Articles
Wilting for the Faith
Wilting for the Faith
For the last fifty or so years we have watched as our country has been swallowed up with immorality and ungodliness. We have been told from those who occupy lofty positions in government and education that "ungodliness and immorality" is an acceptable way of life, and if those of us who "cling to our Bibles" do not like it, then we best get ready to accept it. We have witnessed the majority of our society embrace "Living together outside of wedlock" as perfectly normal. Children born outside of wedlock, absolutely normal. We have seen, and been told by wickedness in high places, also that homosexual relationships are to be regarded just as wholesome and valid as Biblical marriages that God has ordained from the beginning (Genesis 2:24ff). We have elected representatives that hold these same views to represent us, who care little or nothing for the Word of God and then wonder why morality in the U.S.A. is elusive? We have witnessed it all and remained silent. We do not want anyone to say we are unloving, bigoted or judgmental. We certainly do not want to stir up any trouble and have people actually "persecute" us. We do not want to appear as though we are not "Politically Correct" or out of touch with society. We just go home and pray about it, and do little or nothing to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3-4).
We learn from the Seven Churches in Asia (Revelation 2-3) that each church takes on the characteristic of its city. As we in America have changed socially, politically and morally, sadly so has the church. We need to be reminded of the words of Isaiah; "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). Have Christians of the 21st century become like God’s children of Isaiah’s day? "In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter" (Isaiah 59:13-14). Christianity is not sitting in the pew for a couple of hours during the week; it is making practical application of God’s Word to our life. We are in a battle, and this battle was not finished in the first century. We need to be ready to stand up for what is righteous, regardless of the consequences. Will there be consequences? Absolutely. But we are supposed to prepare ourselves for these. Hear the plea; "Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-12). The wickedness of our society is adversely affecting our homes, and the church. If we do not contend for her, who will? Timothy was told by Paul to,"...endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Then Paul would speak of his own condition; "Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore, I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:3, 9-10).
We have been silent so long that many, in our own little towns and workplaces, do not know about Christ, His Word or His Will for mankind. We have become like Judah of old, whom God warned; "Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law" (2 Chronicles15:3). Let us do our job (Matthew 28:19-20), for Christ’s sake, first and foremost, and also for America’s sake.
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