KILLING OF THE INNOCENT.                      
Text: Matt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!” John 16:2 “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”  John 15:25   25 “But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”  King David’s trials were prophetic of Jesus, in Psalms 69:4 “Those hating me without cause Have been more than the hairs of my head, Mighty have been my destroyers, My lying enemies,...”
   INTRO: I am not speaking today about abortion of the innocent unborn.  But this, WHY DO PEOPLE WANT TO KILL CHRISTIANS?  More particularly, Baptists?  Why has extermination been the modus operandi of religious groups, against the Baptists, when they could get by with it?  Why were 50 million of them martyred during the dark ages, 476 to the protestant reformation?
  Millions have paid the price for preaching the truth, believing it and following it faithfully.  Baptists often known by different names given to us by our religious enemies over the centuries, have paid a great cost of standing for the truth of the Bible  with their lives.  In the fourth century thousands died in north Africa under the name of Donatists.  100,000 died in ten years in Armenia called Paulicians.  Thousands died during the Spanish Inquisitions because they would not recant of their biblical faith and submit to the authority of Rome.  Christians are being slaughtered up to the present day mostly in foreign countries where the enemies of Christians do not believe we have the right to live on account of our adherence to the authority of the holy scriptures and liberty of conscience.
   Christians in America are under attack from worldly sources and false religion/churches.  They have closed their minds and blinded their eyes to the gospel message because it makes them feel badly about themselves, crimps their style of life,  and offers them a hopeless future if they do not repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and sin bearer.
   True historic Baptists have been under attack from most non-Baptist religions. First of all because while we grant them religious freedom to believe whatever they want, we refuse to join in with them in the ecumenical movement because to do so lends acceptance to what they preach as being equal to the Baptist message from the Bible which it is NOT. 
   And secondly, because they cannot compete, nor compare themselves with us biblically because of their adherence to unbiblical church traditions and the commandments of men instead of the infallible scriptures.    
   Thirdly,  because their churches  were founded by some human person some few centuries ago, whereas the Baptist trace their founding back to the church at Jerusalem which Jesus founded while on this earth. Many non Baptist histories admit that the Baptist correctly trace their historical beginnings to Jesus and the first church at Jerusalem.   Baptists have NO human earthly founder, the divine Son of God formed our kind of church.
   And fourthly, because many of the other Christian religions are the products of the Reformation from the Roman Catholic church which were the offsprings born as the children, grandchildren  and the great grandchildren of Rome and therefore have no more authority to exist as churches than had their mother at Rome which has been an apostate form of the Christian religion since its founding by Constantine in the third century A.D.
   Baptists have a heritage like no other, but many of them are selling this birthright for a mess of pottage.  What do these Baptists get in exchange for this form of self denial of their heritage? Acceptance with the other religions.  Why do we need that?  We don’t!  But many are unwilling to endure the persecution heaped upon them if they choose to remain a distinctive Baptist church separated from other forms of accepted, but false forms of Christian churches.  Hence, they even remove the name “Baptist” from their churches in an effort to appease the false religious zealots who want to kill out our existence as the blood bought church of Jesus Christ, still alive and well.  They would like to KILL US, that is DESTROY US for daring to stand where the Bible stands while at the same time we rebuke all forms of heresy and false religion.
   Present day Christians are being killed in Pakistan, Africa, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Nigeria,  Sudan, Egypt and other places by Muslin extremists.
   Centuries ago, it was Rome who was the extremists.  The Waldenses were attacked in the Alps by the pope’s armies, but they did not fight back.  The Paulicians in Armenia did not fight back.  Why?  Because Baptists have always been a peace loving people.  We have not engaged in fighting to preserve our beliefs, but many have died to secure them for future generations.   Baptists have never taken the sword to force converts to our faith or church.  Rome did. 
   The Medieval Inquisition was when the Roman Catholic Church was charged by the pope to go out everywhere to suppress heresy wherever Catholicism existed.  Heresy was anything believed by dissenting Christian people.  The Inquisitions were a series of judgments from around 1184, including the Episcopal Inquisition (1184-1230s) and later the Papal Inquisition (1230s). It was in response to large popular movements throughout Europe considered apostate or heretical to Christianity, in particular in southern France and northern Italy.
