Ray Rooney of the American Family Association writes in the August issue of “The Stand” [the AFA monthly journal] that the only people who seem to be taking decisive action(s) are those who want to destroy America. The rest are waiting for a Social Media post to tell them that “God’s got this.” I’ve heard it described as: The Frozen Chosen”. Rooney states that this is tremendously disturbing and asks “How does it serve the best interest of the kingdom of God to: (1) Ignore all the bad news taking place in our country and in our world and/or (2) Stand around waiting for someone else to tell you what to do when you already know what to do.
In Matthew 28:18-20 our Lord Jesus came to His disciples [His followers, His people] and commanded them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Rooney explains that, if you are a true and informed Christian and you are really concerned about the direction that our nation is being driven by secular humanist progressives, atheistic socialist, and proudly immoral people of the God-rejecting world system, and want to know how to make a difference, follow the Great Commission of Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel; go and make disciples of all nations. Chose to take action steps in stemming the growing darkness and actually win this culture war.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” I have always loved the old 19th century English Christian hymn "Lift High the Cross". It was written in 1887 by George Kitchin and the final stanza says: “So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore His sacred name.”
What does the cross of Christ mean? In Romans 3:22-25 the Apostle Paul explains, “even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness.” Our just and holy sovereign Creator created all, established the Laws; setting the standards and moral absolutes for all life. To not believe in God, to doubt God, and/or to disobey God is sin. Sin is the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts, purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law; and God must punish sin.
The Apostle continues in Romans 6:23 to explain, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The cross the instrument of execution, became the instrument of forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation as Jesus Christ shed His innocent blood and died in the place of every repentant born-again Believer. 2 Peter 3:9 declares, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Rooney affirms that God loves everyone, but not everything is acceptable to God, no matter how many people insist that it is, and not everyone will inherit eternal life in Heaven.
Christians need to stop trying to love people into heaven by avoiding the issue of sin, stop being talked out of believing what the Word of God proclaims, start lifting high the cross, proclaiming the gospel, speaking the truth in love for saving the lost. As Rooney says: “Obeying God is how you love Him.”
In Christ, Brian
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