Stephanie and I were blessed to be able to attend a Directors conference in Columbus, Georgia a few weeks ago. Pastor Andy Merritt of Edgewood Baptist Church brought an awesome message that we wanted to share with you. Whether you're a PRC Director - or simply a Believer attempting to live for Christ in this culture - his message is for all of us!
...the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.
1 Chronicles 12:32
"The Christian worldview, in which a person's beliefs, morality and decision making are rooted in the Bible and a personal relationship with Christ, is no longer dominiant in America. Instead, the secular (materialistic/humanistic worldview, which for all practical purposes eliminates God and provides no basis for meaning or absolutes, has become the dominant worldview in America.
"How has Christianity become so marginalized in America? Although Christians have nobly fought against the secular worldview in an effort to maintain Christian values and moraility, we have retreated from sharing the need for a personal relationship with Christ. In other words, we have tried to produce the fruits of Christianity, while neglecting its root. The reality is a culture will never embrace the morals of Christianity without first being reconciled and submitted to the Lord of Christianity.
"American stands under the judgment of God (Romans 1: 18-32)
*The slide to judgment began with idolatry, which is forsaking God to seek fulfillment in following other gods (Jeremiah 2: 11-13). America's gods are prosperity (success judged by an increasing standard of living) and personal peace (the desire to be left undisturbed to do as one pleases regardless of the consequences to future generations).
*Idolatry led to immorality which is a focus on gratifying self instead of glorifying God (Ephesians 4: 18-19). When God is removed from a culture there is no basis for moral absolutes, which results in a lack of restraint where anything goes. (2 Chronicles 28:19).
*Immorality inevitably led to inhumanity (abortion, infanticide, euthanasia), because any nation that turns from God loses the basis for the worth of human life. The sin of inhumanity is the line God has drawn in the sand, which when crossed, brings God's judgment. 2 Kings 21-24; Jeremiah 3:10; 2 Chronicles 36:15-17; Amos 1-2; Jeremiah 15:1-4; Ezekiel 14: 12-20; Ezekiel 9
"Although the recent presidential election may slow down America's race towards judgment, and provide Christians an opportunity to change the direction of America, the reality is, no executive order or legislative action can avert God's judgment on America or make America great again. True greatness (Godliness makes a nation great but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34) will only come when America repents of her sin and is committed to making God great again. Only one thing has the power to do that - the gospel - the message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection which has the power to save a person from his sins and change his heart to love and obey God.
"The number one priority in our churches and pregnancy centers must be to boldly live and share the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16), realizing that the abortion issue provides the perfect platform to do so. We are to visually display the gospel of Christ through practical demonstrations of Christ's love in serving our clients and saving their babies; we are to verbally declare the gospel of Christ by sharing the good news of salvation with our clients and how they can enter a personal relationship with Christ; we are to virally spread the gospel by confronting our culture with the God who is the Judge of the sin of abortion, but also the Savior of sinners who come to Him in repentance and faith. Only one thing can silence the cry for justice from the blood of the innocent, and that would be for our nation to cry out for salvation through the blood of Christ. The bottom line is that pregnancy center ministry is to be conducted, not just out of a commitment to the pro-life cause, but out of a commitment to the Lordship of Christ and to advance His gospel.
"In advancing the gospel of Christ, we must be prepared for increasing persecution from a secular America and be prepared to follow Christ no matter the consequences. Why is persecution inevitable?
*The Christian belief is that there are moral absolutes rooted in God's character and revealed in God's Word for which all men will be accountable to God. This is in direct opposition to a secular society which says "the only absolute allowed is the absolute insistence that there are no absolutes" (Francis Schaffer). Therefore, there can be no tolerance of Christians who possess the absolutes of God's Word by which all men will be judged.
*The exclusivity of Christ (Jesus is the only way to heaven), is a death blow to the autonomy of man since Christianity requires man to turn from going his own way and submitting to God's way. Therefore, it is easier to attack Christians as being narrow minded bigots, than to relinquish control and surrender to God.
*The godly lifestyle and witness of believers serves as a light exposing sin and pointing to Jesus. Since men love the darkness more than the light they find it easier to extinguish the light than be exposed by the light (John 3: 19-20).
*The believers' conviction is that no person, authority, or government has the right to command what is contrary to God's laws, and if they do, it is the duty of Christians to disobey (Acts 5: 28-32). Faith in God calls the believer to stand alone in obedience to God regardless of the consequences.
"If we are to boldly advance the gospel in the coming storm of opposition and persecution and not retreat in fear, we must return to the spirit of ths apostles who rejoiced in persecution, counting it an honor to suffer for Christ (Acts 5: 40-42)."
