It is a Trap

so step in it

It is a trap

So step in it

Recently, Pastor James Coates of Grace Life Church in Edmonton, Canada was jailed for leading his church to gather for worship. It wasn’t a surprise in the sense that he knew that was a possibility. Of course, there are those among evangelicals who think he was in the wrong and is getting what he deserves. They believe the church must always submit to governmental decrees. I strongly disagree with that take. They are wrong. Profoundly wrong. They suggest he knew this would happen and therefore he shouldn’t have done what he did.

Pastor Coates did the right thing. There are times when we know a trap is being set and we should go ahead and walk right into it.

That is what Daniel did. A decree was passed stating that no one could ask anything from any god or man except King Darius for 30 days. The punishment for a violation was being thrown into a den of lions. Daniel knew all this. He knew that the authors of this legislation were specifically targeting him. He didn’t reason things out and decide, “Well it is only 30 days. I’m sure the Lord won’t mind.” He didn’t decide to be coy and pray but pray in secret. Nope. He threw open his window and got down on his knees and prayed and everyone could see him do so.

Daniel saw the trap and he knowingly, willingly, and boldly walked right into it.

Jesus did the same kind of thing. In Matthew chapter twelve, for instance, we read that Jesus was in a synagogue on a Sabbath Day and was asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Sometimes people ask questions because they are seeking answers. That’s not what this was. Matthew explains that they asked this “so that they might accuse him.” It was a trap. Jesus knew it was a trap. He answered the way they thought he might and went further. He healed a man with a withered hand. Jesus handed them exactly what they were looking for – grounds for accusation. He saw the trap and he knowingly, willingly, and boldly walked right into it.

Prominent evangelical leaders have faced the question trap in interviews. “Do you believe homosexuality is a sin?” It’s a trap. They aren’t looking for information. They aren’t trying to understand. They want grounds for accusations. Some, seeing the trap, cowardly slink back, couch the truth in obfuscation, and cunningly avoid answering. They compromise. They walk away, wipe the sweat from their brow, and thank God the trap didn’t spring.

Peter saw the trap the night of Jesus’ trial. “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” A trap. Peter saw it. “No! I’m not! I don’t even know the man. I swear to heaven, I don’t know Jesus.” Well, he avoided the trap and stabbed himself in the heart.

My point is this: We are living in a time when the number of hunters is increasing. They are setting their traps. Putting out the bait. Waiting. Hoping to find some unsuspecting dupe of a believer on which their trap can be sprung so that they can bring an accusation…or worse. Most Christians aren’t going to be fooled. They will see the spring-loaded iron teeth beneath the question, the mandate, or the law. The question is, will they be like Jesus and Daniel and Pastor Coates and walk into it anyway? Or like the typical celebrity preacher from the evangelical industrial complex?

I’m not suggesting we all go stomping around in the brush in hopes of stepping in it. I am saying that if your option is disobeying God or stepping in it, then step in it. If your choice is subverting the gospel or stepping in it, then step in it. If it is a matter of denying Christ or stepping in it, then step in it.

Yes, it is a trap.

So, step in it.