2010-04-07
A Cultural Salvation
We have spoken at length about personal Salvation. We just celebrated the Resurrection of Christ last week, as we really do every week, but especially at Easter. We all know the feeling that exists within our hearts before our personal resurrection experience – the pain, numbness and confusion, the sense of meaninglessness and heartbreak. But then someone loves us enough to tell us about Jesus. They tell us about Jesus’ compassion, and we begin to realize that even though we know that we deserve to have really bad things happen to us in repayment for our own crimes, that God doesn’t want us to suffer eternally, and that in His infinite love He has provided a way for us to be saved from “the bed of our own making” by the blood of Jesus Christ. They tell us about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, who was a religious man, but who still needed to be “born again.” It takes a while for many of us to grasp all of this, but when we do and we repent of our old lives and are baptized into the new life with Christ, it is like a ton of bricks has been lifted off our shoulders, and we walk with Jesus in a life that is dedicated to much different priorities than those we lived by while we were committing those crimes that created such havoc and guilt before.
And then we continue throughout life trying to glorify God the best we can. We fail often, but, in inverse proportion to our pride, we learn much about ourselves and the life that God wants for us. We apply a new discipline to our lives to live up to a standard that is far higher than we ever thought about adhering to before, but rather than getting frustrated and depressed at our inadequacy, rather than being overcome with hopelessness at our inabilities, we give all of that to Jesus, keep putting one foot ahead of the other, and come out the other side with a profound and enduring love for the One Who stands by us, lifting us up, making us better, giving us hope for our futures. We recognize that He is the One Who will never fail us. And life is different – all new. The metaphor of a “rebirth” becomes understandable, becomes who we are. And we quit living in the past, we stop looking back, and we begin to focus on the future and how we can live a life that will express our love more fully each day to the One Who has made it all possible. And we look for ward to things that previously were unimaginable – even death itself is not a concern, for we look to the time beyond all of this earthly temporal and temporary to a time when death and sorrow will be no more. We know that our Lord is all-powerful and that He will put all enemies under his feet, including death itself.
We compare this reality with the world’s philosophies of life, and we get just an inkling of what God has done. The best the world can do is to tell us that death is simply a reality that we have to deal with – there will come a time when we will cease to exist, and all that can be said about it is that since it is going to happen, just get over it. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die. That’s all humanism has.
But that’s not all Jesus has!
That, in a nutshell, is the basic abbreviated idea behind personal salvation. We enjoy today, walking with God, even in the worst of times in this fallen world, with an inner peace that the world doesn’t have and cannot fathom; and we die with grace and peace, to live forever.
But as fantastic as all that is, and as complete as the story seems to be to that point, there’s really much more to the story. If we are saved in this manner, what does that leave for us to do here on this earth? Just be good while we eat, drink and be merry waiting to go live with God? Keep all the goodies to ourselves? Is salvation in the sweet by and by all there is to Christianity? Sadly, that is the life that far too many Christians live in today’s world. Is it possible that there is much more to our way of life than personal salvation? What difference does it make to the world we live in if we keep it to ourselves? And why do we feel that we must keep it to ourselves, when Christianity has been such a blessing to us personally, and such a driving force throughout not just American history, but WORLD history?
Have you ever thought about what it would be like if Jesus were a hoax… if he were not real? Little things, like, “What would the English language be like today without him?” Good Samaritan, city set on a hill, a lamb to the slaughter, valley of the shadow of death, promised land, apple of his eye, balm in Gilead, the blind leading the blind, cast the first stone, ox in the ditch, gospel, root of all evil, wash your hands of something, eat drink and be merry, brother’s keeper, the patience of Job, sheep among wolves, my cup runneth over, no man can serve two masters, man does not live by bread alone, quick and the dead, sew the wind and reap the whirlwind, scapegoat, sins of the fathers, stiff-necked, stranger in a strange land, through a glass darkly, ye of little faith, baptism of fire, eye for an eye, the truth shall set you free, cross to bear, house divided, the first shall be last, all things to all men, blood money, born again, and the handwriting on the wall. (1)
All of these English phrases come directly from the Bible. Do you see how completely Christianity has infused our language? And if there’s one thing my study in counseling has shown me, language is the key to human life. All of this reflects who we are – more accurately, who we have to this point chosen to be. My fear is that if we as a culture have chosen to be Christian, we can choose “change” as well. If God is marginalized out of society, there is no morality – whatever the strongest among us say is right, is right, because they say it is. With God, right makes might, because God says what is right, and He is a God of love; but without God, might makes right. Somebody’s going to be in control, and if it’s not God, it will be one of us. Who in this world do you trust to be your god? You are going to have one – even atheists have something to hang their hats on. Which world do you want to live in – one where love is the primary value, and the weak and defenseless are protected, defended and valued, or one where only the strong survive?
No, this goes much further than a purely personal salvation. A salvation that does not interact with the culture at large is no salvation at all. Even if it were possible for some, it would only last one generation. But I am saying that it is not possible, because if we choose not to share Jesus with the world, we are demonstrating a rebellious and unloving attitude toward God. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus commands us – IT IS NOT OPTIONAL – to “Go into all the world (that includes right here in Shreveport) and preach the Gospel, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." If we fail to do this, it can be reasonably argued that we love the approval of the world more than the approval of God.
