Christians need to realize that neither democracy nor free-enterprise capitalism has anything to do with the Kingdom of God. It may be true that democracy is a mortal enemy of the Kingdom of God and that Antichrist himself will come from a democratic environment.

The beast will come out of the sea, that is, out from the mass of mankind as mankind makes itself God.

Humanism is man making himself his own God.

We see the influence of humanism throughout the Christian churches. The pastors, teachers, and evangelists always should be reminding their listeners of the demands of God. As spokesmen for God they should be ready to anger their congregations if necessary when sin is being practiced.

The true pastor often is in an adversarial relationship with his congregation and fostering a love-hate response. Wasn't this true of Moses and Israel? Moses was a true pastor if there ever was one; yet the people on several occasions wanted to stone him.

If you are a pastor and the people are always gushing over you with "love," maybe you better ask the Lord for a report card.

Jesus did not always say "nice" things.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; (Matthew 10:34-37)

And this from the Prince of peace! But peace can never come until first there has been a sword to cut away the evil.

Today we say nice things, positive things. Why? Because we want people to love us. Why? So we will be popular and they will come to our church.

The demands of God for obedience, for righteous, holy behavior, are stern, very demanding, inflexible. We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, our engine of death, and follow the Master. We are to stay in God's prison and be faithful unto death.

Such is not often preached today because of the influence of humanism. People are exalted but God is not exalted. The idea that suffering is an important part of the program of redemption is often rejected. The "rapture" error no doubt is a product of humanism for the accent is on people escaping suffering, not people growing in righteousness.

The ministers are afraid of the people and are seeking to please them. One can never teach people to obey the rigorous laws of Christ and His Apostles and please the people at the same time.

To be continued.