Alarmed and deceived?

Reflecting on Mark 13:1-8

"Watch out that no one deceives you... Do not be alarmed." (Mark 13:5,7)

For many years I have lived in relative peace and stability.
Big crises were happening around the world, but not where I lived.
Some people experience dramatic upheaval and terrible circumstances.
Jesus here warns that this is what will happen.
“Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2)
He describes buildings being torn down, wars and rumours of wars.
Nations and kingdoms colliding, earthquakes and famines.
And these are just the beginning of the birth pangs (Mark 13:8).

Not all nations, kingdoms, institutions and businesses survive.
The world is constantly changing, nothing lasts forever.
This is normal in a world groaning under the curse of sin and death.
We are not living in paradise, even though Jesus is in charge.
Despite Jesus overcoming evil with love, hate is still alive and well.
How do we have hope in Jesus when our world is falling apart.

Some people say the world is getting worse than it ever was.
They show their ignorance of history when they say this.
The world has gone through horrific conditions for centuries.
Things are not good in the world, but they are not more bad than before.
Jesus is referring specifically to what happened in Jerusalem in 70AD.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was cataclysmic.
Yet according to Jesus this was just the beginning.

All this tells me that I should not be surprised when things go bad.
The political, social and religious upheavals we see are to be expected.
Things could get worse – much worse – and in some places already are.
Imagine if you were living in Ukraine right now?
Or North Korea, or Gaza, or Haiti, or _____________?
I am personally connected to, and praying for Haiti.
Haiti is a disaster, and daily life is traumatic and intolerable.
Government, health care, education, social institutions are a mess.
Gang violence, malnutrition, hunger, rape, natural disasters.
Yet one thing endures: desperate faith and hope in God and Jesus.
How they hang on in faith both convicts and inspires me.
We grumble when the internet is down, or when we have to wait in long lines.

In my own experience, church life and politics has become unstable.
Polarization and division and distrust and anger are rising.
I hear talk of civil unrest and even civil war.
I experience Christians accusing, attacking and condemning each other.
Social conditions are deteriorating as well.
The middle class is shrinking, the rich get richer and the poor poorer.
Precarious housing, food insecurity, addiction, violence, mental health.
The stones and walls of our social structures are being thrown down.

“Watch out that no one deceives you… Do not be alarmed.” (Mark 13:5,7)
Deception is common in these troubled times.
Some use troubled times to question our hope in Jesus.
Others use it to question our trust in the Jesus Way.
Jesus did not let the deceiver doubt God’s kingdom purpose.
Nor did He let the deceiver’s trick Him to change His kingdom ways.
He stayed true to His Love mission, even when attacked with hate.
He remained calm and gracious, when darkness was unleashed against Him.
Now is not the time to be alarmed, or to take up arms.
Now is not the time to give up on the fruit of the Spirit.
Now as always we need to stay close and true to Jesus and the Jesus Way.

“Watch out that no one deceives you… Do not be alarmed.” (Mark 13:5,7)
We see the rise of christian nationalism.
We see the increasing use of power by christians and the church.
We also see christians rising against christians, churches against churches.
This should alarm us – it means christians and churches are being deceived.
And yet, even this should not be surprising.
Jesus Himself was taken down by church and state working together.
It was Jerusalem and Rome that crucified Him, and persecuted christians.
And eventually Church and Rome became the same thing… for centuries.

When nations and kingdoms collide, don’t join in with them.
When churches and denominations divide, don’t join in with them.
When churches and governments unite in power together, don’t join in with them.
There is one world, and one church, and Jesus is leading both.
His way of love has conquered, and we are reigning with Him.
In this world of darkness, we are to shine with the light of love.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, keep my focus on You and Your love joy and peace... especially now. Strengthen my commitment to You and Your Way. Help me not to give in to fear, that I lose hope in Your Way of Love, and start using my words and actions to tear down and destroy rather than heal and help.

In a world and church of disagreement and division, make me a channel of Your peace.