I am departing from my usual format for this post, primarily speaking from the Bible to give my thoughts on America's present situation. This morning I heard John Voight talk on the Ben Shapiro show. All men are worthy of respect as they are made in God's image; however, I feel that he is worthy of more respect who stands against the tide of moral decline.
After hearing John speak numerous times, it has occurred to me that he is a man of discernment. He is Catholic by faith, although he seems to accept all religions. Not surprisingly, I have never heard him verbalize the Gospel. When thinking about a person like John, one question always comes to my mind. How does a person who does not clearly articulate the Gospel have more discernment than some men I call my brother in the faith?
What Does Discernment Look Like?
It is all too easy to reduce our present civil unrest to opposing political and moral views as if nothing else were at work. However, morals change because cultural norms fluctuate when they are informed differently. During the Great Awakening, for instance, the pulpits of this nation were aflame with righteousness. God poured out his spirit, and men like George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and many others preached the Gospel without compromise. Tens of thousands of sinners came to Christ and influenced a nation for the better.
What Authentic Revival Looks Like
THE RISE OF MARXISM
Today probably more than half the nation has been influenced by Marxism. Scripture says that ideologies can come from principalities and Powers. "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). It should not be a surprise to an informed Christian that communist teaching like atheism undermines the family, morality, and of course, belief in God.
Today we are being told that one race is worse than another because racism is in their blood. Bible-believing Christians deny evolution that gives rise to multiple races. In Romans chapter five, there is the race in Adam from whom all sinful men find their origin. Also, there is the race of Christ, in whom all regenerate believers are placed. There are many families within Adam's race due to God's curse during the Rebellion at Babel. (Genesis 10:32-11:1-9) However, all men sin, and nowhere in scripture does God place any one sin as more prevalent on the head of any particular tribe or people or tongue or nation.
The Church is to be the light of the world; "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Within the Church, the world is to behold Christ as lived out through His people's behavior. "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32)
The Christian should never be influenced by a deceptive ideology that comes from the Devil. Avoiding destructive influence is especially vital when it undermines good morals, civil freedoms, and just judgments.
When America follows the path paved due to The Great Awakening, the behaviors above are possible. Totalitarian Marxist regimes in communist countries do not provide a religious, moral framework to make the above actions possible as a nation. Please make no mistake; there are forces and groups in our nation working for decades to turn our country to communism. Communism promises equality for all, but in every case, without exception, the result is a totalitarian regime that cares nothing for God or the individual's rights or life.
"We will bury you!" is a phrase used by Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev while addressing Western ambassadors at a reception at the Polish embassy in Moscow on November 18, 1956. His plan was not to make war but, through deception, infiltrate the halls of western nations so that they might buy into communism as a way of life. When the fabric of moral and religious ideology is torn away, America, like all western nations, will be lost. Globalism is on the rise, and one day will invite the Anti-Christ to sit on the throne. Prophecy cannot be broken, especially by any attempt to make it allegorical and not tangible.
JORDON PETERSON
Jordon Peterson is making a giant splash in the arena of ideas. Another speaker who has magnetism for all would be common sense thinkers. The problem with high brow thinking is that it often misses the point. For this reason, people love this highly intellectual but down to earth psychologist who cares about how people live their lives. Is this another indictment against the Church?
On the one hand, we have the Church of entertainment and, on the other super practical Christian ethics devoid of essential theology. In either case, our Lord's words should have a stinging effect upon the conscience of average Churchgoers who calculate the time spent on their knees during worship. " And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’;" (Matthew 21:13)
Peterson can dazzle people with his finely tuned understanding of responsible living basics that can produce harmony in the home and society. Added to these principles, he spouts a plethora of metaphysical and religious jargon that seems to make it all work. I think he can be helpful to people with emotional and relational problems, no question.
However, there is always one thing missing from his instruction, as I have heard him - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Principles can be great, which I have stated in this article previously, regarding our nation's health. Principles cannot save a man and re-establish a relationship with God. While helping a person live life better here and now, impersonal principles like religion still send them to hell. Godly principles can make this life better, but the person of Christ must be received as Lord for eternal salvation. Even during The Great Awakening, when the Gospel was proclaimed with divine power, the masses were left unconverted. A person and not principles save.
Application Points
Today, the Church needs a few things, beginning with a backbone. Now is the time to stand firm and stand out for Christ. It is never good for the Church to assimilate lies to befriend the world. Twelve hundred years of Israel's failure to avoid compromise by not incorporating the surrounding nations' ways and their subsequent destruction should teach us something.
Second, Biblical teaching must be theologically rich so that all practical admonitions come from God and not men. The main point of the passage with applications attached is not adult food.
Third, pastors need to pray more. When pastors pray much, they lead their congregation to do the same. When shepherds pray little, so does the flock. A prayerless church is at least in part a faithless Church. A few minutes of prayer will not suffice, so don't make your prayers brief.
Fourth, the only remedy to avoid falling prey to lies is to love the source of truth. "...impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them ...the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom" (2 Timothy 3:13). So, let us praise the word of God so loudly that the praise of earthly teachers becomes like background noise.
South Dakota Governor and the Pandemic
John Macarthur a response to Covid
Fifth, the wise man understands the times in which he lives. "Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred" (1 Chronicles 12:32). Do you understand where America is at today and how it got here? If you want to pray effectively, you need to understand and be wise. An Emmy winning TV special called THE WAVE was aired based on the experience of a high-school history class in April 1967, in Palo Alto, Calif. The Wave is an eye-opener. Are your eyes open?
The Wave (45 minutes long)
I wonder when this election is over, no matter what the outcome, will your conscience be clear with how you placed your vote?
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