In the early 1930’s the city of San Francisco - using public funds - built a 103-foot tall concrete and rebar cross on the top of Mount Davidson - the highest hill in the city. The cross was dedicated at an Easter Sunrise service in which President Franklin D. Roosevelt participated by turning a switch in Washington D.C. that lit up the cross in San Francisco. That was a while ago. Things have changed.

In 1996, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals made a ruling that said, “You can’t have a religious monument - that symbol of Christianity - on city land.” So, the city of San Francisco - through a public auction and an election in which 68% of the voters gave approval - San Francisco sold the land at the top of Mount Davidson - and the cross - to the Council of Armenian American Organizations of Northern California. Personally it was a significant experience for me to be involved in the saving of that cross.

What is concerning is that there are over 400 religious monuments on land owned by the city of San Francisco. And yet - for example - no one has seriously demanded the removal of the statue of Buddha in Golden Gate Park. It was the Christian cross of Christ that they went after.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

There’s an agenda to remove from government everything Christian - God in the Pledge of Allegiance which is being debated in the Supreme Court this week - no prayer to open sessions of congress - no 10 Commandments - no Christmas - no Easter. Revisionists are re-writing history - with the blessing of the National Education Association and others - revising American history to excise our Christian foundation. Christians are treated differently by government. One example - down in Kern County - the County Parks and Recreation department charged religious groups - mainly Christian church groups - an hourly fee to use a county-owned facility - while allowing other community groups to use the structure for free. (1)

This is just the tip of huge iceberg.

At Amador Valley High School - over the hill in Pleasanton - the school administration invited Nick Lasonde - the school’s salutatorian - to give a graduation speech. The Administration told Nick he could speak on any topic he chose. Nick - who was excited at the invitation - viewed it as an opportunity to tell his classmates about the most important thing in his life - his faith in Jesus Christ. But, when the principal reviewed the speech in advance he demanded that the references to Nick’s faith be deleted in order for Nick to be allowed to speak at the graduation. (2)

A teacher in an elementary school in Florida overhears two of her students talking about their faith in Jesus and rebukes them - not for talking in class - but for talking about Jesus in class. A Vermont kindergartner is forbidden to tell his classmates that God is not dead, because such talk is, “not allowed at school.” (3) In DeKalb County, Alabama - under a court order - a prayer policeman was appointed - at a cost of $62,000 - to make sure that only voluntary silent prayer was conducted at school. (4)

This goes on an on.

This is a difficult thing to realize. Its been estimated that 55% of the world’s nations restrict the gospel of Jesus Christ in varying degrees. Nations that forbid traditional missions or missionary - evangelical Christian - activity. (5) The United States is not an exception to this restriction.

We are no longer a Christian nation. According to those who research these things - 180 million Americans remain outside the church. 6 out of 10 Americans are lost and not interested in attending church - making America the 3rd largest mission field in the world (6) Christians in other nations are targeting this country - sending missionaries here.

Bottom line: America has gone from being a Christian nation to a non-Christian nation - and is rapidly moving towards becoming an anti-Christian nation. Hear this: While the church is increasingly restricted today - we need to realize that soon we may be persecuted.

Many Christians don’t want to hear that. Persecution happens elsewhere. But, the sermon title today, “To Boldly Go Where No Church Has Gone Before” could easily be restated this way, “To Boldly Go Where No Church In America Has Gone Before” - and that is into persecution.

How will we “Get Along Together” while suffering persecution? How will we prepare? How will we respond to what may be coming?

Look with me at Romans 15 - starting at verse 14. Paul - as he lived and preached the Gospel - just about everybody took turns persecuting Paul - the Jews - the Gentiles - the Christians - the various governments of the day. Paul is writing to a church - at the heart of the Roman Empire - on the eve of great persecution. Many of the Christians he is writing too - within a few short years - would be arrested - tortured - thrown to wild animals to be eaten - impaled - burned alive.

As Paul brings his letter to this church to a close - writing about “Getting Along Together” - he brings them - and us - back to the basics of what it takes to move forward together in the face of great opposition.

