The Rev. Dr. Billy Holland: The world will know us by our love
Each day we witness more division within our culture. There are only two sides, hate and love, and the separation is growing larger. Sadly, for those on the dark side, violence is becoming more acceptable. It's obvious that insisting is not enough for those who now endorse terrorism. Today's violence has a specific reason: It's about politics and religion, just like it's been since time began.
Destruction, death and even wars have been fought simply because one side disagreed with what the other side believed. From recent attempts to murder the president to others being assassinated, one side hates the message and wants to silence the messenger. As these two sides become more recognizable, one side has a conscience, while the other side does not.
It's disturbing to see millions of people, including even people we know, who are pleased with violence. How in the world could anyone in their right mind, especially someone who considers themselves a Christian, rejoice over people being killed, just because their worldviews are different? This is evidence that many are allowing hatred to control their minds, and this resentment has allowed a strong delusion to distort and blind their conscience. Political, religious and social views are based on whether a person cares about what God demands. We know that millions of individuals have been murdered throughout the Old and New Testaments because of their convictions. The number is too vast to know exactly how many have been silenced for their opinions, but only one side grieves because they know this is what Satan wants.
The OpenDoors World Watch for 2024 reports that each day on average, more than 13 Christians are killed for their faith in Christ. This means that every two hours, a believer is murdered. From October 2023 to September 2024, nearly 300,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes, go into hiding or flee their country of origin. Global persecution is real and consistent, and yet we seldom think about how this brutality and suffering could one day be a reality for us. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, nearly 75 percent of adults in the United States are stressed by mass shootings, and a third say this fear causes them to hesitate going to certain places and events. Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, and APA's chief executive officer, says, "It's clear that mass shootings are taking a toll on our mental health, and we don't have to experience these events directly for them to have a negative impact on us."
Many people try to avoid thinking about how evil and persecution are increasing, but Christians are told to study the Bible to guide their faith as they obey His voice. Learning God's will allows us to understand what is coming and how to develop confidence to speak boldly and teach those who want to listen. Sadly, many who call themselves followers of Jesus would rather hide in the closet. II Timothy chapter 3:1-5 is one of many passages that reveal the future and how we are to stand against sin. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come. For people will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, evil, unnatural perversion, back stabbers, false accusers, rebellious, fierce, haters of those who are good, traitors, conceited, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, and having a form of religion, but denying God's power. Do not associate with these types of people." Now is the hour to prepare and put on His armor, as verse 12 promises, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
The end of the chapter encourages us to embrace what we have learned as His truth makes us wise unto salvation. As Christians, we are children of the light, and though we make mistakes and occasionally might fall into a lukewarm and discouraged state, we are saved by the grace of God! We are opposite from the dark side. We constantly pray and battle our flesh and the demonic attacks so that we can live holy and pleasing unto the Lord. We will not hate the other side; we do not want to kill them or destroy anything or anyone. We pray that we can live in His freedom and His peace. The world will know we are Christians because of our compassion, intercession, forgiveness, wisdom, discernment, sanctification, faith, hope and love. Please read II Corinthians chapter 4.
4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God,[a] we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants[b] for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Dr. Holland is a minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.