My regular readers know I don’t do much in the way of social commentary here at the blog but recent events have stirred me to do so. You see, I am at the beginning of another educational journey that should culminate in December 2015 Lord willing. I am already seeing the difficulty of adjusting to doctoral level work but am eager for the challenge. Needless to say, time is a very valuable commodity these days so my blogging activities may taper off for a while. Still, I simply feel the need to write!
Never before in my lifetime has America undergone fundamental change at the pace we are witnessing today. I suspect the last time change at such a pace was seen on our shores was following the War Between the States in the nineteenth century. No one can be certain how long America will continue down this path. What I am certain of is that it doesn’t really matter.
You see, a life is what God says a life is (Job 10:8-12, 31:15; Ps. 51:5, 95:6, 100:3, 119: 73, 138:8, 139:13-16; Is. 44:2, 24, 46:3-4, 49:5-6; Lk 1:39-44). Marriage is what God says marriage is (Gen. 1:27, 2:23-24; Pr. 31:10-12; Matt. 19:4-6; Mk. 10:6-9; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:2, 14, 29-31; Eph. 5:31, etc.). Try though they might, men adding to the meanings of these and other terms does not change them. Trying to alter their meanings does not change them in the eyes of God.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is just as true today as it was this time last week, last year, and two thousand years ago. It will remain just as true tomorrow, next year, and beyond (Heb. 13:8). The Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20) has not changed and I dare say there will be new opportunities to share the gospel. There will be new ministry challenges as well. There will still be hurting people who need to be ministered to, hungry people who need to be fed, and lost people who do not yet know the love of Christ.
Are we prepared to minister in new contexts? Will we have the courage of our convictions while remaining salt and light in the world? It is not a matter of if change will come. Change has already arrived and there is more to come. The real question is simply this: are Christians up for the challenge?