The Current Crisis and The Coming Opportunity
There is no denying the fact that the church in America has reached a low point. Our nation, settled by and built by Christians in 1600’s, has lost faith in the Triune God and we are reaping the wirlwind we deserve. Culture is religion externalized, the polytheistic idolatrous culture that we now have is only the fruit of our national religion exposed for all to see. God will not be mocked, he has given us what we deserve and turned us over to the wicked rulers that in our hearts we lusted after. What hope should Christians in 2008 have for the future? Should we try to rebuild the nation on Christian principles? Won’t we all be raptured up soon anyway?
First, the premillennial rapture teachings are a product of the apostate church. It is nonsense, plain and simple. The bible teaches no such thing but rather teaches that the Great Commission will be a success, that the knowlege of the Lord will cover the world as the waters cover the sea. It teaches that his kingdom is here now and that the gates of hell will not stand against the advancing army of God. Might sound crazy, but this is what Christians for the most part have always believed until the rise of dispensationalism in the 1800s. The bible dose not just give us hope in heaven but also hope on the earth. The bible tells us of such times when His people have turned away from Him and He always saves a remnant that is strengthened by correction and advances the faith. He calls us to repent and ask for forgiveness, then He says he will heal our land. Nothing short of real honest National Repentance can save America.
In preparation for the coming homeschool year, I’ve been working on the church history lessons for the kids. Reading and freshing up on our families over 2000 year history. The history of our brothers and sisters. The study of church history has been neglected by most American Christians. The current dominant theology has no use for history, they are nonhistorical. I can understand it, if I stood on the outside of Historic Christianity I would not find much value in it either. While again reading the stories of Polycarp, Athanasius, King Alfred, John Wyclif, John Huss, Luther, Calvin and Knox; I am reminded of this truth. Whenever the Church of Christ has fell into apostasy it has been followed by great reformation! God allows things to get just so bad and then His faithful saints make the stand on His truth and advance the cause of Christ. Brothers and sisters we are again at such a time in the Churches history. We are ripe for reformation. Our nation is ripe for repentance or destruction. Our duty is to do what is right and stand in our faith in Christ obeying His Word no matter the appearant consequences. We may not see the fruit of our labors, it may well not be seen for many generations. Many years from now students of church history will look back at our generation. Will they be inspired to make a stand for the Gospel, or will they be ashamed at our lack of faithful obedience?
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Robert E Lee…
The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
The ‘ebb of the advancing wave’ indeed.. I’m hopeful we might even be seeing the deep trough which signals the coming tsounami!
Great stuff Scott.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Wonderful post!! I have an article coming out in the next day that echos some of your sentiments. This downfall will provide a great opportunity for many to restore what has been lost.
Hope
June 20th, 2008 at 8:09 am
General Lee’s statement on the Lord’s providence is so true and, thus, so encouraging. History is the vindication of the Lord’s Word over time and though fallen man may join hand in hand to thwart His perfect will, these feeble efforts only work together by the Lord’s providential hand for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purposes, to all generations without exception. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37:7-9)
The retreatist “event theology” of apocalyptic doom & gloom where the remnants of a defeated Church await a last minute airborne rescue before the “the end” comes is born of a very distorted (perverted) understanding of the Lord’s Sovereignty over all and the steadfast hope of the Gospel to all generations. Hollywood mimics this event theology of fatalism where history is made and the world changed through sudden events that begin and end over a two hour period time (when the movie ends). Looking for the big event to save them, many Christians despise the day of small things where the Lord works His will on earth (as it already is in Heaven) through the agency of His Church, for the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her, else He is a liar. Will we be those who retreat in fatalistic fear awaiting the big event . . . or those who, by the Lord’s grace and mercy, press on in Christ to His glory in proclaiming and living out the Gospel in bringing the nations to the Lord as His rightful inheritance? “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2:6-12
June 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Have you ever read Justin Martyr’s writings? He was killed in 165 A.D. Check him out.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:13 am
We seem to be in for a very difficult time. What will happen to the food supply as petroleum becomes so expensive that things slow down or even stop? Martial law? A dictatorship that ends this plutocratic republic? I live in the country and raise a large garden-this year in my neighborhood there are more gardens than have been planted in many years. In a state of emergency the president by his own order can confiscate all goods, food, and wealth; so, there is no hiding place, even for agrarians. My former church, Episcopal, is blabbering about Millennial Development Goals while deposing presbyters and bishops who say no to sodomy and other violations of the holiness code required of all of us by the Sovereign GOD. May the Lord lead us to true repentance and a new dedication to His covenant.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
“It teaches that his kingdom is here now…”
It took me awhile to realize this, that Christ is King now. It didn’t take long to learn that the so-called ‘churches’ don’t like the idea of Christ as King now. They only want Him to be a coming King.
I want to serve Him, now.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I WANT to be “left behind”! LOL