Our world is changing, and not for the better. I realize as I get older, I am becoming more set in my ways. I readily admit to being a member of the “Old Fuddy Duddy’s Club.” But my assessment of the world is not just an angry old man crying, “Got off my lawn!” There are real substantive changes and I’m convinced these changes are not for the betterment of society. Biblical standards are being jettisoned. Foundational truths are being redefined. In the name of freedom, progress and justice moral standards are being turned on their head. Down is up and up is down. If you are to understand my concern you must know that I believe in objective truth. I believe that truth, with a capital “T” actually exists and it exists outside of me. In a world that says, “Truth is relative,” I say, “No, truth stands on its own and is always true in every instance and in every culture.” In a world that says, “My experience determines my truth,” I say, “No, I must examine my experience in light of what is true.” Further, truth is found in the God who is creator of all things. Truth is defined by God both through natural and special revelation. Truth is defined by what God has created and what He has declared through His word. Such a view, long the majority opinion in the western world, is now considered bigoted, hateful and dangerous.
This is clearly reflected in the culture with the whole range of LBGTQ issues and the social justice demands of critical race theory and intersectionality. This is what is driving the “cancel culture” and is spreading rapidly through the entertainment world, the educational system and taking over corporate America. The mantra is clear, “You had better get on the right side of history.” The message is, “Join the revolution or you will be irrelevant, if not destroyed.” That may sound alarmist to you but take another look at what is happening around you. Major League Baseball moved the All Star Game out of the city of Atlanta because they deemed the state of Georgia on the wrong side of the racial issue because they passed a law demanding proof of your identity before you could vote. That was declared “racist” and the game was moved. It is interesting, if you buy a ticket to the All Star Game and have to pick it up at the will call window, you have to show an ID or you can’t get your ticket! The NCAA is threatening to withhold major sporting events from states who dare cross the line of the new orthodoxy. Major corporations are making similar threats to state and cities who will not join the revolution.
The church is not immune from all this. Incredible pressure is being applied to churches, denominations and church-related schools and universities to get in line. Church based children’s services and adoption agencies have been forced to either go along with this new orthodoxy or “get out of the business.” Catholic Charities and others have said, “Regretfully, we must get out of the business because we cannot compromise on this point.” Colleges and seminaries are being forced to make decisions and it is only a matter of time until churches will be forced to do the same.
What will we do? We will stand faithfully on the side of truth. We will stand on the word of God. We cannot do otherwise. We must take that stand in love and with great compassion but we cannot yield. We reach out to those who disagree with us with both grace and truth. If we fail to speak the truth to them, we not only deny our Lord, we rob them of the only means of salvation, the only means of forgiveness and grace. There is much more at stake in this than our place in the community. At the heart of this is whether we will be faithful to our King. I for one, want us to live and act is such a way to hear our Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s what’s on my mind this morning. I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming LORD’s day.
Rod