I love conspiracy theories!I think part of the reason is that we live in a complex world with many questions and very few answers. The rise of social media has also generated unlimited opportunitirs of finding like minded individuals who share our paranoia and bizarre beliefs. A more obvious reason is one put forward by Oliver Burkeman that we believe in conspiracy theories because they infact do happen.
The Bible goes further and says we suspect conspiracies and duplicity everywhere because we ourselves are conspiratorial. It is a legacy of the fall of Adam. The Prophet Nahum was raised by God to speak against Nineveh's conspiratorial stance :
What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time. For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried. From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor. Thus says the Lord,"Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away.."(Nahum 1:9-12 ESV)
Nineveh is plotting against Israel. It has orchestrated a conspiracy to supplant and conquer God’s people. This plot turns out to be an attack against God himself because God takes it personally. Nahum begins his prophecy [Nahum 1:1-2] by making it clear that God relates to Israel as a jealous husband relates to his wife. He takes to heart actions that undermine his people and uses his power to severely punish the plotters.
The church is God's people today because of what Jesus has done through his death and resurrection. Apostle Peter says this about Christians who were facing difficult situations in Asia Minor :
You are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy" [1 Peter 2:9-10 NCV].
Nineveh is a type of Satan that constantly plots against God’s people. All true followers of Jesus are part of the cosmic struggle between the victorious Kingdom of God and defeated domain of darkness. The enemies of God include sin, Satan and the world system! Nahum's words are a powerful encouragement to the church today that God ultimately triumphs against our plotters! It does not matter who, how many they are or where they are. God will ultimately completely remove them! The end is already written.
A recent publication reveals that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Between 2006 and 2012 Christians were persecuted in 151 countries— 75% of all countries! Stanford University says, the the estimates of the numbers of Christians under assault range from 100 million to 200 million. According to one estimate, a Christian is martyred every five minutes.
All these facts are before the current mayhem in post "Arab spring" Middle East. It is a sobering reminder that wherever God's people are, we face threats and opposition. Every day God’s people are taking up the cross and dying for Christ in different ways.
Kim Jon-uk is locked in a prison in North Korea charged with sharing Jesus! Jack is repeatedly arrested for simply trying to call people to repentance. Julianne is trying to stay faithful for Christ in a marriage under attack from Satan! Josephine is repeatedly shunned by her colleagues at work because she is a Christian! Anderson lives under a government that is working hard to restrict what the Church can preach. Roxanne has just resigned from a media organisation because her editor has an agenda against followers of Christ who she claims hold medieval moral standards.
Kim Jon-uk is locked in a prison in North Korea charged with sharing Jesus! Jack is repeatedly arrested for simply trying to call people to repentance. Julianne is trying to stay faithful for Christ in a marriage under attack from Satan! Josephine is repeatedly shunned by her colleagues at work because she is a Christian! Anderson lives under a government that is working hard to restrict what the Church can preach. Roxanne has just resigned from a media organisation because her editor has an agenda against followers of Christ who she claims hold medieval moral standards.
All those things are plots against God himself. God has promised that he will punish his enemies now and ultimately at the end of time. We should also remember that Nahum's warning is not just to the world it is also to those who claim to be Christians. The truth is we are either following Jesus and confronting a conspiracy or we are part of a conspiracy against Jesus by how we live!
This means we have to constantly examine our lives to ensure that we are focused on God and not tolerating sin. Crucially it also means realising that whenever we are dealing with God's people we should encourage and suggest but never subvert God’s work or his children. We must always be on the side of God’s people. This is a a rebuke to he modern church! How often are we divided and constantly attack each other? How often are churches plotting against churches? God demands that repent and turn to him! Stop plotting!
Series Post
Copyright © Chola Mukanga 2013
Comments
Post a Comment