Consecration Camps

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." He was preparing His disciples for what He knew He was going to do. He was to be crucified, to be the sacrifice for the sin of the whole of humanity.



This would have implications for His disciples, because they were chosen to take His message of redemption to the world. Church tradition tells us that all but one of the twelve original Apostles (John) died violent deaths at the hands of those they ministered to, and several were crucified. For instance, Peter, at his own request, was crucified upside-down, because he said he was not worthy to die the same way his Lord did. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross, and today this form of design is known as St. Andrew's cross.


Today we must be reminded that the cross is more than a design for jewelry, or a motif for stained-glass church windows. We have lost sight of the fact that it was the most excruciatingly painful means of execution ever invented by man. Even before men were nailed to the cross the Romans had additional tortures for them, and many did not survive to get to the cross. Their naked backs were whipped with leather that had pieces of bone and rock attached to them, which ripped the skin open. So they were already heavily bleeding before they were actually on the cross. Then they were led to the place of crucifixion carrying on their backs the cross bar already tied to their arms.


At the site of the execution, they were nailed naked to the cross, and then it was shoved into a hole, which had to have had a jarring effect on the man's body. In order to breathe, he had to keep raising himself up. Some men lasted several days hanging on the cross, and occasionally a man did not die for a week. I said all that to remind people of what the cross really was. It was pure torture!


This was the way Jesus laid down His life for our sin. Now He tells each of us to "take up his cross and follow me." Does this mean every Christian is to be literally crucified? Obviously not. The way to follow Jesus is to deny yourself as He did. His life was one of total self-sacrifice, and this is what He asks of us. To follow Jesus is to live as He did, a life dedicated and consecrated to God.


I don't think most American Christians even begin to "get it" where this kind of life is concerned. We have been spoiled. To many, the notion of sacrifice means putting a little money in the offering plate on Sunday, and attending a couple of services during the week. This concerns me because we may be headed into a maelstrom of events in which monumental sacrifices will have to be made.


It is a well-known fact that in World War II, the Nazi government of Germany imprisoned Jews and dissidents in concentration camps. The brutality of the treatment of the prisoners in these camps is a fact of history. Some have tried to deny the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and numerous others died, really happened, but the facts are too well documented to be sanely disputed. Great Christians, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten Boom, suffered greatly in these camps, and many, including Bonhoeffer, died there.


Now I have seen the possibility that the U.S. government is building concentration camps for people who cling to the Judeo-Christian heritage. Christians have been blocking the way for some evil and power-hungry men who wish to destroy the freedoms God gives us under the Constitution of the United States of America. The Christian value system is diametrically opposed to what these people wish to impose on all Americans. I hope they don't succeed, but it is possible.


I cannot read the mind of God, but I know He is in control of the situation. He has higher purposes for the good of the world than we know, and maybe He sees that the fire of persecution is what is needed to purify the American church. Is it possible He sees that American Christians have equated American values with Christianity to the point that the nation has become an idol to the Church? As terrible as this sounds, being shed of things and worldly influence could be the way to a sorely needed spiritual revival. As the Church Father Tertullian said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church," - not the blood of the lukewarm (see Rev. 3:14-22)! We hope and pray it doesn't happen, but what if God allows it?


What are Christians to do if they are put in a concentration camp? I suggest that through the power of the Holy Spirit, they be turned into consecration camps. I mean that within and among ourselves we must "make sacred" the grounds for the purposes that God has set for them. I mean we do not have to be defeated by the enemy, even if the worst-case scenario happens.


This could conceivably be the time when the "greater works" (John 14:12) will be done by Christians who will be faithful in persecution. Religious persecution has been conspicuous by its absence in America. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees all of its citizens the right to worship or not worship God as they see fit. People have come to America from all parts of the world to escape religious persecution.


But those who wish to destroy freedom of religion and force others to accept their faith, such as Fundamentalist Muslims, call America the "Great Satan" and will resort to anything, including murder and torture to force Islam on others. But the truth is greater than the monumental lie of Mohammad. It may be that Islam will be forced on America, but that does not mean that it is the truth. It does not mean that Christians should throw in the towel and surrender to the enemy, even if we wind up in concentration camps. The truth of the Lord Jesus Christ is far more powerful than anything Satan has, in Islam or in anything else. Muslims can murder Christians and shout "Allahu Akhbar" ("Allah is great") all they will, but in the the end, they will discover that Allah is pathetic, and unable to protect those who worship him from the judgment of the true Lord, Jesus Christ, from the fires of Hell. I pity them, because they do not know what they are getting into.


