"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve
the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods
which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will
serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 NIV
It would seem an understatement to say that we are
living in divisive times. Probably the only thing that the majority of us could
agree on is how divided we are. For years politicians have promised they had
the answer. Recently our current administration has divided us more than ever
before. The race problem that had seemingly been brought under control has been
exploited and exploded to a point that is worse than I remember in my life
time. The progressive liberal, anti-God movement has made greater advances than
at any other time in our history. Satan has done what he specializes in to the
point that even in the Christian community we are divided on very serious
issues. Have you ever noticed how Satan cloaks sinful behavior in the disguise
of freedom of choice, and alternate lifestyles? It’s like the billboard
advertising beer. On a hot day the picture of the ice rolling off of the top,
and the foam oozing off the top make it look so refreshing. They never show you
the picture of the drunk in the gutter, or the broken homes that have been
created by it. So now we can fully understand the warning Isaiah issued in
chapter 50:20. We live in a society that calls good, evil and evil, good. Toward
the end of His life Joshua issued a final address, and challenged the elders
and leaders of Israel to choose, whom they would serve. He understood that God
does not allow for neutrality. With the divisiveness of our day and age, there
is a feeling that something huge is about to happen. Some have suggested that
our nation is headed for another civil war others interpret circumstances as
leading rapidly to the coming of the Lord. Some have even suggested that Barak
Obama is the anti-Christ. I don’t think he is because He couldn’t get that much
of the world to follow Him, but I do think He is a forerunner to the anti-Christ.
He along with His cohorts is certainly setting the stage where the public at
large would follow and even worship the person who could fix our problems.
Regardless of where this all ends up there are some things that we need to
understand.
Division is by divine design. The very fact that man
is by nature a sinful creature makes unity a more dangerous thing than
division. God himself confused the people’s languages, and scattered them over
all the earth. He himself recognized that while they remained unified in their
effort that, “nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” (Gen 11:6)
Jesus himself said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell
you, but division. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter
against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Matt. 10:34)
Jesus was not advocating violence, nor did He automatically intend for us to
turn away from our families, but he did understand that His message is
divisive, and that faith is not compatible with unbelief. The fact that we are
divided is not the problem. The problem comes when we become unified in the
acceptance and promotion of evil behavior. In the Christian community we even
respectfully maintain a certain level of separation. I love my charismatic
friends and have preached and sang in their churches, however there are serious
reasons of faith that prevent me from being one. In II Corinthians when Paul
forbids the intermarrying of believers to non-believers, He asks the question
of what we have in common with them. And then speaking of the unbelieving and
idolaters he commands us to come out from them and be separate. (II Cor. 6:17)
The time for separation has come. Christians and the Church have been partakers
of the world’s delights for long enough that we have become dull in our senses.
We have allowed Hollywood, Politicians, and a Godless education system to
distort our world view. We have exercised a politically correct, live and let
live mentality, and we have become partakers of their sin. Romans 1:32 suggests
that by simple approval of another’s sinful lifestyle, we ourselves deserve the
same punishment. Silence is consent. It is time for Christians everywhere band
together in community, and stand up against Satan, and proclaim the truth of
the Gospel. If the love of Christ is in us we must proclaim the truth of
Scripture. Love is not silent in the face of imminent danger.
