Is the church in the West truly prepared for an increase in persecution? Shaking has started in our culture and it is revealing the hearts of men, left and right. Many prominent pastors you relied on to guide you in your walk have come out with mind-boggling scandals, false prophets are innumerable in a social media age and Christian-Judeo values are now looked down upon by many in today’s society.
“People are looking at what’s going on in the world. You know, God has allowed things to be shaken. People are looking for answers,” YouTube sensation Marcus Rogers says in an interview with Charisma magazine.
Rogers is the pastor at Firehouse Church in Chicago, Illinois, and is no stranger to the trying times the church is facing. Not only does he shepherd the flock at his church, but he also has a massive online presence where many look up to him for political guidance, cultural answers and discernment on Christian leaders.
“People wanted to know where did this guy come from,” Marcus says, referring to when he first started going viral on Facebook. He quickly realized the Christian haters online were going to pick him up for the denominational church he went to and his opinion or view on the smallest topics.
“You have to know what you have with God because religion will lie to you. That’s why we don’t have unity in the body that we should have because everyone is in their own box,” Rogers says.
Ephesians 4:1-3 says, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called. With all humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another in love, be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Rogers has rubbed shoulders with other prominent leaders of ministries. He is often vocal about the mask many prominent Christians put on to appear a certain way to their followers. He encourages all followers of Jesus to test the spirit and know the ministry by their fruit.
“David knew who he was, that’s why he was able to step out to Goliath. Elijah knew who he was that’s why he said ‘come on you prophets of Baal’. So if you knew who you are and continue to go back to well, you’ll be okay,” he says.
Tune in to the rest of the interview with Rogers to hear his prophetic sense of the church in America and the coming collision God has shown him.
“Since I was in the army, the Lord showed me a collision is coming. In America, honestly, we’ve been blessed. I know people want to act like they hate this country but we have been blessed to be believers in America. You go to other countries they aren’t asking you what denomination you’re from, if you’re a follower of Jesus you will be persecuted,” he says.
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
