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Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Prophetic warnings in dark times
1 Peter 5:14-17 says, “If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” As the culture war in America rages, recent events should serve as a prophetic warning to the “house of God” and the need for strategic change.
Could it be that the legalization of abortion in 1973 was a prophetic warning that the “house of God” needed to get right with the Lord and do his will? Was the redefinition of the most basic institution of society yet another dire prophetic message to the “house of God”? There are consequences to Pastors being concerned about money with their 501C3s; extra-biblical, emotional and self-indulgent teachings; giving over the pulpit to those not believing that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of God; the winking at sin; the lack of accountability; religious pride; and the list goes on. We cannot expect society to change if we, ourselves, are amiss. Is it no wonder that judgment begins in the “house of God”?
Judges 21:25 says, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The word of God is often watered down or shelved completely for other types of teaching. Jesus, in many places, is not even King in his own house. Romans 10:14 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It goes on to ask how shall they call on him if they haven’t believed, how can they believe if they haven’t heard, how shall they hear without a preacher? If the word is not being preached in truth and spirit (which is also accountability), should we be surprised that God becomes evil spoken of? Should we be surprised that our society is in such fallen condition?
I have observed Christian reactions to the Supreme Court marriage decision. Often, we have behaved no differently than the world with shrill anger, judgmental proclamations, or in some cases, a blasphemed embracing of the sin with the sinner. We seem to be fighting the culture war on the terms of the evildoer. We are getting wrapped around the world’s way. What did Jesus tell us to do? Spread the good news, the gospel, to the world and make disciples. If disciples are made, the light of God shines and the condition of the nation, the world, improves. We need to repent.
We need to study the gospels and see how Jesus handled fallen culture. We need to engage with love in Spirit and Truth. We need to hold one another accountable. Jesus had little patience with the Pharisees. If pastors are not aligned with the Word, end your association. Fight the good fight politically by standing firm, but let us not do it in a way that represents Christ wrongly. This is a time where we need to show Christ to the world through the way we live and how we treat others, wise as serpents and gentle as doves. We need to change our strategy by getting back to how Christ changed the world. He is our example. He is the way, the truth and the life. He established the standard. We should follow God not man.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Wilson and www.dailyjot.com