Who is Most Culpable?

There is this child, born to Muslim parents, and reared in a Muslim society. He is taught to hate Jews and Christians and all who are outside the Islamic faith. It becomes a part of him. He embraces that teaching and grows up to become an Islamic zealot who believes that violence is the way of Allah and jihad is Allah’s will. He eschews the comforts that his money could provide him, and he lives his days in seclusion. His name is Bin Laden.

There is this child, born to Christian parents, and reared in a pluralistic society. He is taught to love everyone and that Jesus is the only way to eternal life. He makes a profession of faith as youngster and is baptized. Little by little his life strays from where the footsteps of Jesus lead. He is consumed with success and financial prosperity and he embraces many of the hedonist trappings of the culture. He believes in evangelism but does not witness personally. He is a faithful member of his local evangelical church and he strongly dislikes Muslims, liberal politicians, gay activists, and others who go against his moral belief system. He has many names, but his most prominent name is “American”. He is willing to die for America but not willing to live for Jesus.

When I say “living for Jesus” I do not mean the saltless expression of Christianity that claims a moral and political difference as its manifestation of Jesus Christ. The tepid and dispassionate lifestyles of the western church goers is not what I consider “living for Jesus”. Those that interpret the “abundant life” in material terms are not who I consider are “living for Jesus”.

Tomorrow, July 3, 2011, many churches will honor and bow down to a country named “America”. They are sincere, but they are wrong. God has one nation, the church, and we are to be holy. It is a sad spectacle and an abomination to worship idols, regardless of how you present it. Many believers will gather together supposedly to worship God, but they will put their hands over their harts and pledge (vow) allegiance to a secular and idolatrous nation.

We need not pray for our nation if we are not going to repent ourselves as the church. She has ceased being holy and separate, and now she is a comfortable part of a well rounded western lifestyle. Sadly, she has no uniqueness and she has become one religion of many. Let us intercede for ourselves personally and for the entire body of Christ. And amidst all the patriotism and glorification of democracy, let us weep. We have been called to obey those in authority and to live peaceably with all men. However, we have also been called to be decisively and observably different. And most of all, we are called to be humble. Titus reminds us of whence we came. Let us not forget.

Ti.3:1-8 - Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

And before we are so quick to annihilate those who fervently serve a false god, let us ask ourselves this question: “Are we fervently serving the One True God?” The speck is oh so convenient, but the mote continues to fulfill its purpose. Take your eyes off of others and beseech the Christ to open to you a new and fresh revelation that changes your very heart and life. The days grow short and the end is rapidly approaching. There is no more time for national games and moral badminton. The gospel of Jesus Christ must be our consuming passion until He comes.