The Unlikely Punching Bag

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. (1Samuel 17:28)

I am thinking about these Corona days and wondering.

Why is the church the one that is always the first casualty when decisions limiting freedoms are made?

Why did the president close the churches before closing drinking dens in the first lockdown? And why close churches and not markets? And why were churches limited when politicians were running riot all over campaigning for this or the other purely selfish and personal agendas?

Simply speaking, the church is the softest target in pushing the narrative. And secular leadership HATES the church. It can therefore be made a constant punching bag.

Incidentally, another important reason is that the church is the only entity that has the capacity to authoritatively interrogate the folly they are pushing in the name of preventions.

Yet I doubt if any of these simpletons really know what they are doing because they do not know the power inherent in the church of Christ.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

But this is not about the buildings we call church. Nobody hates those buildings as we see leaders always going there to look for votes and seek relevance.

They hate the church of Christ. They hate the body of Christ. They hate everything represented by the living, breathing body of believers redeemed by the death and resurrection of Christ.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (Psalm 2: 1 – 3)

Yet look at David.

He was the solution the army needed. But to Eliab he was the arrogant showoff running away from responsibility to associate with grownups in the army. He was the meddler in things he had no idea about. To the king he was no match to the giant in skill and experience. And to the giant he was a handsome walkover.

It was when David refused to listen to logic and experience that he was able to be the difference Israel needed.

And it is not any different with the church.

God has placed us on earth as His change and power agents. That is what the devil and his agents fear most.

But we can only be that when we refuse to listen to the narrative the world is throwing at us. It will be so when we decide that we will only listen to our commander. It will be so when we decide to use only the weapons God has placed in our hands.

You see, David was a liability even to himself when he donned the king’s armor. He had no capacity for doing anything in that armor.

He became effective when he decided to use the weapons God had exposed him to, a sling and stones.

God uses what He has placed in our hands like He did with Moses and his staff.

What are our weapons?

The scripture and a faith that is built therein. Obedience to what God commands us. Clearly hearing and following what God tells us as opposed to the folly and rebellion being peddled by the corona narrative.

It is impossible to be walking in faith and obedience if I am rushing to imbibe whatever the narrative discharges.

I can’t confess God as Rapha yet be panicky as I live my life. I can’t confess Christ as Lord yet fear to bear witness to His power over the stupid virus. He actually is not my Lord if the world is the one that sets my bounds.

What is Jesus saying about this virus?

That is the only thing I want to hear irrespective of whether everybody is dying, or even if I am the one who is dying.

We cannot talk of Christ and be the megaphones of the world and its narrative.

We MUST KNOW what Christ is saying about this virus. And that is what we should be shouting from the rooftops.

Otherwise we will die like dogs serving a kingdom that treats us as enemies who are so foolish as to be preaching their message.

The church is the solution to this virus as it has been to all the other viruses and bacteria.

It is the only agent God has placed on earth to push the agenda of returning the world to His intention of creating it.

We must decide to do only what Jesus commands us to do

Otherwise we have no business calling ourselves Christ’s followers, let alone disciples.

The reality however is what the Bible says; the devil is sparing nothing in capturing believers without a proper connection to the command centre.

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

And I believe corona is the best shot he has for this time, especially with even pastors parroting what the unbelieving world is saying.

But the reality is otherwise.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. (Psalm 2: 4, 5)

Christ still reigns and has this virus firmly under His control. He has the final word on it.

He only needs a connected church to listen and release His solution.

And we will be judged, even die, if we continue babbling things the world is saying.

Who are you listening to?