Are You Ready For Catacomb Christianity?

There is growing discomfort amongst American Bible-believing Christians. I have ever-increasing conversations with others about our concerns. We talk about how the Unground Church gathers in secret throughout the world in persecuted countries. We wonder if we will have to do this in the USA. Why in the world are we talking about this?

Our discussions go beyond our distaste of the seeker-friendly, sappy, entertainment-centered, dead-mainline denominationalism, we-accept-everyone-no-matter-your-lifestyle, God-loves-everyone-no-matter-what, 501(c)3-incorporated-business-model church. Just as grandma felt the gathering storm in her bones, so we sense the needle in the spiritual barometer in the United States moving toward "high pressure."

The American Church has been dying for some time now. Perhaps it is because, like Israel of old, the Bride of Christ in American has become a whore, joining herself in the unholy union to the State through the sin of Incorporation. It could be because the American Church has become more concerned with filling their coffers and pews than with offending people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 6:66) Perhaps it is because most pastors have traded in their calling for a career and love their semi-celebrity status. Whatever the reason, the American Church, in its present state, is compromised.

It is time for American Christians to wake up. The true gospel is offensive. We proclaim the One and only self-existing True Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All other religions are false religions. That goes for Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, Ekhart Tolle, Eastern Religions, Paganism, Gnosticism, Marxism, Feel-Good Churchianity, etc. We believe every word of the self-attesting Bible. We are willing to die for the cause of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the only mediator between God and Man. We proclaim the message, "No King but Jesus!"

Christians are afraid to gather for worship. They are scared of COVID-19, of being traced, or being turned in if too many gather in one place. They are afraid to greet one another with a holy kiss, afraid of gathering together to sing hymns of praise, fearful of taking communion, afraid of baptizing, afraid of making disciples, afraid of preaching the gospel, afraid of praying for the sick... afraid afraid afraid afraid. Where in the Bible does it ever say His People are to give in to fear?

And there is a new fear now. It is the fear of being caught gathering. I've heard Christians say they are worried about being turned in. Can you believe it? There is a fear that if you meet in a home, a business, a church building, or a public place, the government will write your names down and make you disperse or, worse, arrest you.

I can't help but think about Theoden in the Lord of the Rings at Helms deep. While the demonic hoards march to destroy them, he asks, "How did it come to this?"

I also think about his words right before the battle, "And so it begins."

The question is, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to cower in our homes in fear? Are we going to let fear dictate our actions? Are we going to obey God or man?

The early Christians gathered in the catacombs under the streets of Rome while, above, they were fed to the lions or set on fire to light Nero’s orgies. The catacombs were a series of tomb tunnels. The Christians buried their dead there and eventually began to worship Jesus Christ in the catacombs because of the severe persecutions they suffered in the Roman Empire. I wonder if we will be forced to worship in the American catacomb equivalent. What that is, I do not know. Perhaps it is symbolic; we will have to begin to worship in secret, out of the watchful eye of nosey neighbors or intrusive government.

I am ready. I am willing to participate in a Church like this. I am prepared to help, organize, perhaps lead, or do whatever needs to be done to begin doing what God commands us to do as Christians. I am ready to participate again in worship where we pray, sing praises, read the word, share communion, baptize, correct, preach, and encourage.

I am ready for the American Catacomb Church.

What about you?