Some Thoughts About Our Nation’s Past Few Weeks

I was out of town for the past week and a half and had little time to write much of anything. Even over on the Facebook page I didn’t post much. In the meantime, there was a quite a lot going on in our nation.

While I didn’t have time to write, I did find some time to think about it all.

*When that horrible incident took place on the university campus almost two weeks ago, we all were in shock. It was unexpected and it was frightening.

What has taken place since then has been…interesting. To say the least.

And I may as well just tell you now: What I am going to write below is going to go against the flow of what is being said.

However…

As believers it is critical that we be more interested in what is true than we are in what is popular.

I’d like to go back in time for a moment. A little over 500 years ago, God moved men to leave the false Catholic Church. Until then, true believers were comprised of a small remnant that could be found in pockets throughout the world. But in the 1500s, Martin Luther, along with other men, recognized that the Catholic Church was teaching a works-based salvation while the Bible teaches a grace-based salvation. The two religions are in complete opposition to one another, although they use much of the same language and terms (see here for more information).

Since that time, the Catholic Church has been trying to bring Protestantism back to the “mother church”. And, in fact, accomplishing this has been one of the main purposes (or perhaps THE purpose) of the Jesuits.

What we have seen taking place over the past few weeks has done more to accomplish this than anything in recent or distant history.

Here’s why: The Charlie Kirk incident brought everyone together and very few Christians even raised an eyebrow. Catholics, Christians, Mormons, even Hindus praising God together. Doctrinal differences just fell away in the midst of the memorial service held to honor this man.

Why are we rejoicing about this? Even people who understand the danger of ecumenism have been rejoicing? I am honestly bewildered.

So what do we know to be true, according to scripture?

We know that God does not want us to link arms with people who do not teach biblical doctrine (Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-10). We know that the genuine way of Christianity is narrow and difficult, not popular and easy (Matthew 7:13-14). We know that we cannot be friends with the world (James 4:4) and that the world will hate us (John 15:18-19).

We also know that the world will join hands in a one-world worship system (Revelation 13). This will not happen in a vacuum.

So, if we understand these things from the Bible, how can we rejoice at what has been taking place? Why aren’t red flags being raised inside of us?

I have an idea about that…

But, first, let me say this: I do think that the Gospel being preached to such a large audience was wonderful. I wholeheartedly agree with Paul—

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

I am thankful that the Gospel was preached. But being thankful for this is not mutually exclusive with being wary. The verses above make it clear that not everyone who preaches the Gospel has pure motives.

Okay, so why are most Christians rejoicing at religions joining together to praise God?

Could it be that we have gotten distracted about what our role is as believers? Have we been deceived into believing our job is to make the world a better place?

This is an easy deception to fall for. We hear it everywhere we turn. It’s the message of much of the music labeled “Christian”; it’s in podcasts and sermons and books.

The “left” side has given us an enemy to fight against and many Christians have risen to the challenge. We have been told that the left side is wrong and the right side is right. But is it that simple?

It is not.

Morality is not Christianity. Changing policies and laws does not change hearts.

And, while any Christian most certainly would love to live in a moral country, we have to be careful we do not equate that with genuine conversions of souls. They are not even close to the same thing.

We need to remember this important truth: We are sojourners and pilgrims. We do not belong to this world.

We need to search the scripture for our purpose and our calling, instead of listening to “Christian” celebrities.

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Amidst the cries of “Revival!” We need to ask ourselves: What is Revival, according to scripture?

I wrote this on Facebook yesterday—

Let’s remember that genuine revival is always based on scripture and transforms lives. Regenerated people become less sinful and less worldly (Romans 6:5-11; James 1:27; 4:4). True believers travel a narrow path that is hard and never popular (Matthew 7:13-14; John 15:18-19). Believers are told to never join with those teaching false doctrine (Romans 16:17; 2 John 9-11).

“Revival” that is based on policy or morals is not revival. “Revival” that comes by linking arms with false religions is not revival. These things may yield cultural change but we cannot call it revival, according to scripture.

If what has taken place is true revival, then we will see transformed lives that are turning from sin and the world. We will see people who desire to avoid false teachers. We will see a rising interest in studying all of the Bible instead of cherry-picking verses.

And, while none of us can say for sure that revival isn’t taking place, it is important in these situations that we watch and wait to see what happens before adding our voices to the voices crying “Revival”.

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On a different note…

I have found it extremely interesting (and deeply concerning) that conservatives are praising the fact that Jimmy Kimmel has been removed from TV for saying some very tasteless words in the middle of all of this. And they were tasteless and thoughtless and awful. On that we agree.

But, if we truly value free speech, we should be more than a little concerned about this.

To only have free speech for one side and not the other is an extremely dangerous view. It’s important to recognize this.

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I have so much more I could say. But let me just conclude with this reminder: Don’t believe everything you hear.

We can’t just believe something is from God and of God because they use His name or quote a Bible verse. Our enemy seeks to devour us (I Peter 5:8). He comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). We need to be wise and wary.

We are called to test all things (I Thessalonians 5:21). We test them against scripture, which is our only anchor in all of this craziness (Acts 17:11).

That includes even the things that “everyone” is praising. It includes the things that will draw criticism and ridicule from even other believers if you can find the courage to question them.

But, at the end of the day, we must care about the truth of God’s Word more than we care about anything else.

I know that what I write here is not going to win me any prizes. I know that it is going in direct opposition to most of the Christian world and even many of my Christian friends.

I am not writing this from a heart of a criticism but, rather, I simply feel puzzled and concerned. Why are we Christians not asking questions about what just took place?

I pray that this post will be an encouragement to you to pause and consider what is really going on. And may we all be driven to get on our knees in humility and pray for discernment. We desperately need God’s help in the midst of these confusing and troublesome times!

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*I am purposely being vague because of censorship. If you don’t know what happened, feel free to reply to this email.