In the Church’s Silence, Others are Speaking Out
For too long, too many in the American Christian church have remained silent as culture and society drifted away from God.
Content to preach uplifting sermons that ensure their congregants do not feel uncomfortable or convicted, depending on how you look at it, churches have focused on a “seeker-friendly” model to keep seats full and ensure tithes keep pouring in.
So what happens when God’s period of permissive patience runs out and those who were meant to fulfill the Great Commission and spread His Word refuse to do so in an increasingly dark and sinful world?
He raises up new voices who will not leave out or alter what the Bible says and preach it with a courage and fervor that has been sorely missing for years. And many of these voices may come from rather unexpected places.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Enter perhaps the most shocking, yet refreshingly deep and authentic voice pushing a relationship with Jesus Christ as the answer to all of life’s problems: Russell Brand.
The irreverent comedian, former drug addict, New Age practicing, sexually deviant Englishman made a life-altering decision to be baptized in the River Thames on Apr. 28, 2024. Since then, he has consistently posted updates on his growing faith in Jesus Christ, while searching in the Bible the deeply philosophical reasons behind justification by grace through faith.
He is also speaking out at great length against the evil in the world he once took part of, and is countering this by sharing the light of Jesus to massive audiences around the world.
Recently, Brand was the special guest for Tucker Carlson’s live tour in Phoenix, Arizona, where they discussed the myriad events affecting society today, and the manipulative practices being forced onto the citizenry of the United States by those in power to achieve desired outcomes. Mainly, control.
Order Stephen E. Strang’s book, “Spirit-Led Living in an Upside-Down World” on Amazon.com!
Yet it is Brand’s still relatively new understanding of what the Bible explains as the spiritual forces behind the “satanic force” of totalitarian practices being conducted in the world today that he is speaking about.
Brand is shining a very bright light on the very thing the apostle Paul warns Christians about in Ephesians 6:12:
For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Sharing with Carlson that it is only through “the grace of our Lord God and my personal Savior Jesus Christ” that he has been able to overcome the challenges of life, such as the emergency heart surgery his at the time 12-week-old son needed, the imperfect Brand never ceases in pointing the millions who hear his voice back to Jesus.
What Brand is doing, and is drawing a major target on his back, is fulfilling what Jesus says in Matthew 10:32:
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
This is exactly what Brand does throughout the event with Tucker, but most prominently at the end, when he gets down on his knees in prayer at Carlson’s request before the millions who have already viewed the video.
…I pray in Your name [Jesus Christ] that the forthcoming election be an opportunity for unity for America and for Americans. For forgiveness and for grace. That the dark and demonic forces that appear to operate at the level of the state, the Deep State, and the corporate and global world experience Your light, Lord. That we are guided. That You guide all of our tongues and all of our words and all of our hearts. That we feel Your forgiveness and that we feel Your grace.
Thank You Lord for the many gifts that You have bestowed upon us. Thank You for the glory of consciousness itself in which we can experience You and live You. Thank You for the beauty of nature in which we see Your wisdom and Your creativity and Your infinite glory. Thank You Lord for the many leaders and thank You Lord that You were born and died that we may be forgiven and that we may have eternal life not through merit or anything that we have individually achieved for surely all of us are fallen, but in Your holy name we are forgiven. By Your act of redemption, by Your sacrifice, in Your name we pray. Amen.
There will always be a remnant who profess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and its members often come from unexpected places. Was Gideon not the least of his tribe? Was Rahab not a harlot? Were Peter, James and John not mere fishermen? Was Paul not a murderer?
The enemy will never truly snuff out the Word of God, no matter how hard he tries. But he is able to silence many who are called to preach the Gospel using fear and worldly comfort. In those moments, God will raise up voices who are not afraid to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, regardless of how they are viewed by organized religion.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
