It is no mystery to what is going on all around us as we look at Scripture. With a decline of our nation and a careless spirit, evil starts to take advantage. In these last days, evil will grow stronger and stronger in 2 Timothy 3:13. It is no surprise as the time approaches the return of Christ, Satan knows his time is short in Revelations 12:12.
The landscape of our culture changes to what Kerby Anderson calls barbarism. “There is a new barbarism. This barbarism has embraced a new pagan mentality . . . not simply rejecting the legacy of the West, but embracing a new pagan mentality where there is no fixed truth.” These mines are proving to be more obvious and destructive in our society. Truth must be more than what is popular, or what we make it, it must be rooted in the foundation of the Bible.
So what will the righteous do as the foundations slowly erode in Psalms 11:3? Here are three secrets to navigating through the cultural minefields.
- Keep the main thing the main thing. It is easy to lose ourselves in all that is going on. Goliath screams and paralyzes the masses. It takes David to discern what is going on and what the true opposition is. David led in the midst of fear and confusion because he knew who the enemy was, he knew who he was and most of all he knew who God is! What Jesus was busy with on this earth gives us a clear agenda of what is on heaven’s mind. Jesus was busy with sharing the gospel, healing, and demonstrating the Love of his father. He was discipling others, teaching, and praying that His father would minister transformation to the human heart.
- Identify what is natural and what is supernatural. What we see and feel or can discern with the 5 senses can be called “tangibles’. Anything in these realms is natural. Supernatural can be the organized system behind what we see. Symptoms can be very obvious but the root cause can be elusive. We need the mind of Christ to discern what is really going on. The kingdom of God is not limited to anything known or unknown.
- Be an intentional Worshiper. The prophet Habakkuk realized a secret in adversity. He could take it personally and be overwhelmed and defeated or he could bless the Lord. He chose the latter and his adversity was a stepping stone forward. We see his decision here in Habakkuk 3:17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Kerby Anderson describes the process of a declining nation this way:
“The first stage moves from bondage to spiritual faith. The second from spiritual faith to great courage. The third stage moves from great courage to liberty. The fourth stage moves from liberty to abundance. The fifth stage moves from abundance to selfishness. The sixth stage moves from selfishness to complacency. The seventh stage moves from complacency to apathy. The eighth stage moves from apathy to moral decay. The ninth stage moves from moral decay to dependence. And the tenth and last stage moves from dependence to bondage.”
Our heart breaks to see the direction of our nation. We are such blessed people that have been recipients of amazing prosperity; our mission these days is not to try to preserve prosperity but to be evangelists and revivalists before revolutionists and nationalists.
Matthew 24:12 states “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” therefore we must be intentional to honor and serve in the love of Christ. Godly love can be “lost in translation” if we start from the wrong source. It is not giving people what they want or telling them what they want to hear always, but it is ministering the life of Christ at their capacity. Love is not an agitator but an agent of change.
Love in truth transforms lives, families, neighborhoods, and our nation. As we are kind and generous we demonstrate a message that will produce eternal results.
Jason is a graduate from Maryland Bible College and Seminary, and presently he leads the Pastoral Care Team of Greater Grace Church in Baltimore. Since age 16, Jason has been involved with mission work among the former Soviet-Bloc countries in Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, and in the United States. While living in Ukraine, he helped church plant three new churches that continue to thrive today under trained nationals. He has also written five books and has his own podcast (tinyurl.com/IRpodcast)
And the same minefields exist regardless of who holds political power. This is a timely reminder to remember that God is in charge of the universe.
Yes! We need to ask ourselves how is god thinking about what is going on and we embrace his thoughts. We tend to grapple with what touches us but it is so much bigger than us!