Three “P’s” in preparing for persecution. And by sharing these “P’s” I’m not trying to be cute. What we’re talking about here is very serious. But, three “P’s” may help us to keep Paul’s points in mind The first “P” comes in verses 14 to 21. Paul’s reminder of our PURPOSE as a church.

Verse 14: And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s pause there. Paul hands out three compliments to the Roman Church. First, they’re “full of goodness.” Their motives - their character - their responses to each other and the needs around them - are genuine - good - with a goodness that only comes from God Himself.

Second, they’re “filled with all knowledge.” They’ve grasped the essentials of the Gospel. Many times when we say, “We’re going to study Romans.” People panic. Because this is a deep theological letter. The amazing thing is that the Roman Church got it. They understood what Paul was writing about.

Third, they were able “to admonish one another” - to instruct each other. With Godly wisdom and insight they were able to encourage and correct and counsel and teach each other. The whole church - not just the pastors. Imagine what kind of depth of fellowship and relationship these people must have experienced together in Jesus.

And yet, with all that was right, Paul writes, “I’ve spoken boldly to you because you need a reminder.”

Memory is a tricky thing. A wife said of her husband, “His memory is so good, he even remembers things that didn’t happen.”

When things go right for us it’s easy to forget what really is foundational to our lives. We begin to think that living a good Christian life style is all that’s expected of us. Knowledge becomes the end and not the means. Admonishing means helping each other to maintain the harmony of our relationships together.

Paul reminds them, “By God’s grace I’ve been saved. And, God has sent me to share the Gospel with Gentiles.” God has not saved us to be a part of the Evangelical Free Club of Merced - to live here in comfort and complacency - doing “church.” Sometimes we need the reminder that our purpose as the Church is not all the wonderful things we experience together but to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Going on in verse 17 - Paul gives us his own life as an example: Therefore - because our purpose is to reach the lost with the Gospel - therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

God has been doing and accomplishing great things. Praise God. It’s not me. It’s God. He’s allowed me to preach His Gospel from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum - present day Albania and up the coast to Austria - the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Verse 20: And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.”

If we’re going to prepare for persecution - then right now - we must learn our purpose - so that when we are opposed we will do instinctively what is the most important thing for us to be doing. We’re not here to be good people - or to stuff our heads with Christian knowledge - or to admonish each other - the fellowship of the like minded. All those things have their place. But our purpose is to reach the lost with the Gospel. Now - not later under persecution - now is the time to become as passionate - as completely sold out - as driven - as Paul was to accomplish our purpose as the Church. Can we say that everyone from Atwater to Planada has had an opportunity to respond to the Gospel? We have work to do.

The second “P” of preparing for persecution begins in verse 22. That is the “P” of PRIORITY.

Verse 22: For this reason - For what reason? Because I’ve been led by God all over the Eastern Mediterranean preaching the Gospel to Gentiles - for this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain - for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while - my deep desire is to come to Rome and to be with you - but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

There’d been a famine in Judea and many of the Christians there were in danger of starving to death. The Christians in Macedonia and Greece had raised money to send to help out. On Paul’s list of things that he needed to do - the last of Paul’s responsibilities in the Eastern Mediterranean was to take that contribution - along with the prayerful encouragement of the believers - to the church in Jerusalem. Once he’s done with that he’s free to go to Rome - and Spain - the last stop before a person fell off the edge of the earth.

Verse 27: Yes, they were pleased to do so - to send the contribution - and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Therefore - because I long to see you and have just one more thing to do - Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

All of which happened. But not in the way Paul may have thought it would. In the closing chapters of the book of Acts we read that Paul did get to Rome. But Paul arrived in Rome after having been seized by a blood thirsty mob in Jerusalem - after spending two years in jail in Caesarea - after being taken to Rome in chains as a prisoner of Caesar - along the way suffering shipwreck and hardship after hardship.

When Paul gets to Rome - rather than complaining about what he wanted to do and how he was going to do it and trying to hang on to his agenda for ministry - He says to the Jews there - Acts 28:17ff - “I am wearing these chains for the sake of the hope of Israel.” To Paul the only thing that mattered was knowing Jesus and faithfully obeying God. Everything was stripped away from him and that wasn’t an issue. His security and purpose in life was not in the stuff of this world. The book of Acts concludes with Paul - in Rome - sharing the Gospel with everyone who would listen.

