Christ or Anti-Christ

     Christ in His deity or humanity embodies light, life, good and truth while anti-Christ epitomizes darkness, death, evil, and lies.  Everyone must choose one or the other, there is no in-between.  Progressivism tends to cloud the issue.  Consider the recent remarks by republican presidential candidate Ron Paul.  He stated that as morality changes, laws must also change to keep pace with changing societal norms.  The Bible, however, reveals that the benchmark for ‘right’ or ‘good’ for example, has not changed since the Bible was written.  That means the world and this great nation will be judged against Biblical standards and not against societal norms.

     Recall that as deity, Jesus is God.  As man He is the sole mediator between God and man.  He has been given all authority on heaven and earth.  His future role during the millennium will be that as King, Judge, and Lawgiver.  Then He and His Father will share the throne throughout eternity out of which will flow living waters.  Thus the Trinity remains forever.

     When the term ‘anti-Christ’ is used many immediately think of the future leader of the doomed empire who will be empowered by Satan himself.  But anything contrary to Christ and His teachings represents the spirit of anti-Christ.  The Bible states that such opposition to Christ is already alive and active in the world.

     “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.  And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world…They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”  I John 4:2-6

     Again, John draws a sharp distinction between those who are of God and truth and those who are of the world with the spirit of error.  The distinction begins with recognizing and accepting the deity and person of Christ.  The deniers by default are of the spirit of anti-Christ.  There is no middle ground.  Jesus succinctly made that point in three of the gospel accounts.

     “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  Matthew 12:30

     There are many who believe that religion, in this particular case, Christianity, has no place in the functioning of the three branches of government, i.e. legislative, executive, or judicial.  Their position is that Christianity should be limited to one’s personal life.  But recall that according to the Bible Christ will be given authority during the millennium which will encompass and in fact replace all three branches of government.

     Jesus issued instructions on how to acknowledge and honor His authority during this present age in preparation for the future.

     “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”  John 14:15

     Therefore, the bottom line is whether we as a nation are following Jesus’ teachings or rather establishing our own priorities.  Examples:

·        Do we seek to please voting blocs instead of God’s interests?

·        Do we attempt to play God by usurping His prerogatives?

·        Are we a lender nation or a borrower nation?

·        Are we unconditional friends of Israel, or are we pacifying their enemies?

·        Do we make laws to protect those who break God’s laws?

·        Do we take all 10 commandments seriously, or only those that coincide with contemporary societal norms?

·        Do we as a nation align our priorities to match those events recorded as future history in the Bible?

     It boils down to whether Christ or the spirit of anti-Christ rules in day to day affairs. 

     Everyone can examine the evidence and objectively determine where this nation’s professed Christian leaders stand on major issues.

     “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit…Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Matthew 7:18, 20