Lest Lessons #16 – SPEAK OUT

 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

When I started to write blogs a few months ago, my thought was to tell friends some of the important lessons that God has taught me over my 91 years of living. Most of the lessons I learned came during the time I was involved in Christian activities. I was a missionary, a Bible teacher, and the founder of several ministries. I had (and still have) plenty of material that speak of the lessons I learned during those times. And I could speak freely. I was not persecuted.

Then came the presidential election. I continued to write my blogs and included what the Bible says regarding some political policies espoused by some candidates. A few blog comments let me know that not all my readers agreed with me and I expected that. We all have freedom to express our opinion, don’t we? Apparently not these days. In my naivety, I did not realize that if I state what the Bible says, I could be labeled a racist or a homophobe or something even worse. Although my blogs are not widely read, they could be censored by the cancel culture. Thus far, that has not happened, but I have been informed by the social media that they have the right to do so. That is alarming.

What is more alarming to me, however, is the fear that so many Christians have of speaking about “religion” or “politics” at all. One of my relatives who worked for the government said that when we visit we should not talk about religion or politics. I said to her, “Then we can’t talk about your work or my work.” Even in the place where I now live, we are asked not speak of politics or promote religion in the dining room. In other words, we are not to speak of what is most dear to our hearts.

I intend to continue to speak out about my religion and what my Bible tells me is right and wrong. Christians are to speak out to the world about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that we are to go into all the world and make disciples and to teach them what Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:19-20). In some countries we do not have freedom to do that without being arrested. We still have the freedom in America to speak out, but cancel culture is making that more and more difficult.

My plea in this blog is that if you are a Christian don’t let the cancel culture stop you. You have a right to speak out. Please speak out about your Lord. Speak out the truth of the Bible. Speak out about right and wrong. Don’t be afraid. Speak out.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful that I live in a country where we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. What are you thankful for?

Last Lessons #15 – STABILITY

Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like; he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. Luke 6:47

These days I try to sing the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is our God written by Martin Luther every morning because it is based on Psalm 46. Psalm 46 begins with “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though ……”. I read Psalm 46 because I need it now when there is so much instability in our country.

This country and its people are in trouble and there is much fear. We are afraid of a virus. We are afraid of a takeover by socialism or China. We are afraid of riots and chaos that comes from lawlessness. We are afraid of losing our freedom to speak and even losing democracy. These are big troubles and we have every reason to be afraid. We try to elect leaders who are strong enough to stand for policies that would keep us from these troubles but thinking people know that no government leader is strong enough to save us. We should vote because it is our duty and we should do all we can to make a country stable. But even good leaders are not enough. Only God can save us from the troubles we have. It’s God who is our refuge and our strength and our present help in trouble. The question is, where do we find God when we need refuge and strength and help?

We find him in his written words – the Bible. It is true that Christians have God’s Spirit living within us, but where he speaks clearly to us is in the Scriptures. It’s in the Bible that we find what we are to believe, how we are to think, how we are to act, and even how we are to vote! We surely cannot trust the media to guide us! Our troubles will only increase if we have leaders who only listen to their own rhetoric and want to ban the Bible from every place where it can be an influence, especially on young minds. We need the Bible if we ever want stability in our country.

We need to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Ps. 1:2). That’s the only way we will ever be stable.

Read Psalm 46 again and again and meditate on its comforting words:

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” Remember that “The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

That’s why Christians can be stable - no matter what the news!

Last Lessons #14 – A TIME TO MOURN

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4

There may be many in the United States of America who are laughing and dancing today, because they think they have won an election. There are others of us who are weeping and mourning. We are not sad because of a possible loss, we are sad that half the people in our country by their vote have shown that they agree that abortion (murder) is right, that same-sex marriage (homosexuality) is right, and that cancellation (no freedom to speak) is right, and that removing “In God we trust” as our motto is right. We are very sad that half our country voted in hate for a person, not in love for a country and for God who graciously allowed us to live in this country.

So, what will happen to this country? Not being a prophet, I do not know. But there are three possibilities that are apparent even to me:

1. The Lord will punish this country because of its corruption and idolatry. God did this when the Israelites (God’s people) became worldly, corrupt and worshiped other gods. Read 2 Kings 17:7-18. God has every right to punish this country too. We have lost the right to be called a Christian nation and God has not promised us that the USA, as we know it, will be allowed to continue unaffected. Living in a country that is controlled by haters will be harsh punishment. God does have his remnant even in the USA. It’s called the CHURCH. Yet God in love disciplines his own. 1 Peter 4:17.

2. The Lord will return. Many of God’s people see signs of Christ’s return today. We do not know the time when the Lord will come, but we cannot help but wonder if the nations (including the USA) could be any more divided between God’s people and Satan’s people than it is today. The end could be very near. The Scripture tells us that when the Lord does return he will judge the nations. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Those nations that prove their faith in Christ by their actions will inherit the kingdom prepared for them. Those nations that prove that they do not have faith in Christ by their actions will be cast into eternal fire along with the devil.

3. The Lord will bring revival. Our only hope that this country will truly change is if the Spirit of the Lord convicts individuals of corruption and idolatry. When individuals repent (change their minds and their ways) and pray, God in his mercy may bring revival. The last revival in the USA known as the Great Awakening in the 18th century changed the nation. You may want to read about it and the sermon that ignited it by Jonathan Edwards. The sermon was called Sinners in

the Hands of an Angry God. I suggest a book by George Marsden Jonathan Edwards - a life. An audible edition is available free on Amazon.

The USA needs revival if we are to be saved. However, we cannot bring revival, only God causes revival. He does it whenever and however he wills. But we can pray. God answers prayer. I am praying, and I’m asking you to pray too. Pray that God will have mercy on us and give us the only thing that will save our beloved country.

Last Lessons #13 – RESPONSE

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:14-21

"Whatever the news and whatever the election results, the purpose of the Lord will stand.” These are the words of a WORLD WATCH commentator and we can be sure that he is right. God has his purpose for all things even when we do not understand his purpose. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways.

That means that whether our finite minds think chosen leaders are good or not, we rest in the fact that God knows what he is doing and we look forward to seeing what that is. In the meantime, there are ways that we know we are to respond to those that we may perceive as enemies because they believe that wrong is right. They think that abortion (murder) is right and they think that same-sex marriage (homosexuality) is right. We are against murder and homosexuality and we hate them, but we do not hate those who believe they are right even when they hate us and persecute us. Christians hate evil but Christians do not hate any person. Instead, Christians bless them by rejoicing with them and mourning with them and living in harmony with all people, no matter their color or their economic or social status. Christians do not take from their enemies but give to them whatever help they need.

That does not mean that we agree with our enemies or not try to change that which is wrong. It’s how we do it that matters. Some suggestions:

• We vote, and we vote not only for honest leaders, but for good policies. 
• We try to persuade wrongdoers to do that which is right.
• We speak the truth and expose lies.
• We contribute financially to that which is good.
• We volunteer our time and efforts for good causes.
• We pray for our leaders.

And remember: Our goal at this time in America’s history is to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.