Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:21 NASB
One of the defining characteristics of our current culture is confusion. Our culture is confused about male and female, with an overwhelming push to accept gender dysphoria. I’ve been asked to give my preferred pronouns in interactions with my doctor and with my bank. Frankly, my doctor should know my sex by now. There is confusion regarding wearing or not wearing masks, getting or not getting the COVID vaccine, locking down or not locking down our society. Confusion concerning the push for and against Marxism in our culture and in our churches. We are confused about whether police should be funded or defunded.
Our culture has never seen this level of confusion regarding Truth and what is true. If there ever was a time the people of God needed to speak with clarity, it is today. If we as Christians ever needed to be bold and precise regarding what is true, we are there.
I going to borrow from and acknowledge gratitude to a presentation by a pastor at a recent conference*. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I had plagiarized any portion of this devotional.
Contrary to our confused culture, God always speaks clearly. His words are always understandable. He has never mumbled. If we look into the Old Testament record of God speaking, we see His words and meaning are always crystal clear. The writer never has to add, “we weren’t really sure what God said at this point.” God spoke clearly, plainly, without confusion.
An important doctrine we don’t often hear about is the perspicuity of Scripture. Simply, this means that Scripture is clear in its meaning and is understandable. Both the understanding and the meaning of Scripture may require a bit of work and careful study. However, Scripture, as the breathed-out word of God is always clear and understandable.
Let’s correct a misunderstanding of God speaking to us. Have you ever heard anyone state something like this: “God is so far above us, so much more intelligent, that His speaking to us is like me trying to speak to an ant. He is saying all the things we need to hear, we just can’t understand because we are too simple.” The view of God expressed by this idea or thought is, frankly, heretical. It is a man-sized view of God. Here’s some news. You’re not God. He is. God can speak to an ant in a way the ant can perfectly understand what God intends for the ant to know what God is saying. God is able to speak ant. You aren’t. You are not God. He is. So, when God speaks to us, He is fully perfectly able to speak precisely in way that we are able to completely understand the message. Unless, of course, we choose to not listen.
You and I have been equipped to speak the truth. And in doing so, we are equipping our students. If there ever was a time when teachers need to teach what is true, right, good, it is today. And, to teach what is true, we must convictional-ly know what is true.
So the first thing is to know when we are at the moment of decision. Over the past several years, we have been in those moments of decision without recognizing the deeper decisions being made. We thought the decision was “should we meet in person or virtually?” and “do we need to wear a mask or not?” and “should we get a vaccine, or not?” and “should we require everyone else to do as I choose, or not?”.
Listen. None of these were or are the real questions. Nor were and are they the ultimate decision. They can feel like it. They can even masquerade as the most important decisions. They are important questions. Each representing a moment of decision. However, we must remember they spring from and are inextricably linked to a deeper, foundational decision. That decision, that moment of choice is this:
If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.
This confusion of our culture is the outcome of their worldview. It is an unacknowledged clash of worldviews.
The pastor I referenced at the beginning* helped me to understand that our current culture’s worldview is no longer postmodern, or even post-postmodern. It is a neo-paganism. That paganism is in full conflict against all of the other worldviews. That is part of the cause of the confusion.
This new paganism is monist, or pantheist. It places god as fundamentally inside our world. An integral part of the creation. This pagan culture sees itself as the creation or outcome of the god that is both part of the culture and a creator of that culture. This is the dominant world-view in our culture.
Just like all religions, this new paganism makes a truth claim. And that truth claim is to define what is true. Unlike modernism, or secularlism, or even post-modernism, these new pagans will not tolerate any other truth claims. They are now the sole source of what is true. In their world, you must acknowledge and agree with their truth or you will be punished until you convert or eliminated so that you do not bother them anymore. Paganism will not tolerate the Truth of Christianity. They will not coexist.
What should we do? What we cannot do is say to this culture, “you’re right! You need a voice just like everyone else. I apologize that Christianity has been stifling your voice because we have not acknowledged our own position of privilege”.
Our students as well as our colleagues need us to acknowledge we are a people of privilege. This privilege is not of our own doing, it is the work and gift of God. It is a privilege to receive the Truth from God. For Him to so freely give His Truth to a people so unworthy of it. So, there is no pride in this privilege. Instead, we have the indwelling Spirit of God that is an incredible gift. And it is freely available to any who repent and confess as we have done. Having the truth available that we can know, and have communion with the God who can be known and is known is an incredible privilege. Because it is not one we earned or deserve, we confess this gift with humility. But, we must confess it, nonetheless.
This is not a privilege that gives us position in the world. In reality, the world, the neo-paganist religion will increasingly see us as a threat. That’s only because the truth of God is a threat to the lies of the world.
You and I have been equipped with the Truth. Let’s fulfil our purpose by making the decision to follow God and boldly speak His truth regarding life, our purpose, His reality, personal sin, the need for personal repentance, the Gospel.
Let me conclude by recalling the words of John while he was writing from the Island of Patmos:
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:14-22 NASB
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”
*(Dr. Jared longshore, June 14, 2021, Founders Conference “Be It Resolved”, “The New Religion and the Need for Resolution“) Associate Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, FL
Why Six Days? 