Last night at the presidential debates we heard Hilary describe her dream for America. She communicates well so I have no doubt that she swayed a few voters but did you catch what she said?
She wants a world where the government can’t interfere if a mother wants to abort her baby that is due in a day or two (but the government can interfere when a Christian chooses not to bake a cake for a gay couple). She wants a world where marriage is between any two people who choose to love each other. She wants a country that takes from those who work hard and gives it to those who will not work.
Almost every policy she has goes against scripture and, while she talks about how she wants to make sure every special group has their rights, she has made it very clear that the right to religious freedom for Christians isn’t something she is interested in.
If she wins, we are going to become the enemy more than ever. But that’s nothing new. We already are living behind enemy lines if we are a believer. For we are not of this world (John 17:14).
And we were never meant to be friends with the world. When you start trying to please the world, you are headed down a very slippery slope from which there is no return. In fact, James makes it as clear as it could possibly be and yet we Christians can’t seem to understand–
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
For many years now, there has been an enormous crowd of Christian “fence-sitters”. One foot in the world and one foot in the church. Now that the tide is turning against us and what we stand for, that option is disappearing rapidly.
But should it have ever even been an option for Christians at all?
If we are born again and are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), then we have become an enemy of the world (John 15:19). The Bible could not be any clearer on this.
And, yet, most Christians are trying desperately to fit in. We have adopted the ways, the music, the language, the entertainment, and the clothing of our enemy. We have decided that to reach the enemy we need to be like them–that our God is not strong enough to draw people to Himself without some help from us (even though He has been doing so since the beginning of time). And so most Christians look just like the world in which they are living. Their radio stations, their movies, their books are all written and promoted by the enemy. In fact, the “church” has become so impassioned with being like and pleasing the world that now even well-known speakers are caving on big issues like homosexuality and important doctrines such as hell.
I mean, in this day and age, how do you become popular or please the world if don’t change your position on certain issues? How do you become popular and viewed as “normal” if you turn your back on the world’s entertainment? Plain and simple: You don’t.
I believe we have totally forgotten that it is God who draws men to Himself (John 6:44). It is God who changes a person’s heart. He uses us and we get to plant seeds and even sometimes help explain the Gospel, but it isn’t because we are like the world. It is in spite of the fact that we are like the world.
We are the enemy. We are living in enemy territory. We shouldn’t look like, talk like, dress like, or be like the world. Yet, most of us–including myself–have made ourselves pretty comfortable here in this world and feel pretty much at home. We are living a status quo reality that I believe is going to change.
So if you are a fence-sitter, you are going to very soon be faced with a dilemma. Which side of the fence will you land on? Are you more afraid of the world’s condemnation or God’s condemnation? Which will it be?
I leave you with these words from Jesus, clear words that cannot be misinterpreted. Words that have been ignored for a long time now in this American culture. I hope that we will consider them carefully as we become less and less liked in a society that is growing more immoral each day–
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26)
Good thoughts, Leslie!
I also believe we are called to love our enemies (so hard to do at times!) and be a light.
Philippians 2:12-16
Lights in the World
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Lord, help us to be a light in this darkening world!
Absolutely! I should have added that. We ARE to love the people of the world–so much so that we shouldn’t hesitate sharing the Gospel with them because we don’t want them to spend eternity in hell. Yet we often love ourselves so much that we won’t risk ridicule for their sake.
Yes! Thank you for keep on reminding us that conforming to the world is not loving the lost, in fact by conforming we are just aiding the Devil in his drive to rule. It is impossible to vote for a political party in the UK without implicity endorsing policies that go against Biblical teaching and yet not to participate in politics surely isn’t an option either – after all who ultimately gives our leaders authority? We just have to be ready to be labelled extremists, bigots or worse when we share the truth – let’s pray for one another to stand firm, make the most of opportunities given us and see people the way God sees them – in dire need of salvation (always remembering when we judge others we are condemning ourselves – Romans 2).
Yes! Thank you for giving us the UK viewpoint. I am so glad you read the posts and comment here because I feel sometimes we Americans think we are the only ones fighting this battle. But, truth be told, this is being fought by Christians in western cultures across the globe. And those who aren’t fighting this battle are fighting a much more fierce one and put their lives and freedom on the line for it. The Christian life is no walk in the park, that’s for sure!!
I couldn’t agree with you more Leslie! Thank-you for your excellent thoughts on this topic….and the wonderful comments from your readers. It especially grieved my heart last night, hearing Hilary support and even promote something so twisted and evil as the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion, it simply staggers my mind. I can only get on my knees in prayer each day for the Lord’s mercy, trust that He is in control even with our freedoms to choose, and stand firm against the enemy. I will not fear. My hope rests in Christ and His plan; it does not rest in a flawed human to rescue the future of this country. However, we all must do our part to be salt and light in this world; so that others may see Christ in us. That goes for voting for the flawed human that best represents the Biblical values we cherish and want to promote.
Amen! And to add to your thoughts about last night– I find it absolutely sickening that she is constantly saying how much she cares about children. She obviously doesn’t care for them AT ALL, given her view on abortion.
I agree! Thank you for writing this, Leslie!
You are welcome, Becky! :)
AMEN!