By Sonny Hernandez

Anti-Christian groups are nothing new. In Scripture, Christians were scoffed at, reviled, perpetually beaten, stoned, and most notably, crucified. And throughout church history, Christians have had to endure dreadful hardships because of their faith.

Consequently, Christians should not allow anti-Christian groups to subdue their faith out of fear or self-preservation. If Christians allow anti-Christian groups to subjugate their faith in lieu of speaking the truth faithfully, they are sending a message to every anti-Christian critic that they can be silenced if threatened. Christians are commanded to rejoice when reviled, not be hushed.

Christians, who believe in Tota and Sola Scriptura — which fake Christians do not affirm — must stand on God’s preceptive will which commands them to preach the Gospel to every creature. This imperative is derived from Christ, not the Constitution. And the Constitution supports every Christian’s right to carry out this command that Christ gave to the Apostles, which was carried down to the church, despite the fact that anti-Christian purveyors will despise it.

The free-exercise of religion is not predicated on the foolish notion that Christians are not allowed to brazenly avow their faith in the public, as anti-Christian groups will posit. If it were, it would not be free. It would be stipulated by anti-Christian groups who aspire to see all remnants of Christianity removed from the public sphere. Christians are permitted to practice their faith — publicly and privately — while non-Christians are allowed to do the same or practice no faith at all.

If you are a born again Christian, practicing your faith is important for several reasons. I will explain three. First, you are commanded to witness to the lost. Second, since you are saved by Christ, you must share the message of Christ so others can be saved. Third, you are called to pick up your cross and follow the Lord Jesus. Therefore, if you are persecuted for doing these things, hallelujah. Soli Deo Gloria.

For 2019, do not fret over anti-Christian groups. Pray for their stoney hearts. Weep for their salvation. Forgive them when they censure you. The same Jesus they want removed from the military, is the same Jesus they will stand before when they draw their last breath. They do not know when that date will be, but God does. And on that day, they will give an account to God! May God have mercy on us all.

Follow Jeremiah’s example:

19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

– Jeremiah 4:19-24

BIO:
Chaplain (Capt) Sonny Hernandez is a US Air Force Reserve Chaplain assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In April 2015, he was selected as the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Individual Mobilization Augmentee Company Grade Officer of the Year, and in May 2016, he was selected as 445th Airlift Wing CGO of the Quarter, first quarter. Hernandez earned a Doctorate from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The opinions expressed here are solely his and do not necessarily represent the views of any government, military, or religious organization. Sonny Hernandez wrote this article as a civilian on his own time on an issue of public interest.

ADVERTISEMENT