And this was just Friday night's session!
...the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.
1 Chronicles 12:32
"The Christian worldview, in which a person's beliefs, morality and decision making are rooted in the Bible and a personal relationship with Christ, is no longer dominiant in America. Instead, the secular (materialistic/humanistic worldview, which for all practical purposes eliminates God and provides no basis for meaning or absolutes, has become the dominant worldview in America.
"How has Christianity become so marginalized in America? Although Christians have nobly fought against the secular worldview in an effort to maintain Christian values and moraility, we have retreated from sharing the need for a personal relationship with Christ. In other words, we have tried to produce the fruits of Christianity, while neglecting its root. The reality is a culture will never embrace the morals of Christianity without first being reconciled and submitted to the Lord of Christianity.
"American stands under the judgment of God (Romans 1: 18-32)
*The slide to judgment began with idolatry, which is forsaking God to seek fulfillment in following other gods (Jeremiah 2: 11-13). America's gods are prosperity (success judged by an increasing standard of living) and personal peace (the desire to be left undisturbed to do as one pleases regardless of the consequences to future generations).
*Idolatry led to immorality which is a focus on gratifying self instead of glorifying God (Ephesians 4: 18-19). When God is removed from a culture there is no basis for moral absolutes, which results in a lack of restraint where anything goes. (2 Chronicles 28:19).
*Immorality inevitably led to inhumanity (abortion, infanticide, euthanasia), because any nation that turns from God loses the basis for the worth of human life. The sin of inhumanity is the line God has drawn in the sand, which when crossed, brings God's judgment. 2 Kings 21-24; Jeremiah 3:10; 2 Chronicles 36:15-17; Amos 1-2; Jeremiah 15:1-4; Ezekiel 14: 12-20; Ezekiel 9
"Although the recent presidential election may slow down America's race towards judgment, and provide Christians an opportunity to change the direction of America, the reality is, no executive order or legislative action can avert God's judgment on America or make America great again. True greatness (Godliness makes a nation great but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34) will only come when America repents of her sin and is committed to making God great again. Only one thing has the power to do that - the gospel - the message of Christ's death, burial and resurrection which has the power to save a person from his sins and change his heart to love and obey God.
"The number one priority in our churches and pregnancy centers must be to boldly live and share the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16), realizing that the abortion issue provides the perfect platform to do so. We are to visually display the gospel of Christ through practical demonstrations of Christ's love in serving our clients and saving their babies; we are to verbally declare the gospel of Christ by sharing the good news of salvation with our clients and how they can enter a personal relationship with Christ; we are to virally spread the gospel by confronting our culture with the God who is the Judge of the sin of abortion, but also the Savior of sinners who come to Him in repentance and faith. Only one thing can silence the cry for justice from the blood of the innocent, and that would be for our nation to cry out for salvation through the blood of Christ. The bottom line is that pregnancy center ministry is to be conducted, not just out of a commitment to the pro-life cause, but out of a commitment to the Lordship of Christ and to advance His gospel.
"In advancing the gospel of Christ, we must be prepared for increasing persecution from a secular America and be prepared to follow Christ no matter the consequences. Why is persecution inevitable?
*The Christian belief is that there are moral absolutes rooted in God's character and revealed in God's Word for which all men will be accountable to God. This is in direct opposition to a secular society which says "the only absolute allowed is the absolute insistence that there are no absolutes" (Francis Schaffer). Therefore, there can be no tolerance of Christians who possess the absolutes of God's Word by which all men will be judged.
*The exclusivity of Christ (Jesus is the only way to heaven), is a death blow to the autonomy of man since Christianity requires man to turn from going his own way and submitting to God's way. Therefore, it is easier to attack Christians as being narrow minded bigots, than to relinquish control and surrender to God.
*The godly lifestyle and witness of believers serves as a light exposing sin and pointing to Jesus. Since men love the darkness more than the light they find it easier to extinguish the light than be exposed by the light (John 3: 19-20).
*The believers' conviction is that no person, authority, or government has the right to command what is contrary to God's laws, and if they do, it is the duty of Christians to disobey (Acts 5: 28-32). Faith in God calls the believer to stand alone in obedience to God regardless of the consequences.
"If we are to boldly advance the gospel in the coming storm of opposition and persecution and not retreat in fear, we must return to the spirit of ths apostles who rejoiced in persecution, counting it an honor to suffer for Christ (Acts 5: 40-42)."
And this was just Friday night's session!
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