Islam could get the upper hand, and force Sheria law on the nation. Christians would lose most of their influence politically, and be given the low dhimmi status of second-class citizens. The implications for the Christians who wish for freedom to practice their faith are terrible. Islam regards very basic Bible doctrine as blasphemy. According to the tenets of Islam, Jesus was not God in the flesh, and was not even crucified! (If you want a full picture of some of the differences between the religions, see my previous blog, "Unavoidable Blasphemy.") If the Muslims get their way, there will be no freedom of religion.


This is why concentration camps must become consecration camps. I see a day coming when the Bible will be outlawed here in the "free" U.S.A., just as it was in the old Soviet Union. We will no longer have the freedom to hold church services. Homeschooling our children will be out of the question, and will be taught either Islam or Secular Humanism. Guns will be taken from citizens, so there will be no physical protection against encroachment from government or criminals.


We will no longer be able to fight with money, influence, or physical weapons: We will not have them. But God has better weapons, spiritual weapons. The Apostle Paul, in II Corinthians 10:3-5 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds)." We American Christians have been making a serious mistake: We have used fleshly weapons to fight spiritual battles. We have depended on our own power and influence to effect change in human government rather than the power of God. This is a great sin.


Ephesians 6:10-12 tell us: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. In other words, we are not fighting against some penny-ante thugs who simply want our pocket-change. Our enemy is Satan himself and his demons, who are far stronger and more powerful than we are (apart from the power of God), and want our very souls. Carnal weapons are worthless against these enemies, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will use God's spiritual weapons instead of clinging to our own.


We will now examine what God has given us in verses 13-18; our armor. Verse 13 is a command from the Lord: "Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Don't rely on your own puny weapons and resources to fight the enemy: If you do, you will fail. God has provided the armor and weapon to need to defeat the foe. In the consecration camps, we would need every piece.


Verse 14 says, "Stand, therefore, having your loins girt with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" In Roman armor, the girdle, or belt, was what held the armor together. It was attached to the breastplate, which protected the torso. There is an interesting prophecy in Isaiah 11:5, which says of the Messiah, "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." Note the connection of righteousness with truth. You cannot have one without the other. They are tied together to protect literally everything.


In verse 15 we read, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." The armor has a pair of shoes to protect your feet. In Isaiah 52: 4-7, the Prophet says, "Thus saith the Lord God, My people went down to Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrians oppressed them without cause. Now, therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for naught? they that rule oer them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name every day is continually blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" The truth of the Gospel will trump falsehood every time. The Gospel is an extremely important piece of the armor.


In verse 16 we see another defensive weapon: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." As the old song says, "Faith is the victory that overcomes the world." Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." It may take a time of persecution to bring many of the Christians of this nation to their knees. Today, many do not diligently seek Him, but are satisfied with going to church once a week, putting a dollar in the collection plate, and just maybe praying a little on the side. This puny brand of Churchianity will not build any spiritual strength for evil times. When persecution comes, THEN will you diligently seek Him? It may be too late. Should you be put in a concentration camp, will you wilt away, or will you be able to turn it against the enemy - turn it into a Consecration camp? The shield of faith is the key to pleasing God, and He must be diligently sought, in good times as well as evil.



This faith I speak of now is more than an intellectual assent. It is trust. It is a trust in God that will continue even when absolutely nothing is going your way. It is a trust which will say with the Prophet Habakkuk (3:17 and 18), "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." It is a faith that will trust even in a concentration camp undergoing torture. It is this trust that will turn it into a consecration camp. I add now the end of Hebrews 11 for your due consideration (32-40): "And what more shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, nor accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having received a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."


Our link to these past heroes of the faith is we must also endure through faith as they did. In a sense, we are all in this together. Whether we view this "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) as watching us from heaven as we live by faith, or as witnessing to us that out faith will be justified as theirs is, does not really matter. If we consecrate our lives to God whether in or out of a concentration camp, in some way we will help complete what the heroes of faith began. They without us, cannot "be made perfect." But should the time come that Christians are imprisoned in Nazi-like camps, we will by faith be victorious if we turn them into Consecration Camps.



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