Cowards Be Warned

 

This is true and false.

Here is how it is true: Christianity can and has been made effectively extinct in large parts of the world it where it was once dominant. It's not true that the blood of the martyrs always grows the Church. It often does, but sometimes churches bow out in fear.  

Here's how it is false: God always has new branches elsewhere, and Christianity can reclaim those lost places over time.

God cuts off dead branches of Israel and he grafts new branches back on, he always has. He has never stopped replenishing his tree, the Church, the Israel of God. We see examples of this from the generation cut off in the wilderness wanderings, to the generations cut off from the Assyrian invasion, to the majority of Judeans being cut out who rejected their Messiah while he was present among them, Jesus, to some of the churches from Revelation being cut off and no longer existing, and more. 

God cuts off dead branches from the tree, he always has and always will. This especially applies to cowardly, fruitless branches.

The tree, God's people, the Church, will flourish till the end. The question is: will you, your family, your church, your community, your state, your nation, or a subset within, be represented in the tree on the final day? If you are represented it can only be by faith that doesn't capitulate.

“8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8