Wrote this post several months ago and although a little dated I still believe the points are true! So here goes....
In light of the many abhorrent realities of our current state of culture, I have truly felt burdened to encourage many of the people of the Church. I know that the recent elections and inaugurations have left many of us feeling dissatisfied, no matter who you voted for no one ended up with every choice they wanted. But as believers in the cross we are often scared to engage the problems that are very apparent in our culture, more now then ever. God has in many ways given our nation over to it's sin. Open and flagrant disregard is not only practiced but heralded in the guise of personal freedom and moral plurality. Truly the base truths of the Book of Judges are manifesting themselves in our culture..."Everyone did what was right in their own eyes."
My heart is disturbed not simply that we are embracing so much sin and unrighteousness, but that the only ones with a solution to this problem are retreating inward. Sitting back in their chairs. Disengaging from the culture. Sitting apart and unwilling to get our hands dirtied in the mess that is our nation.
WE MUST ENGAGE!
Did you know that the United States of America is the 4th most UNreached country in the world? Every year more then 3000 churches close their doors. We as a holy priesthood are NOT standing on the promises of God and taking the message of redemption from sin, in Christ alone to the people we are amongst! We are not going!!!
We must stop closing our mouths!
We must stop sinking into our seats!
We must stop FEARING men!
Now, hear me! I am not saying we should bicker with other people, when has that ever accomplished anything for the kingdom of glory? I mean that we need to engage the culture with the gospel. We need to get into people lives! Come along side them and encourage them in the paths of righteousness. We need to have people we are uncomfortable with in our homes, in our churches, in our lives. People cannot see the redemptive nature of our Savior if all His people hide out! We can live and work with these people and never engage in their lives or never let them see the work of God. We can sit by as Christ's name is defiled in our nation because of our blatant sin. Or we can stand up and show the glories of our Joy in Salvation from that same sin that has our neighbor Locked and bound in bondage.
We must start in peoples personal lives, we cannot start at the top of our nation and work down, the only way for our nation to change is if people like you and me go to people in our towns, jobs, neighborhoods and families and share the good news of the gospel of Christ. We need to look with rejoicing on the salvation that has so richly blessed us and freely give all of ourselves.
.......Go therefore.....
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
--Jim Elliott
