1 Now about that time Herod the
king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother
of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased
the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Acts
12:1-3)
Historical accounts of the reign of Herod inform us (Paley) King Herod did not
exercise supreme authority over Judea during the first thirty years of his
reign; however, he did exercise that authority during the last three years
during which time the Apostle James was martyred. James, in the providence of
God, had served a great purpose in the church at Jerusalem, but there comes a
time, decreed by God, when our circuit on this earth is finished. This was the
case with James; however, it was not so with Peter for whom the Lord intervened
powerfully to spare even by breaking the chains from Peter’s arms and legs and
opening the iron-leaved gates of the prison. He had more work for Peter, but
not for James. We often regret the death of a good man or woman of God in early
age, but God’s Eyes see through the mist of time of future events that our
mortal eyes cannot comprehend. “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away –
blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Regardless the length and span of our
days, even if brief, our lives are yet a gift, therefore if a wealthy
benefactor gives us $10,000.00 or one million, in each case it was a gift. We
must be thankful for all life and not be displeased with the grace of God in
shortening the life that He has granted.
Modern chief executives of nations are not the first to use ‘political
correctness’ in aggrandizing their power over the citizens of a nation. Herod
was no less ruthless in its use then those in Washington today, or Paris, or
London, or Teheran. The Church in Jerusalem posed, in the mind of Herod (a
jealous king) a threat to his rule. Though the Christian religion fosters a
sense of honor and patriotism to the nation, even that influence is a thorn in
the side of despots. They want no other voice but that of mammon to fall on the
ears of their subjects; thus we have a ban on prayer in public places,
exclusion of Bibles and even mention of it in our public schools, and an effort
to force the consciences of Christians to support sinful and diabolical sins
such as abortion and homosexual marriage with their own tax dollars. Any small
compromise is as serious as a large one.
Did God have a purpose in allowing the martyrdom of the deacon Stephen? Though
it seems a terrible fate in our eyes, the martyrdom of Stephen served to water
the faith of the Church in tremendous ways. Had Stephen remained a deacon only,
and served in preaching and teaching, he would have been remembered and honored
to a far less extent than he has come to be remembered. Every Christian knows
of Stephen and the manner of his courageous death. IT tells us that our best
and finest may be the first to face such a fate as did Stephen. The same is
true of the apostle James. He was dearly favored by the Lord and privileged in
special was with his brother, John, and the apostle Peter. These three were privy
to mysteries that the others may not have been able to either understand or
brood.
The Church at Jerusalem had become a strong influence there. It wielded
influence among many of Jerusalem. It may have been even influenced by the
local politics of the city; and there was another problem with the Church at
Jerusalem. Though it was needful to begin in Jerusalem and serve as a model and
support for other churches to be formed, it had become almost like the See of
Rome in the manner in which other Christians looked to it for guidance. So its
purpose had been served as an avant garde in the early church movement,
but now it needed to be pruned. James was the largest branch and the one
needful to be taken out to serve the plan of the Lord to expand His Church to
every nation and tongue. By the way, this is my sole interpretation based on my
understanding of the history of the Church. That interpretation is not based on
a direct scriptural evidence of the matter. I believe it was for this reason
that the Lord allowed the martyrdom of James (which He could have cancelled)
and disallowed that of Peter. Peter, as we learned in the baptism of Cornelius,
was needed to carry the Gospel to borders beyond Judea and to the Gentiles
rather than concentrating all ministerial efforts in Jerusalem. An Army needs a
base camp from which to operate but, once greater territory is taken and the
Army operates further and further away from its original base camp, others must
be established in the formerly hostile land.
So King Herod saw the beheading of James (by the sword) pleased those enemies
of the Gospel in Jerusalem. So he immediately undertook to do the same to
Peter. Amazing how nothing ever changes is it not? Planned Parenthood, the
greatest and most gruesome enemy of innocent life is now the closest ally to
big government against the Church. The political correctness of Herod’s day,
and that of our own, is identical. It is designed to strike the fear of free
expression into the hearts of its victims; and ultimately to void any First
Amendment guarantees. The effect of the chief Apostle of Jerusalem being
beheaded was sure warning to the lesser leadership and laity of Jerusalem. It
dampened their testimony, which was precisely the goal and purpose of Herod.
Many believe that government should not interfere with the free practice of
religion; but the free practice of religion compels the Christian to insist on
justice in government, honor in its elected representatives, the protection of
human life and the compassionate concern for ALL life (both animal and human),
and an openness based upon the presumption that government has nothing to hide
from its subjects. This galls the conscience of political figures. They love
their backroom deals and bargains that by-pass the public interest and will.
Those who constantly harp on a separation of church and state (a concept which
the Constitution fails to mention, by the way) will always insist that the
Christian professor cannot bring his Christian values into the public venue.
But they do, at the same time, violate the First Amendment guarantees of the
free practice of religion by forbidding religious expression by any who love
God and practice their faith.
Government has an enormous appetite, and is never satisfied with its daily fare.
Once one additional and unconstitutional power is achieved, it grasp for the
next simply because oppression of the people moves nearer its ravaging
appetite. If Congress can make no law respecting the establishment of religion,
or the free exercise thereof, from whence originate laws that forbid little
children from praying in school or reading the Bible there? If our nation’s
capital is furnished with such a tremendous array of Christian and biblical
symbols in the design of our national monuments, why is it suddenly taboo for a
community to erect a monument of the Ten Commandments? Is it because murder is
now acceptable according to the definition of the state; or lying and
subterfuge now honorable by the same standard; or licentious sex with same-sex
partners and even animals now fashionable; or any reliance on the moral law to
justify order in society somehow contrary to the interest of the state?
But some will say, “You cannot legislate morality!” Really, now! If we pass a
law against burglary, or vandalism, or the abuse of children, or trespass, have
we not legislated morality? I suppose the question boils down to WHOSE morality
do we follow – man’s or God’s.
It may seem that we have drifted some distance from the subject of today’s
devotion – that is, the martyrdom of the apostle James – and perhaps we have;
but I insist that the issue of James and our modern dilemma of unconstitutional
misappropriation of Executive Powers is precisely related to that ugly and
wicked deed of King Herod in putting James to death. Once we get past the
formalities of limit to power, there can be no end to tyrannical exercise of
power – even to the putting to death of any who disagree with government. Who
would have imagined, only ten years ago, that we would have students on college
campuses rioting because they want all speech with which they do not agree
banned from campus? or the dregs of society marching in the streets promoting
the notion that only black lives matter and screaming for the outright murder
of law enforcement officers. This plays directly into the hands of government
which is often the originators of those sentiments, planted in the minds of
poorly educated and government-indoctrinated vandals. We are even inviting into
our midst those whose sole intention is to sow the seeds of ruin in our own
nation.
So James was murdered by the sword at the whimsical order of a tin-horned
potentate. Do you believe that the government which grasp for all power will be
more lenient with you when all power is indisputably in its hands? We have no
king but King Jesus! We honor our king regardless the claims of all other
government. Should Christians obey the ministers of government? Of course, but
only so long as the laws of government do no impinge upon the clear conscience
of our duty to God. Even our duty to country compels us to disown governments
that become abusive of our freedoms.
Do not be shocked at those things that we are about to see
coming upon our nation, and the world. We lose no honor if we suffer the same
fate of James.
