This is an open letter to Joshua Feuerstein to please stop and think about the videos you are making and examine it against the Bible. You are saying things that are not accurately expressing what is taught in Scripture and bringing shame upon Christianity. You are giving the liberals the exact poster board image and narrative that they have been drooling for to attack Christians and label it along side Islamic terrorism. The problem is what you’re saying does not line up with what is taught in Scripture and does not show the heart of Christ. It seems that much of what you say is mostly just an emotional response from the flesh.
For those of you who do not know, Joshua Feuerstein is a pastor (or former pastor) and labeled as an evangelist by some. He has been known to upload controversial videos on YouTube. On one video about Planned Parenthood, he has said, “I say we punish Planned Parenthood. It’s time that abortion doctors should have to run and hide and be afraid for their life.” In another video, he talks about Starbucks’ supposed war on Christmas that caused quite a stir simply over a red cup. In another video, he supposedly stressed taking up arms against the government in order to stand against marriage equality.
Joshua, please ask yourself if this is truly the message that you believe Jesus Christ wants His bride the church to be about? And please show me from Scripture where you would derive such a message? As you think about answering those questions, please think about the following points I lay out here.
First, we are in the New Testament age, the era of the Church. We are no longer a nation that is called to take up arms against the enemy since our enemy is not flesh and blood, but instead spiritual principalities (Ephesians 6:12). We are not called to be avengers because vengeance belongs to the Lord, not us (Romans 12:19). According to this same verse, it is God’s final wrath that we all need to remember will come. We are no longer called to military arms like Israel was because that is not God’s plan in this current dispensation. Though the laws that show God’s moral character are always relevant, the ceremonial and civil laws are no longer applicable to us in the church age because we are now to be governed by the law of love (Matthew 22:36-40).
The whole law showed God’s perfect and loving Character and for us. Jesus is the embodiment of that for us to follow. Remember, even in the Old Testament God states in Psalm 11:5 “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence, His soul hates.” That’s why even when Jesus was about to be arrested and Peter slices the ear off of one of the assailants, Jesus states, “Put your sword back in its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The desire to obtain the kingdom of God on earth right now through force is not mandated by Scripture.
The Kingdom of God is to come, established by Jesus Christ. This place is not our home. We are strangers and aliens here and our true home is with God in heaven (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:11). We are sheep among wolves (Matthew 10:16). America is not a Christian nation, no nation is Christian because the title Christian can only be given to an individual. We are Christians in a nation that is not permanent. We are not called to establish a Christian nation but to be a light of the love of Christ. We are called to love – not live in fear. We are called to speak truth in love – not demand our way by force. We are in an age where we should expect persecution – not victory by force or might (2 Timothy 3:12).
In saying this, I do believe that Christians are called to vote and to be the best influence in society possible, but never in a way that does not show the humble character of Christ. We are never to influence a society by our might or strength but by our humble and godly lives that go against fleshly desires, sensible and righteous (Titus 2:12).
Second, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We are all saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8). You must remember that you are no better than any other person, even the Planned Parenthood doctors. They are in ignorance. When Jesus was on the cross He prayed, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen emulated this example from Christ. This is seen when the leaders were killing Stephen with stones and he said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).
The fact is, if you are truly saved, then you should desire salvation for those who do wrong. You should have a love for them because you know that before God chose to open your eyes to His love and save you, you were just like them, with the same sin nature. Christ taught us to show compassion and mercy to the unbeliever. We are not to judge them but share the Gospel with them, and even Christ came not to judge at first but to save (John 12:47). The wrath will come at His second coming. You and I can judge those that call themselves Christian and assume to be a part of the Church but never the world – that is in the hands of God. If they are a Christian, then we judge them by bringing their lives in the light of Scripture and if they are not, we can only share the Gospel. You are not the Lord’s avenger but His slave, a sinner saved by Grace who should be so thankful that God even chose you.
Finally, remember the example and final commission of Jesus Christ. When Christ could have called down legions of angels upon His enemies, He willingly went to the slaughter. Jesus went at the right time and became the example for us all. Jesus could have started a rebellion, but instead went to His death. When He arose from the grave, He again could have started a rebellion, but instead said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). “All creation” means everyone.
Paul was a murderer of Christians and yet God gave Him the Gospel. He did not hunt Him down, He showed Him grace because the time of judgment is not yet. Jesus also states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). We are to be about making disciples that have as their primary purpose the glory of Jesus Christ. We are made to worship Him in all ways. The primary purpose we have now is to share Christ and live like Christ. Christ showed us the example of a humble servant who was willing to die rather than rise up in rebellion.
In conclusion, it is a disservice to and against the Gospel of Jesus Christ to make big issues out of a red cup, to spew threats, and to incite rebellion . It goes against the example of Jesus and is nowhere condoned that we follow the example of your videos that talk about taking up arms, ranting against red cups, and hunting down people, even people doing such horrendous things as abortion. We live in a day and age where God calls those that are His to live with love governed by truth. So, I ask you again as you think on these verses I shared – do your videos truly align with Scripture and show the heart of Christ for this church age in which we live?
