The ideas behind the consequences

We have seen the consequences all too often: 1.5 million abortions each year, “drive-by” shootings occurring in every major city, and the assisted suicide trail blazed by the late Jack Kevorkian becoming a strong option in the minds of many of our leaders.  From the beginning of life all the way through to a convenient and planned exit we are witnessing a drastic change in the basic ways in which we perceive life. If it is true, as we have often been taught, that “ideas produce consequences,” what are the ideas that have produced these sorry consequences?  The answer isn’t difficult to figure out: “life is cheap,” accompanied by “life is an accident,” also followed by “life is purposeless.”  To those of us who grew up in homes and institutions of faith it seems incredible that such ideas could have become so accepted by so many in such a short time. But this change hasn’t occurred overnight. It proceeded step by step following our rejection of the biggest idea of all: “Life is the gift of a loving God.”  Once we turn our backs on “the God factor” everything begins to fall apart. That is the testimony of Scripture from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. We cannot ignore God and escapethe  natural and unwelcome consequences that must follow. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a society that has never read Genesis, Revelation or anything in between. But God’s people should have, and if our nation is to escape the awful fate of Old Testament Israel, then we must be active and not passive in seeking to avert the final consequences which must surely come upon our culture of disbelief.

Let me suggest some things each of us needs to do:

1. Pray for our country.  Don’t just complain about the way things are. Pray for your leaders (both Democrats and Republicans).

 2. Support leaders who recognize that the real issues before us are spiritual, moral and ethical. Don’t fall for the old lie that a person’s private life and values have nothing to do with his qualifications for leadership.

 3. Commit your personal private life and values to God. Let your Christian faith determine what you say and do in public. Become vulnerable in your open witness for God and trust that He will honor your openness. Remember, He has done it many, many times to many people before you came along.

In short, it is time to replace the popular ideas with some older ideas that have been tried and tested many times. Only then will you notice some different consequences.


 

---