The legacy of a man is not the number behind his riches or debt but the integrity, purpose and honor of the man he was.”
–Kenneth S. Pratt (Legacies of Spring)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
–Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
————————————-
I used to like to wander trails that I found in the woods. They were mostly deer trails of no significance, but they were fun to travel and not knowing what one might come across was part of the excitement, whether it be an animal or a grand vista. I’ve heard speakers, most notably preachers, who start on a message–a divine purpose–when all of a sudden they start off on a “rabbit-trail” that more often than not amounts to nothing. They follow this trail and that trail and never really get back to their original message–their purpose.
I happened to be reading something from Barna a couple of weeks ago that caught my attention. The more I pondered it, the more alarmed I became. Teenagers (13,000 total) were asked to complete this sentence, “I would prefer to attend a church that supports…” Ah, you may think they said, “missions” or “evangelism” or “discipleship.” Here are the top five responses:
–Ending extreme poverty (35%)
–Positive mental health (35%)
–Ending hunger and famines (34%)
–Ending sexual abuse (34%)
–Promoting racial justice (34%)
Look at these carefully. None of them are necessarily a wrong issue, one that shouldn’t be addressed, but notice how it deals with the self, with a social gospel. Where is the cry for the lost? Where is the longing for heaven, to be like Christ, to bring glory and honor to God?
Notice the first three. What is positive mental health? Is it to make me feel good, or is it picking up my cross daily? Ending extreme poverty, but is that realistic? Notice, the implied socialism. Jesus said the poor would be with us always (Matthew 26:11). We are to do our part in helping the poor, but we are also to be good stewards. Can we really end hunger and famines? Hmmm, I recall that one of the horses in Revelation will bring famine (Revelation 6:5-6).
It is a noble thought to end sexual abuse and it should be…however, how can it happen when society is pushing for drag queens to read in schools, when transgender is thrown at us by educator and the media, when the abomination of the LGBTQ is demanded? Sexual abuse–all of those fit that scenario in one form or another. One more question, what is racial justice? Is it giving reparations to minority groups for something that happened generations ago? The more racial injustice that I see today is the fact that there are those who push for it. Not that the pendulum has swung the other way, but that it is completely turned upside down. Housing, made to make people equal–what happens? In a few years it will be a slum. Education with the emphasis on affirmative action, hmmm, does it work?
The above are good ideals, but where is the purpose of the church in those ideals? You can have all the programs, redistribute all the wealth, but if the heart is not changed it will come to naught. Which is more important: temporal life upon this earth or eternal life with Christ? Social issues do not make the gospel, they will follow the gospel. But in fact, most of those wanting the changes above want to do away with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
————————————-
I used to like to wander trails that I found in the woods. They were mostly deer trails of no significance, but they were fun to travel and not knowing what one might come across was part of the excitement, whether it be an animal or a grand vista. I’ve heard speakers, most notably preachers, who start on a message–a divine purpose–when all of a sudden they start off on a “rabbit-trail” that more often than not amounts to nothing. They follow this trail and that trail and never really get back to their original message–their purpose.
I happened to be reading something from Barna a couple of weeks ago that caught my attention. The more I pondered it, the more alarmed I became. Teenagers (13,000 total) were asked to complete this sentence, “I would prefer to attend a church that supports…” Ah, you may think they said, “missions” or “evangelism” or “discipleship.” Here are the top five responses:
–Ending extreme poverty (35%)
–Positive mental health (35%)
–Ending hunger and famines (34%)
–Ending sexual abuse (34%)
–Promoting racial justice (34%)
Look at these carefully. None of them are necessarily a wrong issue, one that shouldn’t be addressed, but notice how it deals with the self, with a social gospel. Where is the cry for the lost? Where is the longing for heaven, to be like Christ, to bring glory and honor to God?
Notice the first three. What is positive mental health? Is it to make me feel good, or is it picking up my cross daily? Ending extreme poverty, but is that realistic? Notice, the implied socialism. Jesus said the poor would be with us always (Matthew 26:11). We are to do our part in helping the poor, but we are also to be good stewards. Can we really end hunger and famines? Hmmm, I recall that one of the horses in Revelation will bring famine (Revelation 6:5-6).
It is a noble thought to end sexual abuse and it should be…however, how can it happen when society is pushing for drag queens to read in schools, when transgender is thrown at us by educator and the media, when the abomination of the LGBTQ is demanded? Sexual abuse–all of those fit that scenario in one form or another. One more question, what is racial justice? Is it giving reparations to minority groups for something that happened generations ago? The more racial injustice that I see today is the fact that there are those who push for it. Not that the pendulum has swung the other way, but that it is completely turned upside down. Housing, made to make people equal–what happens? In a few years it will be a slum. Education with the emphasis on affirmative action, hmmm, does it work?
The above are good ideals, but where is the purpose of the church in those ideals? You can have all the programs, redistribute all the wealth, but if the heart is not changed it will come to naught. Which is more important: temporal life upon this earth or eternal life with Christ? Social issues do not make the gospel, they will follow the gospel. But in fact, most of those wanting the changes above want to do away with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)