The second Psalm tells us that God laughs at those who seek the throw off the authority of the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah). Indeed it is said that 'the Lord shall hold them in derision' (v.4). There i a biblical principle here: 'Do not be deceived, God si not mocked' (Gal 6:7). One must be hesitant about interpreting providences, but there are a number of examples in history which provide sober food for thought.
Back in the fourth century, the heretic Arius denied that Christ is fully God. As a result, he was excommunicated by a synod at Alexandria. However, the Roman emperor Constantine was keen on peace rather than truth prevail in the Church, and so ordered Athanasius to restore Arius. As bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius refused to do so, and so suffered persecution from both church and state. However, Arius was suddenly struck down in A.D. 336 and he was not able to rejoin the church.
In the eighteenth century, Voltaire predicted that his generation would see the end of the Christian faith! He declared of the church: "Wipe out the infamous thing!" It is ironic and appropriate that his home is now a Bible publishing depot.
The twentieth century has seen many similar examples. Yuri Gagarin was the first human being to travel in space, in 1961. On his return, he commented that he had circled the earth and had not seen God anywhere. (What did he expect to see?) A few years later he was killed in a plane crash.
The one-time Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, once stated that he expected to be able to show the last Soviet Christian on television. The former Soviet Union is in a perilous state at the moment, but there may well be more Christians there than Marxists.
Australian Presbyterianism in the 1930's was shaken by the teachings of Samuel Angus who denied the deity of Christ, his virgin birth, his atoning death, and his resurection from the dead. Angus was not dealt with by the Church. He died however of cancer of the mouth in 1943. The mouth which uttered the heresy was the mouth which was sadly afflicted.
Peter Barnes
Back in the fourth century, the heretic Arius denied that Christ is fully God. As a result, he was excommunicated by a synod at Alexandria. However, the Roman emperor Constantine was keen on peace rather than truth prevail in the Church, and so ordered Athanasius to restore Arius. As bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius refused to do so, and so suffered persecution from both church and state. However, Arius was suddenly struck down in A.D. 336 and he was not able to rejoin the church.
In the eighteenth century, Voltaire predicted that his generation would see the end of the Christian faith! He declared of the church: "Wipe out the infamous thing!" It is ironic and appropriate that his home is now a Bible publishing depot.
The twentieth century has seen many similar examples. Yuri Gagarin was the first human being to travel in space, in 1961. On his return, he commented that he had circled the earth and had not seen God anywhere. (What did he expect to see?) A few years later he was killed in a plane crash.
The one-time Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, once stated that he expected to be able to show the last Soviet Christian on television. The former Soviet Union is in a perilous state at the moment, but there may well be more Christians there than Marxists.
Australian Presbyterianism in the 1930's was shaken by the teachings of Samuel Angus who denied the deity of Christ, his virgin birth, his atoning death, and his resurection from the dead. Angus was not dealt with by the Church. He died however of cancer of the mouth in 1943. The mouth which uttered the heresy was the mouth which was sadly afflicted.
Peter Barnes
