What Are We To Do?
What are we to do when our culture turns from God and snubs its nose at his word, the Bible? What are we to do when mind-altering substances are legalized? What are we to do when our Supreme Court redefines marriage in such a way as to encompass same-sex relationships? What are we to do when the Mayor of Houston, TX subpoenas sermons preached in Houston churches because they spoke against the practice of homosexuality? In summary, what are we to do when our culture calls good, evil and evil, good (Isaiah 5:20)?
The answer is: The same thing we were doing before our culture turned from God and snubbed its nose at the Bible. The same thing we did before mind-altering substances were legalized. The same thing we did before our Supreme Court redefined marriage to encompass same-sex relationships. The same thing we did before the Mayor of Houston subpoenaed sermons that were preached in Houston churches. And the same thing we did before our culture called good, evil and evil, good.
My point is, the mission of God’s kingdom doesn’t change depending on borders, governments, rulers, and laws. Whether under the oppression of Rome, who persecuted Christians in the Coliseum, or Hitler, who murdered “enemies of the state” in the gas chambers, or the United States, who has all but marginalized Christianity today, the mission of God’s Kingdom remains the same. Preach the word, in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2-4)!
Remember, Christianity isn’t American. While I’m thankful for the freedoms that have been extended to Christians living in America, I can’t really expect any secular government to adopt Christian values. Friends, be thankful for the respite we’ve had, but understand it may not last for succeeding generations. Christianity existed long before the birth of America, and if America were to ever fall, it will still exist then (Daniel 2:44). The success of Christianity doesn’t depend upon a friendly and supportive government.
Jesus once asked James and John if they were able to “drink the cup that he am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with?” They replied, “Yes, we are able” (Matthew 20:22). What about us? While I don’t wish for it and I hope it isn’t necessary, maybe persecution is just what is needed to shake Christians out of their lethargy and purge out the leaven of insincerity.
— Steve Higginbotham