Cal’s Comments: Responding To Threats Against A Church
By Cal Zastrow
Oct. 13, 2008
To the Pastor and Elders at Denver Bible Church,
Thank you for notifying my family and others that D.B.C. and individuals have received violent threats. This information is prudent to share.
From my perspective, yours is the most active church in Colorado that is:
- Promoting the Personhood Amendment.
- Supporting peaceful pro-life street ministry.
- Exposing abortionists and those who enable them via the Collaborators Project.
- Exposing and rebuking the Sodomite agenda including Colorado S.B.200, America’s most perverted “law.”
- Denouncing the wickedness happening in government “public” schools.
- Supporting Colorado Right to Life
- Rebuking the pro-abortion actions of both Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain and the religious organizations not telling the truth about these politicians.
I can’t say that your church is leading Colorado in the following areas, but you are quite bold in your stands for:
- Christian home schooling.
- Exposing Islam.
- Teaching Creationism.
- Refuting evolution.
- Christian discipleship.
- Evangelism.
- Global missionary focus.
- The promotion of Biblical Truth against cults and heresies.
- Righteous civil government.
In light of your actions, it is understandable that pagans and compromisers may not be fond of you. Okay, some of them hate you. Your insistence upon the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture shine as a bright beacon in a darkening culture. John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
My reaction to these threats is to shout, “Praise God!”
The Father is blessing you all with persecution. In the Sermon on the Mount, between Jesus blessing the peacemakers and describing His Church as the salt of the earth, are these verses: Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is our reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Knowing that there are real threats helps our family in at least four ways: identification, thankfulness, purity, and faith.
Identification. Although we pray often for persecuted Christians around the world, experiencing persecution (or at least the threats thereof) helps us to feel a little bit like they feel. Christians in Indonesia, Pakistan, and other countries live with violent threats (and violence) daily or weekly. They never know if criminals will shoot up their meetings or burn down their buildings. We can identify with persecuted Christians who know the peace and joy of the Lord when going through challenges or suffering.
Thankfulness. Potential danger causes us to appreciate peace all the more. Violent threats make us grateful for the comforting and strengthening presence of the Holy Spirit. We are so thankful for a heritage of Christian patriots who threw off tyranny to give us a nation that recognizes our right to keep and bear arms. Yes, I’m thankful that men have guns in church to protect innocent people from criminals. We’re also thankful that the local police are alerted and watching.
Purity. Potential danger may keep the fearful and impure away from Christian meetings. Although it is desirable for more seekers to come to Christ, if they don’t become true disciples they should not be pretending that they are. Jesus the Bridegroom wants a pure bride, His Church. He wants purity not placation, followers not fans, cross-bearers not cross-wearers, servants not spectators, warriors not watchers, and application instead of applause.
Faith. Reading Bible stories to my kids about faith and courage are important for their heads, but demonstrating it in front of them is important for their hearts. The promises of God need to be claimed and lived, not just studied. When we believe and obey, when we trust God to protect us from harm (or give us grace to suffer through it), we honor Him.
As my wife and I train our children, I ask God to call them to be rescuers and missionaries who fear God, not men. And the missionfield is not “safe” or “easy.” God’s faithfulness is enough for us.
Thank you for standing up for Jesus against evil. Thank you for not backing down.
Looking forward to seeing you all in church on Sunday,
Cal Zastrow