Another year and another year of watching a lost humanity trying to take the reins from God. The oft-misattributed quote, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result,” comes to mind. While examining the question of why do people still “fight against the goad,” I revisited Bonhoeffer’s theory of folly—aka stupidity— along with fear, demonic activity, and plain confusion. Those who do not accept Christ, continue their futile striving against the God of the universe who created and owns everything (Psalm 24:1). They honestly believe they are striving against another human rather than God. But why? The futility of their struggle remains hidden to them.
What is the church’s response? The remnant of God understands that we are not striving against flesh and blood but against evil in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12), manifesting on this earth as the aforementioned lost humanity. This truth, God’s Truth, is available to all if they would seek it (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). However, pride, unwillingness to see, demonic influence, and/or deep-seated anger block many from having the veil pulled from their eyes by the one true God. Sadly, these struggling, lost people do not understand that time is running out. Wars and rumors of wars are playing out before us (Matthew 24:6), nations against Israel (Psalm 83:4), and the cold heart of an evil generation (2 Timothy 3:1-7). The Bible is our map, a guidebook to the end-times.
This is the time that the church, God’s ekklesia, must step into the breach. Fear is not an option. Isaiah 41:10 tells us to “Fear not, for I (God) am with you.” As members of His church, fear should not be in our vocabulary or in our actions. God gave us a command through Joshua in Joshua 1:9. “Have I not COMMANDED you, be strong and very courageous.”
The year 2026 will be marked by continued shaking in the natural realm as the spiritual realm continues its battle against God. We are seeing positive results in the freeing of Venezuelans and the Iranian people. The gospel is free again in Venezuela as pastors are released from prison. The Iranian people are experiencing some freedom as the Ayatollah seeks to flee the country, and a marked increase in Christian conversions takes place. There will be more bloodshed as the darkness continues to kick against the light, but God will prevail.
While corruption is uncovered in Minnesota, Ohio, California, and all 50 states, the darkness will continue to riot, lie, and attempt to disrupt God’s plan. Just as Christians around the world are being martyred and imprisoned for their beliefs (Nigeria, China, Myanmar, Canada, etc.), the same will and has happened here, like Charlie Kirk. As the church continues to spread the love of Christ, persecution will increase when pastors speak against illegal immigration, the Somali fraud, abortion, and the LGBTQ religion. Lawfare will continue its desperate attempts to silence the Truth of God’s Word and us. But I refer you back to Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you.”
To be balanced, the church has as many suffering from the trap of folly as does the lost culture. Many of the empirical Western churches and denominations fit the Laodicean (Revelation 3:14-21) and Pergamos models (Revelation 2:12-17). Why do these churches reject the clear, inerrant Word of God? Are they so lukewarm that they place apostasy in the pulpits and teach errancy concerning crime and punishment? These denominations/churches are teaching no better than the lost humanity acts. Christ’s love is not for sale to the market of cultural relevancy. God the Father expects the church to be bold and courageous and to teach His Word boldly and as written. Christ did not come to this earth to accept everyone “where they are.” On the contrary, He died for the sins they committed, and He loves them enough to sacrifice Himself for their rescue (John 15:13). He does not accept their sin, nor should the church.
To the leaders of the church in 2026 and beyond, teach the Truth! Be bold and very courageous in the face of the demonic. Tell your flock when they are trapped in deviant sins like transgenderism, gay lifestyle, pornography, and pedophilia. Hold them accountable for the criminal negligence of illegal immigration and the murder of abortion. God’s Word is clear on all of these subjects. Do not attempt to find “loopholes” where none exist, just to keep the media away from your doorstep or the tithing plates full. Be men and women of God. Scripture tells us we will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12), some perhaps to death, but you will be in God’s plan. There is no better place to be.
Be prepared to teach against the evil of false religions like Islam, Freemasonry, Wicca, and Paganism. Any religion that takes the participants’ eyes off the one true God and His Son. Be bold and courageous to accept the persecution and attacks you may sustain. Christ told us this would happen and intensify in the latter days (Matthew 5:10; John 15:20; Romans 8:17).
Regardless of what others say, if you teach God’s Word, you are not perpetuating hate speech; you are telling others of the love of Christ from a position of loving them enough to tell them. You are not anti-Christian but more Christ-like as you show them the unconditional love of our Savior. You are not a racist, but rather, intolerant of what God told us was intolerable to Him.
Rest in the fact that no man, woman, denomination, or supreme court will save us. Our freedom does not come from government, but from God. Government is in place to protect the rights God already gave us. We the people are in charge because God put us here to do His work and then gave us our Constitution to codify that freedom on earth. Step into the authority and talents God has given. Use those talents in education, government, media, the church, etc. Lead as God has commanded. Ignore the attacks of those trapped in “folly.” Recognize that it is rooted in the demonic and pray for them. Do all you can to love them into the Kingdom. Share the Gospel whenever and wherever you can, and disciple those who accept His Son as their Savior.
Time is short. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:11-16; specifically vs. 15). Pray for the lost. Don’t be swayed to hate by their actions, don’t fall into their debased language or thoughts. The new year of 2026 will give us opportunities to share our faith with a world that rejects God. Don’t lose faith. Occupy until He comes—and He is coming back. Don’t live in fear. Conversions, awakenings, and revivals are happening all around the world. Praise Him and pray.