Romans 2:17-24 Indeed you are called a Jew and rest on the Law and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor to the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the Law. You therefore who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples. You who make your boast in the Law, do you dishonor God through breaking the Law? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. There is a call going out throughout the churches of the land to stand up and fight. Today it is for the marriage act that is upcoming. While there is no doubt that the forces of darkness are rising and that all the institutions that good people hold dear are under attack, we have to ask the question, why is this happening, for we all agree that it is horrifying and wrong. If we are to be successful in holding back the forces of darkness, we must understand our enemy and his strengths, just how he managed to take so much ground in such a short time. It is vital to know this answer, for in the answer to that question lies the seed of victory against the onslaught. The common answer that is put forward is that American Christians disengaged from the political system, was not involved, therefore the enemy was able to take much ground. This is such a sweet delusion that the enemy has perpetrated on the church and its leaders. It makes so much sense on so many levels, people can understand it and they can rally behind the clarion call. If the reason for our unfortunate position today is that we took ourselves out of the political fray, then the answer is obvious, we must enter the political fray and take back what we have lost. This is an excellent trap, snare, set by the enemy and good people everywhere are rushing headlong into the pit that has been so skillfully dug for them. Today's enemies are the homosexuals, Liberals, socialists amongst many. They, supposedly, are the cause of all our ails, and our lack of participation in the democratic process. Isn't it great that we have a visible enemy to blame, and for our part, all we have to do to fix it is get reengaged in the political process.........and, oh that's right.....don't forget to pray, we must not forget this important "caveat." Isaiah 58:8-10 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you: The glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Then you shall cry out and the Lord will answer; You shall cry and He will say "Here I am." If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness. If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness and your darkness shall be like the noonday." Today, we point the finger. It is one of the ways we believe that we can "save our country." And yet, according to Leviticus 4:17 the fingers purpose was for dipping in the blood of purification and forgiveness, not for identifying enemies. As Christians we know who our enemy is. We know that the world is wicked and that it will climax in wickedness and then the Son of Man will make His appearance. Our concern is not with how wicked the world is, but what is the state of the church. Imagine our light is controlled by a dimmer switch. If the switch is turned down low, what happens? By the exact amount the light is decreased, then the darkness increases. Why is the darkness increasing? Because the light is decreasing. Now, what does that mean in practical terms in the church? Take marriage for instance, since that is the subject at hand. By many polls, including Barna's, the divorce rate in the church is the same, and in some categories, greater than that of the world. We have lost our legitimacy to be an example of what is good to the world, for they laugh and blaspheme us for we are the same as them if not worse. A lot divorces within the church are for reasons outside of Biblical legitimacy. The Bible clearly tells us that in those circumstances, if a man or woman remarries, then he is an adulterer and a bigamist. Where is the leadership from the church on this issue? When the Bible asks us "do you commit adultery," then it is trying to expose hypocrisy. If we will not deal with these issues within our own house, then our house is in disorder and we cannot lead. Do not expect the Lord to bless a house that is in disorder for ...... "When I shut up the heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and call their senators, oh sorry, misprint, it should have read, turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:15) If we turn from our wicked ways as a church, if we begin to lead from the front and by example, then only then will the power of God move through this land. It is not enough to appeal to the law if we are law breakers, first we must put that right and a great revival must flow through what we call the church, a revival of repentance, a revival seed, watered with the tears of a repentant people who have pulled down the high places of worship of idols in their own lives, who have chosen this day to follow what is right in the sight of the lord and not what is right in their own eyes. Then the word of God in Psalm 81:13-14 will make perfect sense as He talks to the children of Israel, not the wicked world ......................... Oh that my people would listen to Me. That Israel would walk in My ways! I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries.
