Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/91

Contributor - Scott Molebean

Title - Tender Tips A Pinch of Incense

Topic - Persecution

Sometime around the year 150 AD. a man was burned alive at the stake in the city of Smyrna in what is now called Turkey. The man was old, at least eighty-six years. He went willingly to the stake, ready to meet His Saviour. This man was Polycarp, the bishop of the Church of Smyrna. Why was he being burned alive? Because he refused to say, "Lord Caesar," and he refused to sacrifice to Caesar. Now it has been said that this sacrifice needed to be nothing more than a pinch of incense thrown on the altar burning for the Emperor. A pinch of salt is what you can hold between thumb and index finger. A pinch of incense is as much. If Polycarp would only say "Lord Caesar, and throw a pinch of incense on Caesars altar he could go free and worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ to his heart's content. The government of the Roman Empire was very broad-minded as far as all the different religions within its borders were concerned. As long as Caesar was recognized as Lord over all and this confession was confirmed by the smallest possible public act - the pinch of incense - all religions could go their own way, for the Roman Empire was a pluralistic society. The old bishop however, refused to say "Lord Caesar," and he refused to offer a pinch of incense on the altar of the state. For Polycarp the Lord Jesus Christ was either Lord of all or not Lord at all. If Caesar - or the Roman State - was Lord, then Christ could not be. If Caesar was Lord then Christ was to bow before Caesar. If the Roman State was Lord then Christ was to obey the State. Two words "Lord Caesar, - and a pinch of incense may seem so innocent, but they constituted the total denial of the Christian faith. When Polycarp refused, the proconsul threatened him with wild beasts. Polycarp answered, "Call for them, then; for we Christians are fixed in our minds not to change from good to evil. But for me it will be good to be changed from evil to good." (Epistle of the Church of Smyrna concerning the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp).

It may seem far fetched to ask whether those days are returning? After all, which civilized country throws people to the lions? Which civilized country burns dissenters alive? Nevertheless we must ask. For what has happened? The laws of our country are no longer based on God's law - on the Ten Commandments. They are now based on our Charter of Rights. They are also based on public opinion. Our legislators in Ottawa and in the provincial capitals keep a close eye on the opinion polls. Our local politicians are also very much aware of the mood of the public. After all, this is a democracy, which literally means "people power." Al this means that the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer regarded as the King and Lord of our land. The law of God is no longer listened to. Now it is the law of people which is supreme. The State has taken the place of the Lord Jesus Christ. That does not mean that we can no longer worship Christ. We can. This is a broad-minded land. This is a pluralistic society. You can worship whatever or whoever your heart desires and you can practice your beliefs - as long as you do not go contrary to the laws of the land. Now the Bible clearly tells Christians to "be subject to the governing authorities." (Romans 13:1) Peter even writes, "Honour the emperor." (I Peter 2:17) In all this however, it is clear that the governing authorities are seen as servants of the Lord God. We are to submit to them and honour them IN SO FAR AS they in turn obey the Lord God and place themselves under Him. But when the governing authorities claim for themselves the place which belongs to our blessed Saviour, when they originate their own laws instead of build upon His law, and when they then demand that we accept and obey their decrees as having higher authority than our Lord, then they have taken for themselves the place of the Lord God.

Is this happening? Years ago a book was published entitled, DARE TO DISCIPLINE. Last year it was stated at a convention that many people do not dare to do this any more, for their children are more and more encouraged to call Children And Family Services if they think they are being mistreated by their parents. Children are being taken away from their parents by social workers because the convictions of the parents run counter to "public opinion." Government agencies are setting the standards for our society, led by secular humanistic prophets and New Age people. It is alright to have your own beliefs as long as you grant that the one belief is just as much part of the whole truth as another. Pluralism is here.

We do not yet see large scale persecutions of Christians who confess Jesus Christ as Lord over the State and who hold Him exclusively as the truth and all else contrary to Him as a product of the father of lies. (John 8:44) But there are certainly straws in the wind. Anyone who takes his or her stand on the Word of God is liable to be called a fundamentalist or even a bigot, out of touch with the times, narrow-minded, and judgmental. When Christians were thrown to the lions they were effectively removed from society, destroyed by wild animals. When Christians today are labelled with words as mentioned above, they are also effectively placed outside the mainstream of society. Who would take people like that seriously? Meanwhile they have now become fair game for all those who actively pursue goals contrary to Scripture. Think only of the abortion battle, of the homosexual issue, of anger and even hatred against Real Women. The lions today are found in the arenas of the media, of education, of community and social services, and even in church courts and church bureaucracies. Their bites may not literally kill you, but they certainly are poisonous and can hurt in a very cruel manner.

Many Christians are not yet aware of this return to Roman times. That is because the development has been rather gradual. But more and more Christians are given the choice: "If you want to be part of this society, declare that the State (or: Society, or: the Denomination) is Lord and offer your token contribution." That goes for the worker in a store who is told upon refusal to work on Sunday that there will be no promotion, to the police officer who refused to act against pro-life picketers - it goes for us all. Most of the time we are given the choice of a pinch of incense, not in a public forum, but almost casually. How easy to just throw that pinch of incense on the altar of this society. Who would know anyway? Why bring the wild animals upon yourself? The proconsul said to Polycarp, "I have the wild beasts ready." They have been ready ever since.

"Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground How the powers of darkness rage thy steps around? Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss, In the strength that cometh by the holy cross," St. Andrew of Crete (660-732) The Hymnbook, no. 360.

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