At the time of this writing, 37 states
in the US have legalized same sex marriage (with others in appeals and national
protection on the way), abortion during the first two trimesters of pregnancy
is a constitutional right, and a male Olympic gold medalist is on the cover of
Vanity Fair wearing lingerie and calling himself “Caitlyn.” Things are no
better in the visible church. Megachurch pastor Rick Warren recently appeared
before Congress with Elton John to advocate on behalf of medical relief for
those afflicted with AIDS in Africa. Warren laughed as he held hands with John
for the cameras and joked about the consequences if they kissed. The Church of
England, which recently ordained three female bishops, has female clerics
advocating the inclusion of feminine language to describe God in the church’s
official liturgy. And even a conservative like Danny Akin, president of
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, appeared in a promotional video for
the group Openly Secular affirming
the common ground on which religious conservatives and atheists can join hands
in working together for culture change.
The OT prophets carried God’s word to
Israel at a time of similar cultural and religious upheaval. Isaiah said, “Woe
to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light
for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (5:20) Jeremiah
asked of his generation, “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush” (8:12). Hosea
described the sin of his nation’s leaders as being “like those who move the
landmark,” and God declared, “Upon them I will pour out my wrath like water”
(5:10).
Like Israel in the 8th
century B.C. and Judah in the 6th, our nation has redefined the
boundaries of morality, altered the parameters of fellowship, and taken the
name of the Holy God in vain. But if you call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs does the dog have?
Only four, because calling a tail a leg
does not make it one. Similarly, calling the murder of a child in the womb a constitutional right does not make it
any less vile. Calling a same sex union marriage
does not make it so. Much of the American church does not, apparently, have the
courage to stand up and speak with any clarity or conviction against a culture
that is hostile to God and flaunting its rebellion against Him. When those who
profess to know God jump into bed with the Devil, it is time for God’s
prophetic rebuke to once again be heard.
“Should you help
the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?”
(2 Chronicles
19:2)
“Stand by the
roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk
in it, and find rest for your souls.”
(Jeremiah 6:16)
“Sow for
yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for
it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”
(Hosea 10:12)
“Do you think
that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because
they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
likewise perish.”
(Luke 13:2-3)
It is easy to point fingers at the
culture and blame the godless agents of social change for all the ills in our
nation. But the greater danger is from professing believers who with the best
of intentions offer to help their unbelieving neighbor move the boundary markers
lest they be thought backwards or bigoted. Christian, recognize the times in
which we live. Assess the culture biblically, not popularly or politically.
Understand the issues that matter, and do not be content with false prophets and
religious leaders who announce peace where there is no peace (Jer. 6:13-14). We
do ourselves, our children, our churches, and our nation no favors by sticking
our heads in the sand and distracting and entertaining ourselves to death as
the world goes to Hell in a handbasket. There are no political solutions for
sin. The gospel is our only hope. Prayerfully, passionately, and persistently
live the gospel, share the gospel, and trust in the gospel before it is too
late. –JME
