Because of the ongoing and ever increasing threat of global terrorism born of extremist ideas and philosophies, there will be a very strong temptation for the nations of the earth to consolidate together in establishing a universal form of religion, in which all of the gods of the major religions are given a seat at the table of compromise. This temptation must be utterly resisted for it will push western nations to do the very thing they are trying to prevent, that is coercion of the conscience on pain of death, a system of religious enforcement, which is what satan desperately desires.
There are extremists in every religion on the planet. There are those who interpret the Quran in the most literal sense, and thereby are driven to religious extremes in philosophy, thought, and action. But right here in America there exists very extreme elements within the Christian community, some of whom believe in a very strict and literal interpretation of everything in the Bible.
For instance, there is a supposedly Christian church that sincerely believes that rattle snakes and Burmese pythons should be welcome guests at every service, for according to their strict and literal interpretation of what Christ said, they believe they are now authorized to handle these deadly serpents as an integral part of their worship. As a matter of fact, one such snake handling preacher recently died after being bitten by a rattlesnake, because he stubbornly refused to seek any medical help, since according to his belief, God was duty bound to deliver him.
Extremists are born when a literal interpretation is given to every text in the Bible, in the Quran, or any other religious text. When Christ bade his servants to compel men to come to His banquet, which really represented the gospel invitation to be given to all the world, He was not sanctioning the use of force with a baseball bat, in coercing unwilling minds into accepting Christianity. Let’s read:
Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
14:18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
In order not to wrest these verses from their true meaning, and thereby be driven to extremes, we must of necessity study other passages which relate to the same subject matter. In the personal and public example of Christ, we find the correct answer and interpretation, for the use of force in coercing the conscience is strictly forbidden by God, even when it is done with the very best of intentions. Let’s read:
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village.
Again when Christ stated that one of the signs that will follow true believers is that they would pick up deadly snakes and not be harmed, He was not there advising anyone to go to the everglades and bring a Burmese python to church. Literal interpretations such as these are counter-intuitive and when they are adopted, breed extremists and do real damage to the name of Christ, in the name of religion. Let’s read:
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
What the passage really means is that if a true believer were to accidently pick up a deadly serpent, then they can expect protection from God according to His good will. However, for us to go and deliberately search out rattlesnakes and handle them, with the expectation that God must deliver us, is a form of presumption, and all who thus choose to go that route, will find out sooner or later that the same rattle snake that bit Adam and Eve in the garden, is still lurking at the forbidden tree, seeking whom he may devour.
A perfect example of what Christ meant can be found in the experience of Paul, who was accidentally bitten by a poisonous snake as he sought wood to make a bonfire, as he and others with him sought refuge from the cold. Let’s read:
Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid [them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
28:4 And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
However, if a person or a congregation so chooses to deliberately go to such extremes, then they are free to do so, once they do not endanger the lives, or violate the basic human rights of any unwilling persons. God has given them the freedom to go to church and be bitten as many times as they like, for it will be counted as “Love at first bite”, and then they can live, or die happily ever after, that is their own business, and their God-given freedom to do so. However, it must be stated here that stipulated, eternal penalties are attached to this type of folly, yet they are free to choose whichever course of action seems right in their own eyes.
However, politics and religion has always made for a very toxic mix, and the word of God warns us against the establishment of any universal form of religion or creed, whereby the inhabitants of the earth will be forced to pray and worship against the dictates of their own consciences. Calls for prayer in schools are made in apparent sincerity, but the immediate question we will be faced with is, who is the official deity we will be forced to pray to?
The genius of Christianity is that it allows a person to be wrong as well as right in their conclusions about God, and even though there are irremovable consequences for our choices and actions, yet we are left as free moral agents to do good or evil, once our actions do not compromise or infringe upon the fundamental human rights and freedoms of others. This sacred truth is clearly stated in the scriptures. Let’s read:
1st Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine:
19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon tried in vain to mix politics and religion by instituting a universal religious system, when he attempted to force his own brand of religious ideas on the populace, and the result was that three innocent Christians were thrown into the burning fiery furnace, because of non-compliance with a creed that was contrary to sound doctrine, and which also violated their own conscience.
