Two headlines: I read several articles today in order to get more indicators of where we are as a culture. In no particular order of reprobation, they are linked below. Warning: you may want to sit down to read, possibly with some Alka-Seltzer nearby. The first article is of a so-called ‘trans’ person who is pregnant. He’s now a cover model on a ‘fashion’ magazine. (P.S. Remember, dear reader, there’s absolutely no spiritual/theological warfare being waged here. Completely neutral. You know, part of all the ‘tolerance’.)
The second article is about banning the Bible. You know, because the forces of darkness waging combat against the truth are so ‘tolerant’. I’m sorry, did I say “the forces of darkness waging combat against the truth”? I meant, of course, the ‘tolerant’ mobs with multiple piercings, inked skin, and purple and green hair, those saints screaming at you for your Christian beliefs.
Of what are they so afraid? Of the sword of the truth. As they should be. They’ll never conquer it. Just ask John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Paul, Timothy, David, et al.
Drag Queen Story Hour and genital mutilation are fine, but not those Bibles. Get’em out!
I cannot make this madness up. The adults have left and the urchins are running things.
Just a thought: There is another way. There is a way to come to your senses after being captured by folly to do the will of the Prince of Darkness. It’s the biblical way. (That’s why darkness hates the light; that’s why the mobs want to quench the Bible–all in the names of “safe-spaces,” warm hugs, love, and of course, ‘tolerance’.)
Solomon wrote in Proverbs of man’s folly, of his suppressing what he clearly sees about God and of God’s wisdom: “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them” (Proverbs 1:32, ESV).
Doesn’t that sound just like today? Almost as if God knew what He was talking about when He inspired Solomon to pen those words.
The offer of hope & encouragement: Solomon writes his very next sentence with the gospel offer, the only way of redemption:
“but whoever listens to me [wisdom, God’s way] will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster” (Proverbs 1:33, ESV).
In Christian ministry, I talk with a lot of people and try to reason with them. And so very often the people are scared. They see that the world has seemingly gone mad. Bananas, absolute barmy. It’s clown world.
Many folks identify with the speaker in one of Pink Floyd’s iconic songs:
And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon
“I can’t think of anything to say except… HaHaHa!”
There is another way: There is another way, of course. It’s to return to the sacred story of Scripture, to come back to the garden from which we were banished because of our following the serpent rather than following God.
It’s the way of Christ, the second Adam, the last Adam, the Lamb slain for sinners.
But if you don’t come, we get what we want–a world without God’s mercy, God’s kindness, God’s grace, God’s benediction, without God’s good purposes of favor upon creatures.
And that, dear reader, is not what you want, I pray.
Will wickedness shut its own mouth? No.
We are told the way wickedness has its mouth shut (Psalm 107:42). It is by way of judgment, by the Judge of all the earth. And that is the One before whom we all must appear and give an accounting.
The beginning of wisdom is to rightly fear Him.
MIND & MATTERS 