John Brown

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

John Brown made it his life's work to end slavery in America.  He was obsessed with the evil of slavery.  Even the majority of abolitionists considered Brown too fanatical, someone who gave their cause a bad name.

Angered by political events which made it increasingly clear that slavery would never be eliminated by America's governmental and judicial institutions, Brown took up arms.  He moved his family to the newly-opened Kansas Territory where "Free State" and pro-slavery settlers were in open warfare.  In addition to several battles between the two sides, Brown led his sons and others in the "Pottawatomie Massacre," where five pro-slavery neighbors were hacked to death with swords.

But Brown was still unsatisfied with the efforts to end slavery, even by abolitionists.  He insultingly told their convention in 1859 that "These men are all talk; what is needed is action — action !"

A few months later he led 18 men in capturing the U.S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia.  He believed his raid would spark an uprising by slaves, whom he would arm with rifles from the arsenal.  Instead he and his surviving men were captured, and Brown was tried and sentenced to death.

In a prison interview with a southern reporter, Brown said, "...all you people at the South — prepare yourselves for a settlement of this question, that must come up for settlement sooner than you are prepared for it."

As he was being taken to the gallows on December 2nd 1859, he gave a note to one who accompanied him. "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed, it might be done."

A month after the election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860, South Carolina was the first of the southern states to secede from the Union, which precipitated the Civil War.  More Americans died in that war, and more of our country was devastated, than in any other war in our history.

I awoke this morning with a sobering and terrifying "John Brown" realization.  Events of the last few days have made it increasingly clear that we cannot put our trust in America's governmental and judicial institutions, or in the commonsense decency of America's people, to keep this land from deserving God's judgement.

We have been proud for over two centuries of the democratic electoral system by which "the people" rule, and proud of the system of "checks and balances" that has kept us safe from the rule of evil men.  Both have helped make America strong for two centuries.

But if God "is camped in battle-array against" the proud--and the Greek of James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5 say He is--pride is a certain guarantee of God's destruction.  If a majority of "the people" desired to follow a man of satan's lying character and raging hatred (which Jesus says is murder; Matthew 5:21-2), he would be elected to lead our country.  If such a man filled the legislature and court of our governmental system with his followers, our trusted "checks and balances" would not stop him from doing whatever evil he wished to.

In that scenario, the things in which America has most trusted and placed the most pride would be most instrumental in destroying America.  That is the scenario who have today.  I admit that I have at least partly trusted that our electoral and governmental systems would work to bring America back to sanity and righteousness.  I realized this morning that I cannot.  I, Steve Hicks, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood.

We are on the brink of war.  It will not be with North Korea.  It will not be between the supporters of this current president and his opponents.  It will not be between our day's societal  "conservatives" and "liberals," as America's Civil War was in its day.

We are on the brink of a spiritual war, between good and evil, as we can now see America's Civil War actually was.  John Brown saw it so in his time, even if the way he chose to fight it was mistaken. Scripture's descriptions of the end-time spiritual war clearly indicate incredible bloodshed will result on earth: and just as clearly that spiritual war is not against flesh and blood; and not waged with humankind's guns and swords (II Corinthians 10:3-4, Ephesians 6:12).

I am also certain that very many who claim to be Christians, and whom I had believed Christians, will join themselves to the enemy.  I am certain because I have seen it happen, unbelievably, suddenly, and recently.  Those who choose to follow a liar and murderer have already put themselves in definitive opposition to the One Who IS "The Truth" and "The Life" (John 14:6).  We must not be deceived on this current battlefield by those who mouth the right password, when they wear the enemy's colors.

I had one more "John Brown" moment as I mused on these things.  As he stood on the scaffold and looked over the Virginia hills, Brown said "This is a beautiful country," just before the hood was placed over his head.

This is a beautiful country.  It has been a good country, and a country God has often used as His "minister of good" to many people, and His "minister of wrath" on many evil-doers (Romans 13:3-4).

It grieves me more than I can say, and almost more than I can bear, to see that my country's people now embrace evil-doers, for nothing could more certainly guarantee God's swift and bloody judgement on this beautiful country.   But I am now quite certain that the sins of this guilty land can never be purged away but by war.