Page 44 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

NE 2006~ 45

THE DOCTRINE OF

“MY SOUL HAS DWELT TOO LONG
WITH ONE WHO HATES PEACE.

I AM FOR PEACE…THEY ARE FOR WAR.”

Psalm 120:6-7

As a teacher of God’s Word for over 28 years, I whole-heartedly identify with David’s cry of distress as
stated above. Over many years, I have observed Christianity in America becoming totally immersed in an
on-going and ever-increasing earth-bound war mentality as defining the priorities of modern-day
Christendom. Yes, we are called to be soldiers of Jesus Christ who fight the good fight of faith. Paul
exhorts the believer to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3), and “put on the
whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11). That is warfare. However, Paul is most careful to say that our warfare is
not fought against flesh and blood, but rather against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual wickedness in heavenly
places (Eph. 6:12). Paul also told Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life to which
you were called” (1 Tim. 6:12). Spiritual warfare and fighting the good fight of faith has to do with the battle
against satanic powers for the souls of men, not for the dominance of earthly kingdoms and governments!

The present thrust of leadership in this country is seeking to take democracy throughout the Muslim world
and set the captives free from oppressive regimes. Christendom is solidly behind this objective. A noble
cause, but is it a God-given Christian cause? I greatly fear that the message of democracy has subtly
replaced the gospel of the Kingdom of God as the “good news”, and the emphasis for physical freedom
from oppressive regimes has replaced the true spiritual freedom that comes only by means of the gospel.
Christians are at war with everything and everybody in this country from the merchants to the physicians,
from Congress to the Supreme Court. The present Christian battle is for control of the Supreme Court.
The Religious Right recently boasted that there are now five “Christians” on the Supreme Court. However,
the Rocky Mountain News just this week made mention that those five seats were all held by Catholics.
After centuries of Protestant opposition to Catholicism’s anti-biblical doctrines, are we now in agreement
and harmony that we can boast of five “Christians” being on the Supreme Court? Is being a Catholic and
a Christian now one and the same? Nothing has changed. The real issue is not doctrinal, but rather the
anti-abortion cause to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision of Roe vs. Wade.

Christianity is known for a host of “anti” agendas. Look at the recent war launched by Christians against
the unregenerate merchants that substituted the phrase “Merry Christmas” with “Seasons Greetings.” Is
this effective witnessing to unbelievers or is it just another religious cause propelled at the expense of the
souls of men? Are we not clearly warned by Paul, “…not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of
the hearers” (2 Tim. 2:14). There is developing in American Christianity an earth-bound militancy that is not
in harmony with the Spirit of Christ, and is in total opposition to the teachings of the apostles. There has
taken place in this country an exchange of the righteous cause of Christ to “draw all peoples to Myself”
(Jn. 12:32), for a multitude of self-centered righteous causes that seek to secure the rights of citizenship in
an earthly kingdom. We are fighting for control of America rather than the souls of Americans! Paul was a
citizen of Rome by birth but proclaimed, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil.3:20). Where, dear reader, is your citizenship?

God gives great emphasis in His Word for His people to always maintain a dove mentality of peace
among the unregenerate rather than one of open warfare. Peace in the Scriptures is a very diversified
subject that is to govern every phase and facet of the Christian life.