Recently, I was in a grocery store standing in the checkout line. There in the rack was a magazine with the now-famous picture of the captured Saddam Hussein looking haggard and bewildered.
As I was wrapped up in my thoughts, the man who chanced to be in front of me turned to me and said, If I was George Bush, do you know what I’d do? I’d tell Saddam he has 24 hours to give me all the names of the insurgent leaders, or I’d burn him at the stake.
I almost reeled back in shock, but managed to control myself. I haven’t ever heard that kind of talk from anyone. I’ve only read about the auto de fe (burning at the stake) in history books. Why talk of this barbaric punishment in this modern and enlightened age? If Saddam deserves to die, I would think a firing squad or an electric chair could do the job pretty well. Why burn him at the stake with a lingering painful death? But I suppose that was my companion’s point. Make it painful. After all, didn’t Saddam torture his victims?
Then it dawned on me. God had allowed me to hear this man’s deeply passionate feelings about Saddam, who is half a world away, for a reason. My checkout line companion cannot touch Saddam himself, but deep in his heart he is very angry at him. He was telling me what he would do if he could. Ellen White comments, As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who would stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable positions.
Maranatha, p. 185.
When our faith is placed in unfavorable light, perhaps we will be painted as wicked as Saddam Hussein. What will be the feelings and actions of those around us who have the ability to harm us? Will they be as angry as the man in front of me at the grocery store? Will they perhaps try to take matters into their own hands? After all, we won’t be half a world away, perhaps only a few inches, as I was from my angry companion. God gave me this little insight so that I could see how easy it is to resurrect the methods of the Dark Ages in modern America.
Ellen White goes on to say, For their own sake, they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention and cure. And those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere.
Ibid, p.185. Perhaps God’s medical missionaries will also find protection through helping others. Satan is using the Saddams and the Osamas of the world to condition people to knee-jerk in certain ways when their emotional buttons are pushed. Get ready for trouble, folks. Once the focus shifts to God’s people, there’s no telling how far some will be willing to go to vent their anger, even to the infamous stake.
Our stewardship involves preparation. Becoming a medical missionary may be your best asset in difficult times. Build your prayer life, too. It is a resource you will desperately need. After all, you might face the stake.
