“Jesus Save You”

Another invasion of a place of worship occurred where Christian services were disrupted by an earsplitting invasion of anti-ICE activists in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sunday, January 18.

Invoking distress and righteous outrage among the congregation, zealots, led by unceremoniously retired CNN host, Don Lemon, took it upon themselves to besiege a religious service for political theater.

Incredibly (that is meant in the true sense of the word),Lemon tells the pastor that he’s a Christian while impeding worship of the very God in whom he claims to believe. It begs the question, is this how a true Christian would act?

Attempting to use the First Amendment as justification for trespass, Lemon said he was “committing journalism.” Journalism (which, by the way, he does not represent) is not defined as activists “committing” – his words – a criminal act. And that is precisely what he and his professional protesters did.

This is not a demonstration of free speech. That would have been a protest conducted at a legal distance outside the church, where they couldn’t interfere with auto and foot traffic to the building.

Nor does freedom to peacefully assemble include a hostile takeover of a religious gathering, and threatening attendees with physical intimidation and bullhorns in their own building, attempting to disband worship.

The intruders’ actions left security, assuming the church had a security team, at a disadvantage without law enforcement to remove them from the premises. In many churches, the security team includes off-duty law enforcement officers. Personally, I’ve witnessed single disrupters being escorted out of worship services by LEOs who were members of the congregation.

When trespassers appear in a large group, the situation could become untenable for church protectors, though, in states with open carry or if team members have concealed carry permits, they may be armed.

However a security team may deal with an aggressive intrusion into a church meeting, it’s the congregation that should know how to react when confronted by combative occupiers. It’s doubtful that quietly praying for their removal would affect the invasive force, and returning trespassers’ vitriol with anger and insult generally feeds their enmity.

So what is a good Christian congregation to do?

First, remember that Jesus has power over evil in spirit and in the physical realm, though believers have a difficult time recognizing His power that is in them. (Ephesians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9) God’s spoken Word brought all Creation into being, and Jesus is the embodiment of the spoken Word of God. We are encouraged to pray aloud, calling on the name of Jesus, and giving glory and thanksgiving to God.

Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” NKJV

Understanding that the Greek word for ‘name’ used here is ónoma, it’s important to know the meaning of that word. It is not just a literal name but, of vast significance, it is “authority.” What the Apostle Paul was telling the church of Philippians was that the name Jesus has power and authority over all things, whether or not all people realize that fact.

Christians who study Scripture recognize and place faith in the name of Jesus, who dwells in believers. John 14:19-20 “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 13:5 ¹)

Let’s consider, then, that when a force of “anti-Christ” (anything or anyone against Christ) provocateurs show up at a church or Christian gathering, perhaps the prayer that ought to be repeatedly said over them is “Jesus Save You!”

Why? Because as Christians we pray for the bringing of souls to know Jesus, that they may have joy in the liberty that is Christ, and the peace that is beyond all understanding. (2 Corinthians 3:17) “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” and (Philippians 4:6) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It just may be that speaking together “Jesus Save You” as corporate prayer for the aggressors to receive Jesus, evil will flee as James 4:7-8 says: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” And it is hoped that it will flee from those misguided individuals and open the door for their salvation.

Jesus is worthy of our worship and acknowledgement of the power of His name. We should speak truth in prayer over those would-be enemies, that they realize that all need freedom from compulsions of the flesh.

As believers, our prayer for everyone is that “Jesus save you as He saved me.”

Footnote:

1.  “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.” (NIV)

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