Appeasing the Wicked is Folly

Psa 37:12-15 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, (13) but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. (14) The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; (15) their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

In other posts, I have pointed to the attitude in England in the 1930’s leading up to the Second World War. It was called “appeasement” and it was opposed by a very few, Winston Churchill being one. The appeasers basic premise was that no one really wants war. And therefore, if they simply appeased Hitler, eventually he would be satisfied.

They were wrong. Wrong to the tune of millions and millions of deaths in a war that encompassed the globe.

Christians, of all people – people who claim to believe the Bible is God’s true Word – should know that the notion that no one really wants war is ludicrous. Scripture teaches us otherwise repeatedly.

Rom 3:13-17 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” (14) “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” (15) “Their feet are swift to shed blood; (16) in their paths are ruin and misery, (17) and the way of peace they have not known.”

And yet, what do we see in our churches? In practice, the majority of professing Christians deny this reality. They presume that most people are really good. Oh, some may be more difficult than others but, if you are patient and forbearing long enough, you will reach that island of goodness in their heart. That is the thinking.

And if a person claims to be a Christian, he or she must be believed. To refuse to do so would be to judge them, and we all know that the Bible forbids us judging anyone. Right?

Wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.

There ARE people who want war. They incite it. They are bent on destruction. They want power. And many of these kinds of people claim to be Christians.

When churches and Christian organizations choose to deny this, they set up the stage for the wicked to come to power. And is that not precisely what we see in churches, denominations, seminaries, Christian missions organizations, and on and on? Someone at some point failed. They failed to fight. Just as the English failed to stop Hitler and chose to appease him, so goes that same fatal pattern today.  How did Rome get to be Rome with a Pope who essentially claims to be God? Someone didn’t fight as soon as the creeps crept in among them.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

The association of churches our church used to belong to is largely in ruins today. Why? Because a climate was created in which everyone was to be considered a “brother.” Confronting evil was frowned upon and those who dared speak out were bullied into silence and resignation from the association. God is not mocked, however. Those evildoers who held the reins have been largely exposed. Their deeds have, as one of them said he feared, “come back to bite us.”

So let’s not be deceived. It is a lie to maintain that no one really desires war. There are plenty of people who crave it as their chosen means to come to power. To control. To enslave. To be worshiped. Their motto is:

Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’