The Violent Rushing Winds of War - Frank Heinsohn
It is November 30th, 1941 and somehow you have been given information of the pending surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam, Hong Kong, Malaya and the Philippines. My question is how might that cause you to act differently? How might you pray differently? What, if anything, would you do differently in your spiritual life? If you are a pastor, how might you minister to your congregation differently? Maybe it is silly to ponder such things and especially in the week after our churches may have swelled in attendance due to ResurrectionSunday. Are the events of 80 years ago relevant today?
On September 1, 1939, the nationalist, socialist, fascist regime of Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. There had been disputes over ethnic Germans who were now in the territory of Poland. Hitler made claims of repatriation in his justification for offensive operations. On February 24, 2022, the nationalist, socialist, fascist regime of Putin invaded Ukraine. There had been disputes over ethnic Russians in Ukraine and Putin planned to repatriate them.
On December 7, 1941, half a world apart from Western Europe, the nationalist and fascist regime of Japan crossed the sea to attack Pearl Harbor among other places. On TBD the nationalist, socialist, fascist regime of the Communist Chinese Party under the reins of President Xi crossed the sea to attack Taiwan to repatriate the ethnic Chinese and the associated territory.
In a scenario posed such as this, I cannot help but think of the first chapter of Habakkuk where the prophet asks how long will there be injustice and the answer seems totally counterintuitive:
3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
4 So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
5 “Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.
6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter and hasty nation,
who march through the breadth of the earth,
to seize dwellings not their own (Habakkuk 1:3-6, ESV).
I very much would like to hear your comments on what might you do differently given access of the knowledge of the planned attack that I proposed at the beginning of this post. I believe the answer about how should one preach comes from Paul’s 2ndletter to Timothy, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching…As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”(2Timothy 4:2,5 ESV). Does Paul’s charge suggest any different action in a pending World War III scenario?
The passage from Habakkuk seems to offer some thought-provoking aspects potentially as to how one should pray. I am becoming more and more convinced that we should be praying for change in regime in China specifically regarding Xi, but also for others in leadership in the Chinese Communist Party. I specifically say change in Regime versus regime change. God does change the hearts of men. Xi and his lieutenants are not beyond that change. 1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” This passage gives me great hope when faced with what seems like an impossible situation regarding the threat that China poses to world peace and stability. If things do get hot, my assumption is that casualties, death and destruction might far exceed our highest expectations.
If China became the sole super-power in the world, religious persecution would probably rise to new heights even here in the United States. This could be as bad, if not worse than, that in the 1st Century Church. I recently read an interesting autobiographical book by Bob Fu that I would recommend to others called God’s Double Agent. The book talks to the persecution of Christians in particular, but other religions as well, under the Chinese communist regime. He gives detail of how he was persecuted and fled China and how he has helped others experiencing religious persecution since being accepted in the United States.
The passage from First Corinthians assures us that for the elect, many were these things. It also says that God can and does create heart change in people who have not yet, but are certain, to call on the Name of Jesus.
Even if I think we need to be fervently in prayer for change in regime in China, this passage from Habakkuk first points to a need for change in regime in Judah. Probably most of the people who read this blog are physically located here in the United States. This passage points to regime change here in our countryand even within our own individual hearts. As Reverend Chipman posted in the Seventeen82 Blog nearly a week ago, we have our own idols of the heart and frequently that can be manifest in our trust in our own government. Some of the same fascist and Marxist and nationalistic tendencies rear their same ugly heads here. That can be in two systems of justice depending upon your political affiliation or in supporting political candidates that are prideful and seem to have no sexual morals whatsoever.
As God spoke through Habakkuk seeking change in the hearts of people within the Tribe of Judah, He also sought change in hearts for the Chaldean oppressors that He would use as an instrument of change in Judah. The Chaldeans would also ultimately face judgement. “But they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.”
The question first posed was “what if anything should we do if the winds of war are being stirred up.” Habakkuk’s response to God is given below, but what is your response?
I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what He will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint(Habakkuk 2:1, NASB 1995).