Common wisdom sometimes is so readily accepted that even if it has taken a serious turn for the worse it is still received and repeated as gospel truth. Perhaps the most common example is the saying – “God helps those that help themselves”.
No, God helps the helpless, the hapless and the worst of the worst.
In fact, the words “God is in control” cannot be found anywhere in the Bible.
Read more: Christians: Help Your Country, Stop Hiding Behind the Phrase – “God is in Control”
In the year 2015, as the story is told, a renowned scientist discovered a cure for cancer after more than 30 years of research and testing. But it was not just a cure. It was the cure, effectively eradicating all cancer from all patients at all stages of the disease. This was the greatest discovery in the history of medical science!
The scientist, overflowing with gratitude and excitement, informed the pharmaceutical company he had been working with, sharing this extraordinary moment with them, and within minutes, the whole organization was ablaze with excitement. At last!
Read more: The Parable of the Cancer Pill that No Longer Cured Cancer
Every day, there are examples of Americans pushing back against the agenda of the radical left. And every day, there are more signs that there could be a major political reaction against the leftist agenda in the midterm elections. But even with the best possible electoral outcome, without sweeping revival in the church, America could still collapse.
That’s because America’s greatest problems are spiritual and moral first, leading to the larger societal, political, and economic challenges we face. But unless the heart is cured, the body will die.
Read more: No Matter What the Midterms Bring, It Is Still Revival or We Die
When the children of Israel were in exile, scattered from their homeland because of their sin and with the holy temple in Jerusalem in ruins, it made the God of Israel look bad. Couldn’t He take care of His own? As the Lord said through the prophet of Isaiah, “And all day long My name is constantly blasphemed” (Isaiah 52:5).
It is the same with us today as evangelical followers of Jesus: because of our failings and scandals and carnality, the name of the Lord is being mocked and ridiculed. This is heartbreaking on so many levels.
In years past, the guilt of a few prominent TV preachers tarnished the names of other, good Christian leaders, making Jesus look bad. Why did the Lord’s orchard have so many bad apples?
More recently, because of the politicizing of the gospel, many Christian conservatives became better known as followers of Trump than followers of Jesus, with some of them even emulating his mean-spirited behavior. This was the new model of Christian “boldness.” And once again, the name of Jesus was dragged down.
Then we were shocked to learn about the failings of a beloved apologist. And to hear the salacious details about an affair that threatened the marriage of the famous leader of the world’s largest Christian university.
This year, the worldwide Hillsong movement has become associated with the word “scandal.”
And now, in devastating fashion, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, has been accused of a massive cover-up of sexual sins.
As widely reported, an independent, third-party investigation indicated that SBC leaders “stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations.”
In the words of the SBC taskforce that called for the investigation, “we grieve for what has been revealed in this report. We lament on behalf of survivors for how they have not been protected and cared for as they deserve and as God demands. With broken hearts, we want to lead the way by publicly repenting for what has happened in our convention. We implore our Southern Baptist family to respond to this report with deep repentance and a commitment to the ongoing moral demands of the gospel as it relates to sexual abuse. We must resolve to give of our time and resources to not only care well for survivors of sexual abuse, but to provide a culture of accountability, transparency, and safety as we move forward. We acknowledge that any act of repentance requires ongoing, deliberate, dedicated obedience and sacrifice. This is the calling of our Savior to unite as a body in following after Him.”
Who can fathom the amount of damage that has been done?
First, there are the victims of sexual abuse who suffered the double indignity of being abused and then ignored, demeaned, disbelieved, and silenced. And this was at the hands of well-known, highly respected Christian leaders, according to the report. How can this be?
Then, there is the spiritual rot that follows in its wake, as sin and guilt are swept under the carpet, only to fester and grow. (Remember: we’re not talking about people who were guilty of minor indiscretions and then repented and lived above reproach thereafter. We’re talking about allegations of rape and even abuse of children, with the offending leaders not even punished.)
Then, as things explode publicly, the name of the Lord is mocked and ridiculed. “You see,” the world shouts, “we told you these Christians were a bunch of hypocrites. And we told you this whole Jesus-thing was a sham. Now you have living proof!”
What a terrible, inexcusable shame.
It’s one thing if we say to the world, “We don’t claim to be perfect, but we are true to our faith, and where we fall short, we acknowledge it and make amends.”
It is another thing when we willfully and systematically cover up sin.
And to think: for many women in particular, the place that should be a safe haven, a place of refuge and protection, has become a place of fear, shame, and abuse. To ask again: how can this be?
I personally have no formal connection with the SBC or Hillsong, and I’m sure there are many godly people in these two large movements, the SBC being, by far, the largest.
