Toppling Amaleks
“Are we Western Christians truly suffering because of Christ? Or the lack of us standing up for Christ?”
Good point. Once again I would use the book of Esther. The role of restored Israel was to be witnesses within the world empire, as Daniel had been. It seems Mordecai sought to be like Joseph or Daniel, but by compromising Esther’s witness, Haman ‘usurped’ his role at the right hand of the throne (a pattern begun in the Garden of Eden).
However, God used the situation for good, and Esther provides us with an historical blueprint for events in the first century:
In Esther, we have in type the wisdom of God that had Paul in awe as he wrote the letter to the Roman Christians: Sending the gospel to the Gentiles provoked the Jews to jealousy. When the new bride was persecuted, the Jews were forced to endorse either the New Covenant people or their attackers. In this process, “all Israel” was saved (Romans 11:26). Old Jerusalem was redeemed, purified, and transfigured. Because of Mordecai’s disobedience, Esther was able to obtain mercy (Romans 11:30-32). The process both disciplines God’s people and glorifies them (Hebrews 12:11).
Applying this to the secular west, are we curbing ‘Esther’s’ witness in the hope that ‘Mordecai’ will gain some political power? Only God can exalt His people. Perhaps again He will use the failure of His people to witness faithfully as an opportunity to unmask and destroy His enemies. These exalted Amalekites have a habit of being deposed overnight. They fall ‘like lightning’ (Luke 10:18).
