UNDERGROUND CHURCH?
By Harry Bethel

There is among true Christians in these last days of apostasy the concept of an "underground" church in parts of the world where Christians are persecuted. But let us think about this for a minute. In light of what the Bible teaches, is an "underground" church scriptural?

There are parachurch organizations whose primary ministry is to raise money to help support the underground churches. First of all, their parachurch status has no scriptural warrant. But more important, perhaps, is the idea of catering to persecuted Christians who have gone "underground" so they can survive or avoid persecution.

Nowhere in the New Testament does it teach us Christians to go underground to avoid persecution or suffering or to save our lives. In fact, the Scriptures teach quite the contrary. Jesus told the Twelve that when they were persecuted in one city flee to another. In this way the Gospel would be spread (Mt. 10:23). He did not say when you are persecuted go "underground." Indeed Paul said that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). And Peter said that "even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

Many Christians in some parts of the world are fearful of suffering or losing their lives. Jesus said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (Jn. 12:25).

Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21). Paul was torn between wanting to go to heaven and wanting to stay and minister to others. He had been caught up to the third heaven and knew how indescribably great it is to leave this world and be with the Lord. Also, the apostle had been filled with the Holy Spirit and knew from that experience (apart from the born-again experience) what it was like to have a little taste of heaven.

"God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power..." (2 Tim. 1:7).

Paul did not fear persecution or dying. He said that he had received stripes above measure, been frequently imprisoned, five times received thirty-nine stripes from the Jews, beaten with rods three times, stoned, in perils from robbers, from his own countrymen, from the heathen, and from false brethren (2 Cor. 11:23-26). Aren't you glad the apostle Paul did not go "underground?"

When the apostles were arrested, as recorded in Acts 5, and the angel set them free they were brought before the council and told not to preach Christ. So, did the apostles go underground? No. A thousand times, No. Scripture records that Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Aren't you glad that Peter and the other apostles didn't go "underground?"

One of the reasons that many Christians have gone underground is because they have never been filled with the Holy Spirit. They do not have the power to face suffering or martyrdom. Their love for their families and their safety is greater than their love for Christ and spreading the Gospel. Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Lk. 14:26-27). Contrary to the watered-down messages today that say that "you must be willing" to do these things (including forsaking all that he has, Lk. 14:33), Jesus did not say you must be willing, but rather the clear message is that you must do it. 

God's grace is sufficient for everything that He requires of us, whether it involves suffering or martyrdom or forsaking all that we have. When I met the three conditions for being Jesus' disciple on this level in accordance with Luke 14, Jesus later added back what I needed to do His will (which is precious little compared to the vast majority of Christians in this country).

Talk is cheap. I know what it is like to be put into jail and prison for following Christ. I know what it is like to lose my family and everything that I worked for for many years to follow Christ. Dear brother, I could only do it because of the grace of God and because I had been filled with the Holy Spirit. I could not have done it any other way. I give the glory to Jesus Christ, who is our all.

Without Jesus we can do nothing. With Him and the filling of His Holy Spirit we can do anything. We do not need to go underground, my dear brothers. A time is coming, and according to what God has revealed to me it is on the horizon, when we will go through the Great Tribulation (contrary to the survivalist-escapism mentality and suffering-avoidance pre-trib rapture teaching so popular for the past several decades). 

Many Christians who believe that we will go through the Great Tribulation are worried about how they are going to have food and necessities to survive for seven years without the mark of the beast. (Actually it will be only three and a half years.) But beloved, if you will preach Christ during that time instead of going underground and trying to save your life, then it will probably not be a month before you will be martyred. Then you will have another crown to lay at Jesus' feet. Praise the Lord! Who wants to stick around this place anyway? Amen?

History teaches that all the apostles, except John who was banished to the Isle of Patmos, suffered martyrdom. Jesus told Peter how he would die to glorify God. Our Lord did not tell the apostles or anyone else to go underground to avoid suffering or martyrdom.

Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it" (Luke 9:24). The Lord also said, "Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). Christians who go "underground" do not acknowledge the absolute sovereignty of God. Christians who go "underground" are driven by fear. 

Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

Following are some very pointed questions that Jesus asked that we need to consider: "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" "Will thou lay down thy life for My sake?"

Our Lord also said the cowardly shall have their part in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 21:8).

The concept of an "underground church" is contrary to the Scriptures, no matter how much publicity so-called ministries receive for supporting Christian cowards around the world. From the times of the Israelites who were afraid to enter the Promised Land because of the giants therein, to the rejected cowards of Gideon’s army, to the cowards of the Revelation who will be cast into the Lake of Fire, God has never had any use for the fearful.

Following are typical responses that I have received concerning this article and my replies:

My reply: