Understand This Moment
Personally, I agree with those who assert that America as a country, right now, is in a cold civil war. We are not physically in a civil war such as in the 19th century, and prayerfully we will never have to be in that situation again. However, we are very clearly living in a moment with two very different viewpoints. One group believes you can murder babies and the other repudiates this evil. Some individuals assert there are more than two genders, others are still living in reality and know there are only two. Some folks see America as a fundamentally racist country which needs to have everything about it destroyed. Others believe America has real failings in its past, but that it is a good country and a bastion for freedom carrying the torch of liberty in the world yet continually improving. Needless to say, this polarizing environment creates the storm for a cold civil war. A battle amongst worldviews where individuals on both sides holding to incredibly different views are fighting it out in full-force ideological warfare.
This battle has crept into evangelical circles in many ways. You have all sorts of liberalism within the circles of professing Christians. These “theologians” hold to the idea you can support pro-abortion candidates, promote Marxist ideologies, and frequently are for socialistic policies. Usually, they waffle on male/female roles and will often fight for women to become pastors regardless of Scripture’s clear teaching. On the other side of this battle, you have the individuals holding to conservative orthodoxy. They believe what the Bible says about the sanctity of human life. Assertively, they set forth what God has said in the Scripture about male/female relationships and the exclusivity of the pastorate for men. Yet, here again, we see this battle, this theological warfare between two sides with polarizing disagreements.
Understanding Your Role
I lay out the preceding information for this reason, as an individual, you need to understand the times in which you live and how to be involved. It is no surprise to us as Christians that we live in a battle. In Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul talks about spiritual warfare and says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Christians throughout the ages have always been engaged in this battle and so it is imperative we understand the attacks of the enemy in our time and stand against them for the truth of Christ.
Consequently, you and I have got to step up to the plate and fight the good fight for the truth of Christ. We need to live with all of the joy, love, courage, and boldness possible while on this planet. The greatest resistance to tyranny is the dedication of a life lived fully for the glory of God with every single breathe. Now, you might be wondering what you can contribute to this battle raging in our day? Here are a few thoughts.
First of all, you need to be involved in actively studying Scripture, knowing the truth, and being aware of what is going on around you. You cannot wield the Sword if you do not know how to use the Sword nor who the enemy is in the battle. Read the Bible, pray, study to diligently know more. When looking at current cultural events, don’t take the media reports at face value, dig deeper and really learn. Be a theologically mature Christian and an informed American citizen. Know the constitution and the history of this country. Focus on being aware of events in your local area so that you can know specific steps you can take to help others and battle for truth. These are all simple things, but they make a profound impact. Did you know that only about 43% of Americans have even read the entire Constitution?1 If you merely stay informed and up to date on both historical and current information, you will be far ahead of the curve. If you are solidified in the Scripture, then you will be equipped with a robust worldview to live for the glory of God.
Secondly, you need to actually act on the knowledge which you develop. Let’s say that because you are dutifully studying and keeping up with current events, you become aware of a law that is potentially being passed in your area that is unconstitutional. Go to the political meeting and lobby for the constitutional position. Call the offices of your politicians and express your concerns to them. Once again, these are very simple steps, but they have a profound impact. Let’s give another example and say you develop an acquaintance who rejects biblical Christianity. Invite them to lunch, buy their meal, and talk about the issue with them and share the Gospel. This action could have a profound impact on their life and while it is an easy step to take do not underestimate its importance.
Finally, focus on performing your daily tasks with excellence and grow your personal skillset. As things in the situation continue to worsen, we are going to need people who are experts in multiple realms. We will need individuals who know how to medically heal someone without the tools of a sophisticated medical establishment. Having the skillset to grow food and be sustainable will be a must. Knowing how to teach people about a wide range of subjects from theology to family to politics to whatever else will be beneficial for local communities. My point is that one person cannot do everything. So, as the government becomes increasingly restrictive, individuals need to establish local relationships with a variety of people who can help each other. Maybe I can fix your gun and grow your food, but I will need someone to help repair my truck in order to deliver that product to your house. By having a solid skill set and continually growing, you will be in a position to help people in a vast array of situations.
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