It was at this point in the history of Babylon that God intervened for the deliverance of His chosen people, and if the same mistake made by king Nebuchadnezzar, in mandating a particular brand of religious creed and practice is repeated in our day, for the purpose of eradicating what is considered to be extremist ideologies, the same God will again intervene in a marked and decisive manner for the deliverance of His people, because history always repeats itself, and God never changes. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Some of these state officials were most likely of different religious persuasions. There were probably some Baptists, some Muslims, some Mormons, some Catholics, some Jews, some Hindus, some Atheists, some Evangelicals, and yes, there were also some Seventh day Adventists, who held public office, and who were commanded to come to the dedication of the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
But when three of these Christians were forced to bow to the universal form of worship instituted by the king, they remonstrated, for Nebuchadnezzar had crossed the hidden boundary between freedom of choice and coercion of the conscience, and for this reason Jesus was moved to pay him a sudden and unexpected visit, to let the king know who is the real Boss, and to make it abundantly clear that he had gone too far in violating the conscience of others. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
3:5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
However, it is worthy of note that the king of Babylon humbled himself before the great God of heaven when he realized his folly, and in this respect he is to be commended. But after his public acknowledgement of the true God, he then again repeated the same error of trying to force his convictions on the people. The God of heaven is never pleased with the use of force in coercing the conscience, even if it is for a good cause, for it violates a basic and fundamental freedom He has given to each person. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
God could not be well pleased with this second decree, for it goes contrary to His manner of dealing with the free moral agents He has created. And furthermore, God did not cut off Nebuchadnezzar from the earth when he deliberately set up an image to worship, in defiance of God, so now that the king has been straightened out, who gives him the authority to cut other people in pieces if they do not agree with his convictions? These are just a few of the problems that are incident to forming a one world religion, whereby all the inhabitants of the earth are forced to agree to a universal code of beliefs, moral values, and creeds.
Furthermore, there are three sacred truths that
should be clearly understood, if for any reason, the institution of a one world system of religion and government is considered, in an attempt to root out what the majority may view as being radical or even extremist views. (1) The God of heaven will not be a part of any worldwide summit, whereby the great religions of the earth call for a truce and thereby forge a universal religion or creed by which each god has an equal seat at the negotiating table. This option is absolutely off the table as far as Christ is concerned. Let’s read:
Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
(2) Every member of the human family is left free to serve God or not to serve Him, but if for any reason we individually choose to serve Him, it will have to be on His terms alone, with no human input, advice, recommendations or amendments to His law by the human agent. Furthermore, the scriptural methods of interpretation will also have to be adopted, with no social or political strings attached, so that the manipulation of certain passages to suit one’s ends, or to please the sin-loving multitudes, may not take place. In addition to these parameters, the majority or popular opinion is not to be consulted, nor does it receive any consideration whatsoever, when it comes to interpreting God’s laws, His statutes, and His ordinances. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken”… “unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you” …. 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
(3) If for any reason the leaders of the world forge ahead with the institution of a universally enforced religion, then God will as of old intervene in a very marked and decided manner that will permanently bring the nations of the earth to their knees. This stern warning has been given in the most graphic language, with the intent that we may not take that final and fatal step which will push us over the cliff, from which there will be no recovery, no pardon, or any additional probationary period in which God’s great mercies are displayed. Let’s read:
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
In closing, it is necessary for us to deal with the threat of global terrorism in a manner that will preserve the God-given freedoms with which we are all endowed, and if we sincerely seek after God through the confession, repentance, and forsaking of our national and personal sins, He will respond in the positive, by removing this cancer of extreme violence and bloodshed, with which the world is now plagued. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which still offers us hope as we live in the evening of this world’s history, for God still delights in mercy, and is more than willing to heal and to cleanse if we so desire. Let’s read:
2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!