Weekend Thoughts

There was a rally in Washington D.C. this past weekend on the course our country takes in the future. As an aside, media often refer to some supporters as “the religious right.” That adjective is never applied to the “left.” Should we wonder why?

Many are seriously concerned about where we’ve came from, where we are and where we’re headed as a nation. Our country was less than 150 years old when it gave birth to what is known as “The Greatest Generation.” Less than 80 years later, that generation is all but gone, and those replacing it have not done as well.

The rallying cry of a leader of that generation, one who fought for freedom during WWII, has been lost. “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

His own party has turned to federalization and dependence upon what the government can do. We’ve turned a natural disaster into rallying points for racism, and ignored other flood victims who have not made headlines. We have turned industrial disasters into opportunities to increase federal intervention. We have accepted change because we’re discontent, and never defined what change was sought. We have sown the wind and reaped a whirlwind.

Some have turned to the Bible and picked up an answer.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV)

I join in prayer that this falling away could mean that day coming, His return – but not all the world is falling away.

True, there are churches with dwindling memberships. True, there are church members who come only on holidays, if they come at all. There are church members who have walked away, seeking the world’s offerings instead of giving of themselves to the Lord. True there are church leaders openly breaking God’s commandments. This is not new.

African Anglican Communion bishops have held the biblical line when American Episcopal bishops have denied the Bible and appointed gay Bishops to lead their church. I know of strong biblical preaching by national pastors in the Philippines, Mexico, Canada, several South American countries and other nations around the world. Independent Baptist missionaries count their fields within the United States and have growing churches there, too. There have always been the faithful.

So, as this may not be the hour known only to His Father (Matthew 24:36) and we cannot know that the day is at hand (2 Thessalonians 2:2), what do we do?

Keep His commandments and do as the disciples did after His ascension – go home and spread the word. Don’t stand around looking for Him.

Work as though our church has a dwindling membership. Visit church members who come only on holidays. Look after those church members who have walked back into the world. Hold that biblical line wherever we are. We each have a mission field. We each have a calling. Our reasonable service has been defined.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 KJV)

That’s what we do until He returns, whether our country does or not.