A Tough Decision is Coming

I usually do not spend my time dealing with political issues but today I need to post about an upcoming issue I believe each American Christian will have to deal with in the near-future.

I am sure many of you have heard that today Arizona's Governor has vetoed a bill that would have allowed business owners to refuse service based on religious conviction. This law was written to allow business owners to express their First Amendment rights. This proposed law was bound to be introduced after a Colorado baker would not bake a wedding cake for two homosexual men who came to him to make them a wedding cake. The baker now must make the cake or possibly face jail time.

Never mind that Colorado's constitution defines marriage as between a man and woman.

Never mind that AT MOST 3.5% of the population of our country (roughly the population of New Jersey) who claim to be homosexual are shifting the entire culture to their agenda no matter the cost.
 
Never mind that science seems to point to homosexuality as a choice rather than an inborn trait and, as such, would nullify the claim of homosexuals being a "minority group."

However, these are not the points I want to dedicate this post to today. Instead, I want to challenge the reader with the idea that within, I believe, five years the American Christian will have to choose if they will be American OR Christian. In other words, they will have to choose where their most basic, foundational loyalties lie. This is because I believe within those five years it will impossible to be faithful to both. Well, maybe not impossible, but I am trying to make a point.

My point is that very soon Christian's will not be able to uphold the Laws of the Land. For example, parents homeschooling their children may eventually have to break the law if they teach their children homosexuality is a sin (it has already happened in Canada). Biblically-based churches will possibly lose their tax-exempt status a punishment for their stand on homosexuals. With some new bills about bullying and cyber-bullying just around the bend, posts like this one could end up coming with a fine or punishment. There is a good chance pastors who preach against homosexuality could end up jailed (it has already happened in Sweden). These and more will be serious religious and spiritual issues that the unsuspecting church will have to deal with sooner than they think.

I am not attempting to be an alarmist. This is just the reality we live in today and there will be no turning back this tide. Yes, we should continue to evangelize those who pride has hardened their hearts to the point where God has left them to their own sinful desires (Ezekiel 16:49-50, Ephesians 4:17-19, Romans 1:18-32). Yes, Christ is stronger than any political agenda (1 John 4:4). But the cultural shift has already happened. The question is, "How will the believer respond?"

Nor am I advocating that Christians just "give up." Obviously, the church will not stop doing what it has been commissioned to do by Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We must continue preach Jesus and salvation He provides any sinner through His blood and we must preach this no matter the cost and without regard to those who tell us to stop (Acts 4:18-20). The Church must remain faithful in spite of the pressure to compromise (Revelation 3:8).

So, with this in mind, the American church will have to come to realization that a converted soul is more important than a conservative vote. Believers must acknowledge that the nation in which they live is not an extension of the church. The Church must come to understand that our politics, which is based in the concept of compromise, do not mix well with our faith, which based in absolute truth.

Christians around the world live in country that is out-right hostile to the Christian faith. This is nothing new. If you are believer reading this, then I just would like you consider the idea that this may be coming sooner than you might imagine. What will your response be?

Posted with Blogsy

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Back Again and Still Ranting

So, in five days it will have been a year since I posted anything new. A lot can happen over the course of a year. I will not attempt to outline all the changes that has happened in my life and is happening in my life but I want to share some Scripture that has been shared with me for encouragement.

The first comes from my wife. In an attempt to not only deepen her own faith, but to be the example she wants to be to other women, she has been reading and studying Titus over the last year. There is a lot in that book about how those who are older should be examples to the younger - both men and women. The verse she shared with me was:

Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11 (HCSB)

My sister encouraged me with some verses from Romans, which echo the same thought:

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. Romans 16:17-18 (NASB)

Additionally, I read this verse this morning which includes a similar message:

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 1 Timothy 2:8 (NASB)

There are too many times in the church that we excuse those being divisive, factious (as the NASB says), and who cause dissension. We excuse them because we say "It is just the way they are, it is just their personality." We excuse them because we are too frightened to confront them with what the Bible calls sin. We excuse them because they are people we respect so we say they are just having a bad day. We find all kinds of excuses for them but they are tearing up the church. It is weakening the church's spiritual power and it is causes thousands to leave the church and never come back. After all, why do I need to go to church to watch people fight in a unbiblical manner when I can just watch the world do that.

Instead of causing division and stirring up dissention, those who make up the church MUST give each other grace. We are commanded to give grace and speak grace to all we come across:

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)

This is because the one people who are expected to be gracious and merciful is the body of Christ:

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NASB)

So these verses should spur every believer to two actions. First, we must address the divisive person. No matter how uncomfortable, no matter the consequences, no matter the impact on our relationship, we must address the sin that is impacting the church and work to reconcile that person to God (See Matthew 18).

Second, we must make giving grace to people a priority. The divisions caused in churches today are mostly over superficial issues, like style of music or how people dress, not major issues, like doctrine. Instead of demanding our own way over these nonessential issues, we must learn to give grace to those who need it. Maybe by giving grace we earn the right to invest our lives into others. Maybe by giving grace we can win more people to the Kingdom of God. Maybe by giving grace we learn to be more and more like Jesus every day. We must learn to give grace.

If you are reading this, please post a comment so I know if my ranting is reaching anyone. Also, let me know if there is a topic you want me to revisit or address at some point. It is my intention to post regularly.

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