10/23/17 BEWARE MIXED SIGNALS

10/23/17 BEWARE MIXED SIGNALS

Back in the 80s our small church took a stand when the Public School removed Christ from the Christmas program.

I contacted other pastors (most of whom slid back into the shadows because they did not want to offend Liberals and Public School supporters in their churches, which would have COST THEM MONEY). In fact, I only recall one other pastor who joined with us at that time. He was a well respected believer with long standing influence in the community and led a much larger congregation than our church.

We also informed the grassroots of our community. The man on the street, whether Christian or not, knew that it was absurd to have a Christmas Program that excluded Christ.

One of my former high school classmates called me on the phone to ask about the situation. My friend was not a believer, but he knew that it was wrong to remove and forbid the mention of Christ and singing of Christian songs from the Christmas Program. After I gave him the facts of the case he was irate. He started fuming about how absurd the Public School leaders were.

THEN IT HAPPENED. In his anger at the Liberal gall of ousting Jesus from His own celebration, my friend became so mad that he used God's name in a curse, as he referred to the "educators" in rather unflattering terms. I agreed with his assessment of the Public School action, but addressed his anger and his use of foul language.

HERE IS MY POINT. There are plenty of issues facing our society today. Some are so absurd that a person has to be completely empty of any common sense or moral stability in order support them (as with the gender identity and bathroom fiasco promoted by Liberals and advanced by Governor Cooper). However, the real issue has always been, will people recognize the Supreme authority of God and His word? Will people bow in submission to the Lordship of Christ?

This is why it is dangerous to "side" with a movement, a party, a team, or even a champion. There are those who champion good causes, but they themselves are personally opposed to the rule of Christ in their own lives. As Christians we should stand for the right, for truth, which will also put us in the same group as nonbelievers. However, our loyalty, submission, allegiance should not be to passing or provincial causes or entities, as much as to the eternal cause of Christ and His word. We should stand faithful to the truth of God, but we must try to avoid the appearance of evil, which is caused by us siding with those who resist and reject the message and ministry of Christ.

Yep, I know. It ain't easy.