One of the gods
A group/area of Australia has decided that saying a pledge of allegiance to the Queen of England and God is no longer proper. Folks are needed to move to the sparsely populated community. The idea is that all gods are welcome---and all are equal. Do not want anyone to feel left out. And, while Australia is still under British sovereignty, the new pledge will be "do my best and look within myself to live my values" (paraphrased).
Apparently, liberals have not figured out that a child is not born with values. A child is born with human nature. The socio-psychological process progressively forms values, which may be good or bad. If Biblical values are not taught, then a child has little hope of developing a consciousness of the Living God or knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior. Of course, the fundamental problem for liberals is their desire to cultivate values that agree with human desires. The notion of Jesus being the Son of God, coming to earth in human form, dying on the cross for sinners, and rising from the grave in victory over Death is challenging for minds given to pleasures in the mortal sphere. Without God being supreme man is free to evolve his own course of action---no evil---and therefore suffer no consequences for thoughts or behavior. Man becomes his own god---a fool in God's eyes---and then he meets the Living God!
When I heard the news from Australia it was not particularly shocking. There are folks in America already practicing the idolatry mentioned above. God is a byword on TV and in movies---an expletive to show shock, alarm, surprise, frustration. Church is what many Christians do when there is nothing else to do. The Bible is a symbol of promise and hope without definition or expectation.
Once upon a time when folks did not attend a church or believe in God they showed shame. Now there is an arrogance...defiance...offense...at the suggestion of God or need for repentance.
There is a progressive cry for conservative values. Folks mention words like "family"..."marriage"..."love"..."purity"...but the application of these words is in context without God being Supreme...Jesus being Lord...or the Cross having any necessity. In fact, many atheists hold the same family values of many Christians. In fact, many atheists are sending their children to schools on Sunday (mimicking Sunday School) in an effort to indoctrinate their children and teach values of a world without God.
Meanwhile, a Christian family recently moved to an Indiana community and did not find one Christian church having Sunday School (Bible study). Church has too often become a feel-good experience of entertainment for spectators.
How do we get out of this morass? Is it possible? Can our nation turn around? Can we find our way back to God?
I am delighted to report HOPE. In truth, I can speak prophetically and say that God can hear and will listen IF. The people of Ninevah were doomed to destruction. Repentance saved the nation. In times of Judges repentance brought a Deliverer. Jesus came in the fullness of time (Galations 4:4) to bring deliverance and hope (Luke 4:18,19). I Chronicles 14:7 is a promise that man seeking God will find mercy.
What must we do? How shall we escape? What shall be our answer?
We must remember the vows we have vowed to God. We must return to our first love of Jesus when we took up our cross to follow Him. We must hide the Word of God in our hearts to prevent us from sinning. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us into Truth and empower us to be more than conquerors.
We pledge to turn ourselves away from the gods of pleasure. We commit to see our neighbor and to care for the widow and orphan. We place ourselves in the gentle hands of God to use us for His glory---not ours. We renew our commitment to the Body of Christ to be joined in fellowship, worship and service. We pledge ourselves to be generous in word and deed to share the gospel with those who have not heard.
Let us begin in our hearts, our homes, our church body, and our community. Let us begin now. Ours is the Living God. Not one of the gods, but the Only God! Let us be like Joshua in wisdom: "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15; II Chronicles 7:14).
Pastor Bare