Sunday, June 30, 2013
What Really Matters ....
Magnificent is a word to
describe the beauty of Hawaii where I have been enjoying time with our daughter,
Melissa and her family. As we celebrated a friend's birthday at Roy's in Hawaii
Kai, the breeze of the ocean air made our outdoor experience delightful. Across
from me sat a beautiful Korean girl. She was not a believer in Jesus Christ and
has lived in Hawaii for the past six years. As we talked, I mentioned the
spectacular faith of those in South Korea who are believers in Jesus Christ. She
told me she preferred so much more the Christians in the United States because
they were not "over the top" in their faith experience. The Christians in Korea
were too passionate in their faith in Jesus Christ. As I sat and listened to her, I thought of the events of the past week in our nation. The Supreme Court voted to negate the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) thereby legally enabling states to authorize marriages of same sex partners. In one fell swoop we are now redefining what both our society upon its inception had formerly defined and what the Bible presently defines as a "marriage" sanctioned by God. Marvin Olavsky, Editor of World magazine, astutely recognized the verbage used by the majority who voted against this DOMA, some of which included the words describing Christians who are opposed to the redefining of "marriage" based on Biblical principles.
Dissenter Justice Scalia was quoted as warning: "It is one thing for a
society to elect change; it is another for a court of law to impose change by
adjudging those who oppose it hostes humani generis, enemies of the human
race.” Olavsky then goes on to warn of the impending changes which will
affect both churches who hold to traditional understanding of Biblical passages
warning against the practices of homosexuality as well as individual Christians
who hold similar positions. The end result looks rather "bleak" to say the least
and anyone who is familiar with the Scriptures and senses the current world
trend knows that persecution of true believers in Jesus Christ is certainly
forthcoming in our own nation.
As I thought about the "fear" of impending persecution gripping the hearts of many believers these days and the wistful thoughts of better days gone by as our society continues to make destructive choices and decline morally, my heart was broken in listening to my Korean friend last night. Has the Church in the United States become irrelevant rather than the very salt necessary to preserve the society? And, ultimately, is our own selfish desire for self-preservation sufficient to be the driving force behind Biblical repentance?
What really matters in the church today? Is it the protection, comfort, peace and prosperity for our children and grandchildren? Was this the concern for Daniel as he spent his entire life in captivity in Babylon? Daniel had one pressing concern and we catch a glimpse of it as he cries to the Lord in Daniel 9: "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."
As I thought about the "fear" of impending persecution gripping the hearts of many believers these days and the wistful thoughts of better days gone by as our society continues to make destructive choices and decline morally, my heart was broken in listening to my Korean friend last night. Has the Church in the United States become irrelevant rather than the very salt necessary to preserve the society? And, ultimately, is our own selfish desire for self-preservation sufficient to be the driving force behind Biblical repentance?
What really matters in the church today? Is it the protection, comfort, peace and prosperity for our children and grandchildren? Was this the concern for Daniel as he spent his entire life in captivity in Babylon? Daniel had one pressing concern and we catch a glimpse of it as he cries to the Lord in Daniel 9: "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."
When will revival come to the church in the United States? I believe it
will be when each of us as believers recognize our personal part in the shame
being brought to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ via our own indifference,
apathy and assimilation into the world around us. Ironically, even non
believers view us as not being "over the top" for the Lord we profess to love.
I believe revival will arrive when our ultimate priority for Christ's name
becomes greater than our own personal comfort level and we begin to plead with
God as Daniel did for His name's sake.
May God give me individually and us collectively a heart that has an ultimate concern for the preservation of His name over our own physical and temporal well being!
May God give me individually and us collectively a heart that has an ultimate concern for the preservation of His name over our own physical and temporal well being!
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