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
Please donate to
Swiftcode METWAU4B
BSB 484799
Account
Reference PR |
Please email me so I can thank you.
patriot@patriotrealm.com
A moment comes, which comes but rarely in a nation’s history, when a new star…
64 hits
Away with you Jack Frost, say eager gourmands in quest of warmer times which by…
164 hits
In the realm of motorcycles, few names evoke as much passion and nostalgia as Indian…
178 hits
I have never been reticent in expressing my love and admiration of America. I love…
171 hits
At the end of WW2, America had about 6,000 merchant ships. Today it has about…
240 hits
In military history, there are countless tales of bravery, valour, and unwavering dedication from soldiers…
191 hits
When I think about horses in times of war, it is hard not to immediately…
248 hits
Banjo Paterson is the giant of Australian literature and folk law. His exploits in this…
283 hits
The problem many of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders we speak to have continuously…
156 hits
“Chilling out” in the Australian outback is a getaway from the banality of political…
185 hits
When war broke out on 3rd September, 1939 there was no mad rush of support for…
191 hits
It was September 15th 1940 . An auspicious day. The Allies had faced enormous adversity In…
174 hits
The Prime Ministers of Canada and, most recently, New Zealand, have assured their nation’s citizens…
302 hits
Our elected Government Representatives are defying our wishes and importing terrorists. They are importing people…
211 hits
Last week, I discussed the role of America in the defence and defense of the…
196 hits
The town of Longreach in Western Queensland, Australia has had a tough time of late.…
226 hits
The saying "Off with their heads!" is famously associated with the Queen of Hearts character…
141 hits
Readers with a culinary interest might have found the food being cooked aboard the Wanderlust…
205 hits
A commenter on this site said that we are watching life through a looking glass. …
230 hits
In the dusty heart of the Outback, where the sun scorches the earth and the…
331 hits
I have never been reticent in expressing my love and admiration of America. I love…
257 hits
Many months of secrecy and speculation have preceded this historic announcement: The 2023 Voice Referendum…
249 hits
While the name Hedwig Kiesler may not be immediately recognisable, and few would remember Hedy…
242 hits
I think it’s safe to say that adventures of the more daring kind are often…
407 hits
On the Soane's steep western bank towers "Le Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere", its noble, time-stained…
214 hits
On September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was…
227 hits
I used to regard the government as extremely inept/incompetent, fairly corrupt, and facing incentives that…
155 hits
It was August 31st 1997 and I was working as a guard in a maximum…
260 hits
Now they tell us: …big spending on renewables needed, says report Australia must find $1.5…
184 hits