Is this politically correct in our time? No. But let me ask you this – what difference does it make whether it’s politically correct or not? There are so many forces that pressure Christians to keep their mouths shut, to just go along. Don’t be intolerant; judge not that you be not judged; religion and politics don’t mix; separation of church and state; politics is dirty business that Christians don’t get involved in; Jesus didn’t get mixed up in politics. It is amazing to me how clever Satan is in using Jesus’ own words against him. Test the spirits - put all these things to this one test, and you’ll see if it comes from God or from somewhere else. Does the argument under consideration cause you to burn with zeal for God, or does it pressure you to keep silent? You know who it is that wants you to keep quiet and not talk about salvation. How did the Apostles respond to this kind of pressure? “We ought to obey God rather than man.”
We live in an increasingly anti-Christian world. Our own President has openly stated to the world that we are no longer a Christian nation. We have seen the evidences in all the post WWII era – it started with abolishing prayer in schools in 1962, then the “new Morality” brought along free sex, and then to handle all the unwanted children we legalized abortion, then there’s “no-fault” divorce, all leading to the dissolution of the family, pre-marital co-habitation (it used to be called “living in sin” or “shacking up.” Now it is accepted to try each other out sexually like we were test driving a used car. And one of the most profoundly precious and intimate acts, that one thing that is the future of the human race itself, without which we would cease to exist; that one thing that brings one man and one woman into deep physical and spiritual one-ness, that results in the most precious resource in all of human existence – our children – that one precious moment, is trivialized into meaninglessness.) How many times have we recognized that something that is happening in our nation, that is commonly accepted, would NEVER have been seen as anything but degraded and perverted in times past, and yet we say nothing, out of fear of being seen as old fashioned and intolerant? “Christians today get discouraged and feel helpless even though they have the freedom, the ability, and the means to make changes at every level of society. Many believe cultural change is impossible. Many believe it’s futile: John F. MacArthur, in The Vanishing Conscience: Drawing the Line in a No-Fault, Guilt-Free World (Dallas, TX: Word, 1994) says, ‘Reclaiming’ the culture is a pointless, futile exercise. I am convinced we are living in a post-Christian society—a civilization that exists under God's judgment.’”(1) Brothers and sisters, it may very well be that we do live in a post-Christian society, and it is true that God will judge such a nation. I truly stand aghast at what is happening in my country, and I fully expect God to come quickly and remove our lamp stand from its place, as we have accepted change away from our previous status as a “city set on a hill.” But it is NOT true that God’s Kingdom with Christ on the throne of that Kingdom, is powerless to stop this world’s decay. That is the very reason we are here - to be the salt and light of the world, so if it is true that the nation is going down, it is our fault for our failure to stand up for God and speak the truth in the face of whatever may come.
Am I being too political? Then tell me what area of human life is excluded from God’s laws. Family? Education? Entertainment? Career? What? None? Then politics is fair game. I am sick to death of being told that it is not right for Christians to be involved in politics, and in the same breath being told that Christianity is an archaic, irrelevant institution that has no impact on our culture. Well, if Christians don’t get involved in any area of life, then Christianity will not have an impact in that area. And corruption and decay will spread like gangrene from there throughout the rest of our culture.
It is not God’s intention that any should perish, certainly not a nation that He Himself has so greatly blessed, and certainly not His will that we should stand idly by saying “It is getting bad because it must be the end times,” all the while doing nothing while people are dying and losing their souls to Satan’s lunacy all around us! He is a gracious God, Who even in His judgment has always provided an out. Look at the example of ancient Israel. Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:11).
So what I am encouraging us to understand is that for Christianity to cease living down to the standards of the humanist’s accusation that we are irrelevant, we must get involved in all areas of life. And that includes, ESPECIALLY, politics.
The Bible is complete in its instruction for living. It contains “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” So in the coming weeks we will look at Daniel and see what God says about living in a culture that does not respect the God of the universe. Daniel is read mostly as a book of prophecy, but it’s the practical living sections that are instructive for (a) how Christians can and should live in a hostile, anti-Christian environment, (b) outlast the schemes of God’s enemies, and (c) even rule if they are faithful, knowledgeable, wise, and acknowledge God’s sovereignty and providence in seemingly impossible times.(1)
We think we have it bad: churches on nearly every corner, the Bible in nearly every language, dozens of English translations, freedom to worship, freedom to educate our children, a standard of living that would rival most monarchs prior to the 20th century, instant global communications, ease of travel, foods from around the world brought to our neighborhood while we sleep, the ability to change the political landscape without revolution or fear of governmental reprisals when a change is made, medical care (Who was the first president born in a hospital? Jimmy Carter!)(1)
But Daniel and his friends were:
a. Deported from their home country (2 Kings 24:1–16; Dan. 1:1):
b. No financial resources.
c. No political connections.
d. Placed in an attractive reeducation environment.
e Separated from their families.
How is survival, let alone dominion, possible under such circumstances? And yet that’s
exactly what Daniel accomplished. He, like Joseph in Egypt before him, became a ruler in Babylon during a time when he was taken to Babylon as a captive.
We will be looking at Daniel’s experiences over the coming weeks to see how God provides for His people who find themselves in impossibly uncomfortable situations.
But this morning, maybe your need is to initially address or to improve your personal salvation experience. Maybe you need a little encouragement, or a shoulder to lean on, someone to pray for you. We want to be that for you. Or maybe you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself, something eternal, and something that makes a difference in your life and in the world around you. Jesus is all of that. Will you come, as we stand and sing…
1 Gary DeMar, downloaded from AmericanVision.com Apr 8, 2010.
