Written by one whose heart aches for His people:
In light of the opinion issued by the California Supreme Court yesterday and the position the three major candidates are taking on that issue, perhaps the following may allow the direction for our Lord:
“How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” (Ps. 137:4).
Has our own nation become as foreign soil to those desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus? Has America become as an alien land to the saints of biblical promise? Has the land of the free and the home of the brave given birth to such aberrant cultural leanings that Christians are such prisoners of societal pressures that their new hearts are no longer allowed to openly sing God’s new songs? Has unrighteousness so captivated an entire nation that the righteous have become shy in their proclamation of righteousness?
In an audio by Reverend Iain H. Murray of April 26th, A.D. 2003 entitled John Wesley, Why are we interested in the Methodists?, he reads from a man addressing the national import of a subtle non-applied gospel to those who are perishing:
“Men who are destitute of the gospel are destitute of the only appointed means of salvation; there are no other means of fitting men for heaven; there is no other means of turning them from darkness to light. A community without gospel preaching – there is nothing worth living for in that community. It may be rich in rivers, in ore and luxuriant in soil; it may be watered as the plains of Sodom and as accursed as they. I would not educate a family of children in such a community for all the prairies between the Alleghenies and the Rocky Mountains.
Of what value are lands, rivers and forests if the pearl of great price is not there!”
Material prosperity has displaced spiritual concerns in our great land. Morality has become confused with Christianity. The ancient paths of seasonal prayer, the family governing itself in the way of the Lord and observing the Lord’s Day as God directs has been forfeited (Jer. 6:16). The necessity of Christians coming to a personal conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit taking out the heart of stone and applying the law of God to the hearts of men is no longer deemed an essential in our homes and churches.
Many Americans have become accomplished manipulators of their preferences. They deny certain responsibilities and yet cry for improved positions. Every person is responsible for his own advancement in this world premised upon his birth-talents, the skills he has labored to hone through disciplined living and the blessings that have flowed to him from the Lord. Academics, societal civility, the virtues of the ages and personal improvement suffer severely when a culture condescends to violate James 2:9 by showing partiality to the undeserving at the expense of those who are laboring in the vineyards.
John Winthrop’s Christian political philosophy, following Augustine and Calvin, was not starkly individualistic. The new covenant John Winthrop articulated upon our American shores was radically different from a social contract, because the covenant was not merely an agreement between the citizenry of the settlers, but primarily a commitment to God. The social/cultural/political
Nonetheless, the economy of self-denial is so foreign a concept in our America that it is actually denied. The belief in an absolute truth is an uncommon occurrence. The verities of America’s foundations are being shaken and she is becoming a bare blackened rocky monument to the truth that our God is a consuming fire.
We are in need of clear thinking, plain speaking, heavenly motivated cultural shapers. These know that the well-being of their society is not dependent upon commerce, politics, market stability, manufacturing or service industries, or job creation, but the doctrines of grace being lived and taught as a matter of life and death. Those with understanding perceive what the times demand and aggressively advance the work of Christ. They are riveted upon one matter and they are effectively about their Master’s business. Their precise grasp of the most vital matters enable them to articulate a comprehensive declaration coupled with a call to arms.
Who are those graced by God to gift their people with sacred wheat strained of any unholy tares and chaff? Who is willing to speak with urgency and roar with holy thunder? Who will hold forth the mind of Christ though they know that the devil always has the majority in his camp because his is the way of ease, self-gratification, quick indulgence and deathly sleep? There is about those so gifted a sacred way that captures the imagination of onlookers because they ambulate with sacred energy and refuse to fan into flame the strange fires of worldliness.
Are you willing to set forth your biblical perception of the state of affairs in such a manner that others may appreciate the insights your Lord has blessed?
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Permission received from the writer to reproduce with only requirement that he receive no credit and that anything which is worthy in this writing be credited to Him who is worthy to receive all glory.
“Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Is this not the montra of a present age engorged in depths of relativism? This sad state of affairs has hidden behind the guise of humility, though its true colors are the self-glorification of pride, and as a result has bowed, not to the majority, but to those who truly believe in their evil-mindedness that there is not one standard, but that everyone has their own standard.