   The Medieval Inquisitions were in response to growing religious movements first noted in the 1140s.  Individual "Heretics", for example Peter of Bruis, had often challenged the Church. However, the Cathars were the first mass heretical organization in the second millennium that posed a serious threat to the authority of the Church, (Roman Catholic).
   The Spanish Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the medieval inquisition which was under papal control. The new body was under the direct control of the Spanish monarchy. It was not definitively abolished until 1834, during the reign of Isabella II. (356 years later)
   The Inquisition, as an ecclesiastical tribunal, had jurisdiction only over baptized Christians, (their definition of that was converts baptized by the Catholic church.) The Inquisition worked in large part to ensure the orthodoxy of recent converts (to Catholicism).  Why so?  They feared that non Catholic religions would persuade the Catholic converts to see the truth of the Rome’s heresy and leave the church.  So, to put a stop to this, the inquisitions brought non Catholic followers of Christ to appear before the judges to force them to recant their non Catholic faith and to embrace Catholicism.  Those who did not were killed right quickly as a public example to the dissidents of Catholicism. 
   The Crusades were a series of religion-driven military campaigns waged by much of Christian Europe (a.k.a the Catholic religion)  against external and internal opponents (a.k.a. our Baptist forefathers).  Crusades were fought mainly against Muslims, though campaigns were also directed against pagan Slavs, Jews, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, Waldensians, Old Prussians, and political enemies of the popes. Crusaders took vows and were granted an indulgence for past sins.
   Many think that modern Roman Catholicism has changed and wishes to join in with their former enemies.  Not so, it is our LAWS in American which prohibit the establishment of any religion as the one true recognized official religion of the land.  If Catholics ruled here, there would be persecution against Baptists and other dissenters.  Italy is the center of Roman Catholicism with the pope, Vatican city,  and still exercises control of the government and the majority of Romans who are Catholic.
   Yes, present day Christians are distanced from what persecution used to be. A church building here or there might be burnt down as a form of persecution.  A Christian might be knocked to the ground who stands up publicly for Jesus, or be the object of a jeering crowd of the devils disciples.  But it is still open season for verbal abuse and criticism of Christians in America, especially the truest witness of a Bible believing, independent Baptist church.
   We must not be fooled into the acceptance of pseudo churches who profess that Jesus is the Christ.   Matthew 24:4-5 :And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” 
   There are many wolves in sheep clothing.  Matt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” I’ve heard some of the wolves howl, have you?  To the church at Ephesis, Paul warned,    Acts 20:29-31 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous (vicious) wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
   Scriptural encouragement we need:  Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
   Actually, we don’t have it so bad, do we?  They nailed Jesus to a cross, they crowned him with thorns, whipped stripes upon his back, spat upon him, Mark 15:29-32 “And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days,  30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.  31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.  32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.”
   Jesus had spread the truth in Israel, but only few believed Him.  He had miracles which proved him to be more than a man, magician, or manipulator.  He was rejected as Israel’s Great Shepherd, their Redeemer, and their Savior.  Instead he was humiliated by an inhuman trial by the Roman authority, and to ad insult to injury was hung naked on a Roman cross before the ugly stares of an angry hateful crowd who had yelled in defiance of the almighty Son of God, “let Him be crucified.”   “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”
   The world has had a history of persecuting and/or killing those who were different from themselves.  Baptists have been in the eye sights of their rifles, but we have repaid them with love.  Baptists who were the leaders in the fight for religious freedom in our early colonies, became the object of religious hatred and were run out of town, or jailed and beaten for their faith.  Then the day came when religious freedom was established by law.  Freedom for us and for them. 
   Now, other Christian churches ask us to join up with them, to recognize them, to exchange members with them, to believe like them, but when we Baptists say, “no way, Hosea.”  What do they call us?  Bigots, who think we are the only ones going to heaven when we die.  So far from the truth that is.  If we say to them, hey, look, if you want to unite and to join up so badly, why don’t you all come join a Baptist church and accept our faith and doctrine?  Their answer: “don’t be ridiculous!” 
   Baptists must accept their fate which comes from standing for the truth against a diverse system of other contradictory church beliefs.  We must get used to being alone in our fight for truth.  People sought to kill Jesus for telling them the truth.  John 8:40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God....”  Why do we think we will escape the wrath of people who reject His truth today?  It is not that people today are more civilized, it because there are laws to protect us. 
  The testimony of Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John, and Bishop of Smyrna, in the Asia Minor, where persecution broke out against Christians and some were put to death for their faith. But the agitated mob wanted to cut off the church there by getting rid of their leader, the now aged Polycarp. The believers hid Polycarp in a farmhouse. (The leaders there taught that one should not seek out martyrdom, but neither should it be avoided if there was no choice and it meant denying Christ). The authorities found the farm house and came to arrest the old man. He welcomed his captors as if they were old friends and gave them food and drink. He asked for an hour to pray before being taken to the arena. They relented. The hour stretched into two hours. The officers, overhearing his prayers began to wonder what they were doing arresting an old man like this.
   Polycarp was brought into the arena. Instead of Polycarp begging for his life we find the proconsul pleading with this aged bishop to just curse Christ so he would be released. Polycarp's reply “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior,” was loud and clear. He was burned alive. The Christians present said there was a joyful radiance on Polycarp's face as he died. The lasting testimony of an old man who would not deny Christ, no matter what it cost him.
   What price are we willing to pay for bolding standing up for Jesus before our world?  Or do we prefer to slip into the shadows where we won’t be seen?  If we choose to be bold, there will be protests like the ones I’ve received recently.  The Post Office called to warn us against our members putting church bulletins in mail boxes instead of the residents door.  And the woman who called last week to complain about Jack Cambell who last Wednesday passed out 60 copies of the “trail of blood” in homes near here.  She asked us to not waste our paper and ink to spread what she called our “propaganda” to her home.  And in the future not to leave any other religious material there.
   God’s prophets and preachers seldom had ideal ministries.  The Jews were commonly engaged in silencing their voices.
   Of Old Testament prophets whose names are known, Zechariah was stoned in the porch of the Temple by order of King Joash, because the Prophet had denounced the people for their unfaithfulness (2 Chrn 24:20-22)
   Isaiah the prophet was killed by being sawn in two. Heb 11:37 ("sawn asunder") is commonly thought to refer to him. The reason given is that he prophesied the fall of Jerusalem, for the wickedness of the people, calling it "Sodom and Gomorrah."   Heb11:36-38 “And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.”
   Unnumbered unnamed prophets of the Lord were put to death by Jezebel, in the time of Elijah (1 Kgs 18:4, 13; 19:14). She wanted to wipe out the worship of the Lord, and replace it with the worship of Baal.
  If we Baptists can’t stand the heat we should stay out of the kitchen.  Our Lord put us here for a reason, and that reason was not to be silent.   Jesus tells us in Matt 10:27 “What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops.”
   Even if we Baptists clam up and refuse to preach his message of truth to a dying world, God is able to make the rocks cry out.  But NO, he wants us to do that. Amen?  The pharisees wanted Jesus to silence his disciples, but His answer was, Luke 19:40 “.... I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
  The sad truth is there are not enough of us TELLING the message here at home, and there are not enough of us SENDING OR CARRYING the message to the regions beyond.
BUT, my friends, there is coming a day in the Millennial Kingdom that all shall know and none ignorant of Him,  Hebrews 8:11 “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”
   Now the question, DO YOU KNOW HIM TODAY?  Many have willingly laid down their lives at the feet of their persecutors because they knew Him.  In fact, many have been willing to risk their own lives for the sake of other believers in Jesus. Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:  4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”  Listen, there’s something about JESUS that makes his ordinary followers SPECIAL, and willing to do EXTRAORDINARY things. 
   The only sacrifices in our life which seem necessary today, sacrifices that we are to be prepared for, is one of our life in service to our Savior.  For that we need to die to self, and follow in His footsteps making every day a living sacrifice for His glory.  Stand fast.  Earnestly contend for the faith. Expect great reward.  JESUS IS, JESUS RULES, JESUS LIVES.