I don’t doubt for a second that there are plenty of devoted ministers among them, many ethical leaders, along with countless believers who love the Lord and seek to honor Him.
In fact, I would expect that the great majority are true blue.
And in the circles in which I travel, I have worked side by side with some of the finest Christians on the planet, people of integrity and high character, people who are above reproach. I am honored to call them friends and co-workers.
Yet there is no denying that, as conservative followers of Jesus, many of us identifying as evangelicals, we together look bad right now. Our “brand” has been tarnished. Our reputation has been smeared. And our Lord is being mocked.
That’s why, together, we should get low before God and before people. We should confess corporately our guilt and sin. We should ask the watching world to forgive us for bringing reproach to the name of Jesus. And we should say, “By God’s grace, we pledge to learn from our failings, to make amends, and do better. And if you get to know us personally, you might be pleasantly surprised. There’s a lot of good that we have done as well because of what Jesus has done in our lives.”
The bad news is that many lives have been destroyed and much damage has been done. The good news is that God gives grace to the humble, and the lower we go in our repentance, the higher He will lift us up.
You can be sure that He, far more than any of us, is jealous for the reputation of His Son. And He will act to glorify His name.
As He said through the prophet Ezekiel, “And wherever [the Israelites] went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the LORD’S people, and yet they had to leave his land. I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.” (Ezekiel 36:20-21)
And so, He acted, bringing the exiles home, thereby restoring honor to His name. I trust He will act again.
Picture credit: Queens Christian Alliance Church
Dr. Michael Brown
To read more articles by Dr. Michael Brown click here.
republished with permission
Turn back to God, by the thousands – it’s called a revival. It has happened five times already in America. it can happen one more time.
Start praying by the thousands – then stand back and see what God can do. Praying for our nation is God’s idea not ours.
Read more: Things To Do List – Before America is Totally Lost
I recently watched the film " Captain Philips " on Netflix. I had resisted for…
171 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent (aisle seat, back row) The Prime Minister has officially…
222 hits
Those who are not familiar with this title may be excused for thinking that it…
265 hits
It was back in the early 80's that Redhead and her late husband bought their…
257 hits
During the early years of World War II, the British Army faced many obstacles. Chief…
308 hits
When people think of World War II, they often picture D-Day, the Blitz, or the…
327 hits
I asked the question " What makes good government? " on a forum I belong…
357 hits
Imagine the joy of discussing life's great mysteries or the simple art of cooking a…
343 hits
Dusty Gulch Dispatch: Whiskers Remembered – A Follicle-Fueled Fightback Against Feather-Brained Folly By Roderick (Whiskers)…
337 hits
Between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, more than a hundred thousand British children were…
366 hits
The Battle of Britain ended on 15th September, 1940 but the Blitz continued long after that. Following…
398 hits
In an age of glowing screens and fleeting texts, something precious has quietly slipped away:…
417 hits
As young folk, didn't some of us feel like rebels without a cause? I am…
416 hits
As our countries are collapsing under the weight of wokeism, social and communist ideology, who…
506 hits
Crack Up or Crack Apart When the world gets grim, you’ve only got two choices:…
512 hits
Dusty Gulch Dispatch: The Croc Cavalry & the Great Duckening By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special…
568 hits
The Warning of Gareth Jones: Who Owns Our Land, Our Water, Our Future? When we…
510 hits
"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice,…
511 hits
As a teacher seasoned by years of studying history and upholding the integrity of language,…
639 hits
“The stupidity of democracy. It will always remain as one of democracy’s best jokes that…
598 hits
It was 19 years ago on the 4th of September 2006 that Steve Irwin rolled…
698 hits
Why Even a My Little Pony Rifle Makes More Sense than Gun Bans We have…
648 hits
Dusty Gulch Dispatch: The Great Literary Rebellion By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent (still in…
631 hits
I was 12 years old when "The Prisoner " came out. Sometimes, I would sneak…
670 hits
Ordinary people following rules - without questioning right from wrong - can enable harm. History…
625 hits
On September 3rd, Australia marks National Flag Day - a day that should fill us…
713 hits
Australia was never built on timidity. It was carved out by men and women who…
813 hits
It is hard to believe that twenty-eight years have passed since the world lost Diana,…
746 hits
Few figures divide Australians as sharply as Ned Kelly. To some, he is a larrikin…
909 hits
Paddy’s Golden Mischief: A Rat’s-Eye View of Dusty Gulch By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent…
674 hits
We are told it’s all under control. Markets are managed, energy transitions are planned, and…
683 hits
In the shadow of a shattered empire, the Weimar Republic rose in 1919, promising democracy,…
768 hits