This sad state of affairs proves to be false liberty. Relativism, through the legal acts of homosexuality, has put on the mask of true freedom and revolution, but in fact it enslaves people to their own detriment. The goal of this State of Affairs is not confessing reality, but manipulating to what one wants to believe what reality is. May God’s people not be ashamed of speaking His Standard, His Truth and His perfect doctrine of faith.
All other ground is sinking sand,
Jenifer L. Barker
“The belief in an absolute truth is an uncommon occurrence.” This is my personal conviction, a dilemma that has been laying heavy on my heart for weeks, if not longer. Throughout my teaching career I espoused relativism, both in my life and in my teachings. Now that I have eyes to see and ears to hear, my soul aches over the complicity in which I engaged and what now to do about it. Unfortunately, I was not alone in this transgression–and our society continues to function as Judges 21:25 prophetically warned. The recognition in California of same-sex marriages as legal is just another manifestation. The lack of absolute truth permeates the whole fabric of life in this society like the acrid smell of smoke in all things after a house fire.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn 8:32). If only all our American brothers and sisters knew and adhered to the verity of this gospel! Rather, it is more like the infamous movie line delivered with passion by Jack Nicholson: “The truth? You can’t handle the truth!” It is too true–we seek our own truth in order to disguise our wrongdoings. Society on the one hand wants the truth when dealt with by the business world, e.g. truth-in-lending laws. But when asked in a fairly recent research survey whether they believe in an absolute truth, 66% of adults and–even more telling for me–72% of those 18 to 25 said “there is no such thing as absolute truth.”
How do we change that mindset? “We are in need of clear thinking, plain speaking, heavenly motivated cultural shapers.” We find these among ourselves. The very schools like the one in which I taught must change–this is my personal conviction: I am seeking mutiple ways to effectively undo the harm that my unbelief allowed me to do. Just as my son’s faith in Christ was instrumental in softening my heart, the new teachers and school children of today may be used by Our Lord to change the culture shaped by those who have gone before. Our voices must not just cry out, “How long, O Lord? How long?” but also, “The truth shall set [us] free!”
Why are we surprised? Many Christian’s, genuine or self-proclaiming, tend to allow this kind of thing to surprise them. How can we be so foolish as to continue to “react” to these kinds of occurences on an emotional level rather than arming ourselves with the spiritual equipment we’ve been issued? Are we so dreadfully deluded that we expect some other outcome or improvement when we consistently insist on taking up the world’s weaponry to fight an enemy that has been at work longer than anyone who has ever had breath? Debates and small compromises to acheive a greater good are an illusion at best and a favorite trick of the enemy, but those in positions w/ a public voice that allows them to inject the culture with the truth of Scripture seem to adopt the world’s tactics and are discouraged when they do not work or bring about desired change. The enemy is inviting you onto his playing field and we continue to come in our arrogance as sheep that are lead to slaughter.
Are you praying for the wicked whom your sinful heart allows you to hate? Is your hate for the wicked the only “Christianity” you are showing your family, co-workers, strangers, and the people on your email forwarding lists? Does anyone see your love for sinners or are they perfectly aware of your disgust for them? I can’t help but think, “How much of this is OUR fault?” What kind of Christianity has been exampled or most broadly “advertised” to the world in recent decades? None that I ever wanted to be a part of but thankfully the decision wasn’t up to me and only the Lord can save.
II Timothy 3:1-9.
Addendum:
“We make men without chests and expect of them virtue . . . We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” C. S. Lewis
Is it possible for a person to do what is right in God’s eyes and have a righteous position on any issue, same-sex marriage or whatever, while in darkness, spiritually dead in one’s trespasses and sins, without the grace of God?
