As Godlessness Increases, Violence Increases
UPDATE Sept 2021: I have come to believe that Jeff Crippen does not practise what he preaches. He vilely persecuted an abuse victim and spiritually abused many other people in the Tillamook congregation. Go here to read the evidence. Jeff has not gone to the people that he spiritually and emotionally abused. He has not apologised to them, let alone asked for their forgiveness.
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But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:36-39)
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:11-13)
Anyone who observes the world around us can see that violence is increasing in the world and in our own communities. Abuse is domestic violence and it would seem that it is on the increase as well. When human beings reject the Lord, He hands them over to their sin and withdraws from them (see Romans 1). It is one form of His judgment. “Alright, you want to live without Me, I will let you live without Me.” Off come the Lord’s restraints from evil and man experiences darkness unleashed.
As we read in the Scriptures quoted above, one of the chief characteristics of humanity in Noah’s day was violence. The earth was filled with violence. Man rejected his Creator, and the Creator determined to give the rebel what he wanted. That meant a return to the chaos which originally characterized the earth before God had said “let there be light.” The earth was then covered with water. That is what would happen in the flood. A “de-creation.”
Jesus said that in the last days it would be like the days of Noah. People will be partying on, disregarding God, rebelling against Him, living as if He had no relevance to them, refusing to give Him thanks. And this means that violence would once again fill the earth. Violence of all kinds. Domestic violence will increase. I do not labor in this field of abuse with some grand notion that if we all pull together and if we can just educate people enough, we can put an end to domestic violence and abuse. Nope. Not going to happen. What we can do is help victims and we can teach those with ears to hear. But this issue is not going to go away. In fact, as the visible church continues in its downgrade to apostasy, we are going to find even more evil hiding behind a masquerade of wool. But I don’t have to be duped by it, and neither do you. I don’t have to let it hide in and destroy my church. Christ calls us, His people, to use holy violence against this evil – the violence of the light of Christ’s truth. As it was in the days of Noah…there will be a remnant to get on the ark.
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- Posted in: Christianity
- Tagged: abuser's tactics, church response to abuse, evil, Genesis, Jeff Crippen, Matthew, protecting victims, violence
A Cry For Justice 
In the midst of the battle for justice, this is an important reminder, before deliverance at last comes and all tears are wiped away, when nothing is hidden and truth prevails, things will get worse. In the midst of vexation and grief of hearing evil called good, good called evil, while the privileges of abusers are supported and their victims maligned is this hope, the worsening is the sign it will end soon. The Just One will return, and overturn it all and those afflicted now, will be forever comforted in the presence of perfect love.
In the meantime, this passage comes to mind, that we pray for those fighting the battle without ceasing and join them by those prayers for endurance and wisdom. We aren’t fighting men alone but darkness which seeks to blot out the light, yet cannot. Supernatural wisdom is called for, and for that we ask Divinely inspired strategy, words and power. I hope that as we read these posts, we pray for their effectiveness and continued discernment and that we grow in it ourselves.
This:
You, Jeff, and ACFJ team have done just that – HELPED – targets of abuse! Thank you!
You have my overwhelming gratitude for looking after the remnant.
Thank you. This was very well said. In every-day life, I see an increase in violence, agitation, lack of patience, anxiety. There seems to be no peace. It is so scary, I would rather like to go and live and hide in the forest of the mountains, find a cave. leave the city behind me. Well, “soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.”
Hallelujah!
I can ‘understand’ that there is violence out there among people without the Lord as their Master, but what I find revolting is the violence within the church. It is the insidious oppression: the violence by silence, negligence, neutrality, indifference, twisted doctrines, denial, prejudice, etc. Of course we were warned of the wolves and the like, but what about all the ‘born-again’ people at all levels? As you put it Jeff the flood was a de-creation, just as today we are witnessing a de-re-creation among congregations, a conversion in reverse.
If Christians were fully awake, knowledgeable, fervent students of the Word, and praying believers standing on promises, united, caring, churches would be Refuges for victims instead of paradise for abusers!
The apostle Paul warned us about the increase of vicious people in the church in the last days (2 Timothy 3). Could it also be that it is proportionate to the decrease of godliness in the church and care for the weak and vulnerable?
Innoscent – Much of the problem as you state it is that many people who say they are Christians simply do not belong to Christ at all. Christians do love God’s Word. Those that Paul warns us about in 2 Tim are wicked people who come in among us secretly disguised as sheep. And in many cases they establish themselves in positions of leadership in churches and in other cases even constitute the majority of the membership.
Amen. As I have only recently started to emerge from the web of deceit, I am pondering why the Lord allowed this trial. What have I learned, and how can I be of service to Him and His kingdom having been in it (and still in it to a lesser degree)? How is He glorified in this? And what can I do now that I’ve been there and am learning of such deceit for what it really is?
The lesson seems to keep coming back to the church. It’s certainly bigger than me in my marriage. The testimonies seem to be everywhere – and the vast majority of those I’m hearing are the cases of women (generally) speaking up to their church about it and being knocked down. The light in the lamp stand of the church flickers. Deceit sits in her pews, alongside the brethren, feeding on the flock. “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” – Matt.11:12
How true it is. The violence and abuse are not going to stop. We are told it won’t, but as bad as this is, it is Good News. The Lord will come again. The more we hear and see the closer that day comes. The thought of seeing my Savior is the most awesome thing I can imagine.
Jeff C posted:
Instead, we continue to heap worldly “fun and games” into the mess.
Not bunny-trailing into reasons why the following occurred, merely some observations…
A number of horrific school shootings in the last months. A recent news story reported there is now a video game based around school shootings.
There have also been church shootings in the last months. Unfortunately, I suspect someone will develop a video game based these, too.
Sigh.