Two weeks ago while some of us from here were at BASS - over in Castro Valley - I attended a seminar led by Don Roberts from Bible Couriers International. Bible Couriers is a missions organization focused on delivering the Bible to Christians in places where they’re restricted or persecuted.

As I was listening to Don Roberts speak - kind of half listening - half dozing like some are now. This was 3:30 on a warm afternoon so I had an excuse. Don asked this question, “How can the church in the United States prepare for coming persecution.” Immediately my ears perked up.

Don said, that as they’ve been in contact with persecuted Christians around the world - many who’ve been imprisoned for their faith - they’ve asked them this question. “What would you tell Christians in America that they need to do to prepare for coming persecution?” Great question. The right people to ask.

Here’s what they said to us. Number one answer - with almost universal agreement: “You must learn to voluntarily deny yourself daily so that when you are made to involuntarily deny yourself you will ready. Otherwise, when the time comes you will compromise.”

Self-denial means letting go of anything that keeps us from totally trusting the Lord. Whatever else - besides God - that we place our security in - Social Security - IRA’s - politics - a paid off mortgage - insurance - our own wits and abilities. If our security is placed in any thing or any one else beside God - then Satan will use that item of security as a weapon against us - to compromise - to trust the wrong thing - to do the wrong thing - to make wrong decisions - that limit our ability to stand up for Jesus and accomplish our purpose as His Church.

Intellectually we may know this. But it’s hard to let go. In the persecuted church the government is constantly taking away Christian’s stuff - stripping them of everything they could place security in. They’ve learned - what’s the point of holding on to stuff or people or our own achievement? But, we’re afraid to live this way.

Ask yourself, “If God took this away - whatever this is - is that okay?” If its not okay, then we’re placing greater security in having whatever that is than in God. That security is what we need to voluntarily deny ourselves today.

Our purpose is to share the Gospel. Our priority is Jesus Christ. If that’s true. Then we’re free of Satan may try to bind us with. We don’t need to fear what may come - what may be removed from us - what may be done to us - where we may be led. It doesn’t matter what the future holds. God knows - and that’s all the security we need.

The third “P” - The first was what? PURPOSE. Then, PRIORITY. Third is PARTNERSHIP.

Verse 30: Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul writes, “Strive with me in prayer.” How many times have we said we’d pray for someone and then forgot to pray? This isn’t a prayer said when, “God brings Paul to mind.” This is prayer taken seriously. It’s joining with Paul in the struggle. Becoming a warrior with Paul in prayer.

In verses 31 and 32 Paul makes 3 specific prayer requests. All of which were answered. He was rescued. His service was accepted. He was brought to Rome. Even if in chains. God moved in Paul’s life in answer to his prayer partners in the Roman Church.

Life in Christ is combat - a spiritual battle. The restrictions we face in the United States are not a political issue. It’s a spiritual attack. Persecution is a battle - not against our persecutors - but against Satan. Prayer is a weapon. It removes obstacles - breaks down doors - pushes back the gates of hell.

Some of you will understand this far better than I do. When you’re in combat and being shot at it - it tends to rearrange your priorities. People who we may have disagreement with suddenly become our best friends. We’re not called into partnership as the Church to strive against each other. We’re called to strive with each other.

The partnership we have is precious - to be valued - to be honored - sacred as it was bought with the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. We need to learn today what it means to stand with each other. To fight together. To uphold each other. To pray for each other. So that in the battle - whether restricted or persecuted - we will stand confident of each other to the glory of God.

I realize that all this is a hard thing to hear and think about. Many Christians would rather bury their head in the sand and think that it could ever happen here - being dragged from our homes and thrown in jail - tortured - simply because we’re believers in Jesus Christ. Church - if we’re not persecuted then we’ll be the lone exception in Church history.

We must be clear on our purpose. We must have our priority straight. We must be able to stand with each other in God’s unshakable partnership.