In darkness prior to my rebirth in Christ Jesus several years ago, I lived most of my 53 years believing we should “live and let live,” not able to see the black and white of whether something was righteousness or unrighteousness, instead seeing gray and uncertainty, the righteous position blurred, and seeing no compelling reason that homosexuals should not be afforded the same “rights” as others, including to marry, and seeing no clear reason why a homosexual should not be a pastor. This is the position of one who is spiritually dead and blinded to God’s Truth, of one who has not been rescued by God from “the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)
Shortly after being rescued from this darkness and brought into God’s Light, I read a news article about one of the major Christian denomination’s rejection of homosexual pastors if in long term relationships. Saying out loud “Praise God,” I realized for the first time that it was the righteous position to reject practicing homosexuals from pulpits. This position now clear in my mind and heart as my spiritual eyes were not clouded by the Father of Lies who delights in confusion, no longer entirely shaped by my inward deceitful heart which previously was at enmity to God and His ways. The Spirit of the Living God and His word were driving my new world view.
Is there reason for hope for those who walk in darkness to have a righteous perspective on an issue? God’s hand was in our lives before the spiritual rebirth of my husband and me, for example, saving our ungodly marriage for over 30 years. Surely the One Most High is most able and does grace people with righteous perspectives without knowing Him and being in His Light….. for His glory and His good purposes.
What do we as the people of God do about the ungodly laws, judicial opinions, and overall ungodly way of life in our country in this culture? Humble ourselves and pray, and seek God’s Holy Face, and turn from our wicked ways, and He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Our Mighty, Sovereign, and Merciful God has spoken and given His people the formula for healing this country we love. Our obligation as His people is to be obedient and follow His words.
Praising the One Who is able to heal our land,
Ann Sandifer
I only wish we could shift the focus of this tiresome conversation to reflect a more compassionate position.
Truthfully, no culture will be changed by creating national laws to reflect the moral convictions of certain Christians.
The heart of every woman and man contains the brokeness of a fallen world. St. Paul makes this point clear. So, there is no place for rhetoric that creates false moral heirarchies within any culture. Rather, it is in our mutual brokeness that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection manifests itself in the form of salvation, redemption, and reconciliation. Therefore, as Christians, are called to enter our own heartache and that of a fallen world with our hearts firmly set in love for the hungry, naked, and oppressed.
For this reason, I choose to stand in solidarity with my gay brothers and sisters while so many attempt to deny their humanity and strip them of the Imago Dei we all reflect.
nbh
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I would have to disagree with Mr. Hollifield in several instances, to wit: “…no culture will be changed by creating national laws to reflect the moral convictions of certain Christians” belies the foundations of the United States; that there are no “certain Christians”–there are only Christians: however, many (the majority?) misappropriate the name, as they do not follow Christ and His teachings as they are found in Scripture, not in books inspired by men. And as Christians, we hate the sin of homosexuality, not the sinners, as we are all sinners–the difference being true Christians are called to account of our sin and attempt to eradicate it from our lives with God’s help–standing “in solidarity with” carries the implication of that horrid error of postmodern America, i.e., “my truth is not your truth” or vice versa.
We must move away from excusing our sins and seek repentance–it is our only hope.
I’m a little hesitant to respond as I am and will be the resident simpleton here. But, nonetheless, here goes:
Josh, I agree that Christianity has clearly moved from the center of American life. We see it all the more with each ruling by a court, school board, city government, etc.
But I wonder if this is as bad a thing as we think it is.
When Jesus ascended, he left 11 vagabond apostles and roughly 120 “followers” to wait on the Holy Spirit and then upon His arrival, to tell the story of what they had seen and heard in their hometown, throughout their country and to the ends of the earth. Of course, the Holy Spirit comes and quickly, thousands are added to the number.
We long for those same kind of results. But we long for them without considering the context.
In Acts, Christianity was an obscure, marginal, persecuted movement. People who called themselves Jesus followers literally lived a counter cultural life…and they wanted to. Christianity fully embodied the life, priorities, heart, and power of Jesus.
Maybe Christianity needs a good shove from the center of American life so that once again. Christ followers are forced to live a counter cultural life. Maybe in so doing, the weeds that grow among the wheat will fall away, and the wheat will actually be attractive to a world that is desperate for meaning, community, and involvement in a movement bigger than what one can foster on his own.
Just my quick, off the top of my head, two cents…