sheep. False shepherds use the sheep to build better lives for themselves.

Do not judge a shepherd merely by his title, personality, popularity, wealth, or promises. Examine his doctrine, character, conduct, and fruit according to the Word of God.

“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
—Matthew 7:16, KJV

A Letter of Support for Andrew Horning for the United States Senate

Dear Fellow Hoosiers,

I am writing to express my support for Andrew Horning for the United States Senate from Indiana.

I have spent most of my life as a minister, teacher, and student of history. I believe government must remain accountable to the people and operate within the limits established by the United States Constitution. After examining Andrew Horning’s positions, I find that many of his principles are closely aligned with my own political convictions.

Andrew Horning understands that our federal government has grown far beyond its constitutional boundaries. Both major political parties have contributed to an enormous national debt, excessive federal spending, foreign military interventions, and the steady loss of individual liberty. We need a senator who will challenge this system rather than simply become another part of it.

I especially appreciate Andrew Horning’s commitment to:

• Restoring constitutional and limited government.

• Reducing federal spending and confronting the national debt.

• Returning authority to states, local communities, and the people.

• Protecting religious liberty and individual freedom.

• Ending unnecessary foreign wars and military interventions.

• Refusing to send American money and weapons into conflicts that do not defend our nation.

• Protecting our borders while treating peaceful immigrants humanely.

• Returning control of education to parents, communities, and the states.

• Opposing government mandates that violate personal liberty and conscience.

• Challenging the influence of powerful corporations, special interests, and the military-industrial complex.

As a Christian minister, I believe our enemies are souls to be won—not merely people to be bombed, sanctioned, or destroyed. America cannot bring peace to the world through endless warfare. Scripture says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9, KJV).

Supporting Andrew Horning does not mean that I must agree with him on every detail. No two people agree on every issue. It means I recognize in him an independent voice who is willing to question the political establishment, defend constitutional government, and speak against policies that have burdened our children and grandchildren with debt and conflict.

Indiana needs a senator who represents Hoosiers rather than political parties, foreign governments, wealthy donors, or Washington special interests. We need someone willing to tell the truth, even when that truth is unpopular.

For these reasons, I support Andrew Horning for the United States Senate, and I encourage my fellow Hoosiers to study his positions, listen to him speak, and give his candidacy serious consideration.

This endorsement represents my personal political convictions and is not an official endorsement by my church or any other organization with which I am associated.

Respectfully,

Larry G. Truitt
Pastor, educator, and concerned Indiana citizen
Thorntown, Indiana