From the Preacher’s Desk
By ED ALLARD
Monticello Church of Christ
Jay Crook, Lakeview Church of Christ, Corpus Christi, Tex., wrote, “Throughout our country, a doctrine has been influencing churches and Christian universities. A teaching that worship must bend to society.” Who says? Only those who have no concern or little concern for what God says in His word.
The good news is that to please God, the opposite is true. The apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
We must be more concerned with what God says in His word and follow what He says rather than the irreligious who seek to stop the mouths of those speaking for God or those who have a “form of godliness,” but have no concern for strictly teaching what God’s word says.
Jay continues, “Our society is telling us that abortion is a woman’s choice, that homosexuality is a different lifestyle, that women are the same as men, that schools should develop a child’s morals, that abstinence is unachievable, and that God is not allowed outside the church building. Are we to bend to this culture?”
Society universally has allowed itself to bend to the lowest element of culture. That’s why in the days of Noah, God was so displeased that He decided to destroy all mankind. But Noah found the divine favor of God. Why? How? Because he was a just man, blameless before God, seeking to walk in God’s ways.
Aren’t you glad? You wouldn’t be here today if Noah had not lived. There are those who tell us that the story of the flood is just a fairy tale but Jesus confirms that it happened. Surely Jesus wasn’t telling fairy tales, now was He? We can find God’s divine favor by doing as Noah did. Jay points out that Noah did not give in to his culture, and he saw it destroyed.
Jesus did not conform to the temporal matters of His time nor the predominant religious culture of His day, but instead taught and showed what true morality and true religion was to be. We can find the divine favor of God and receive His blessings by following the morals and religious truths presented in the teaching of Jesus and His apostles. It’s as easy as that, and it’s as hard as that.
God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit all seek to aid us in being just, blameless before God and seeking to walk in God’s ways, just as Noah did. God has given us His word to direct our ways.
Jesus says to us that we are to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16)
That’s what the early Christians of the first centuries did, even in the face of terrible persecution. Christianity survived to influence the majority of the world. Persecutions come and go, but Jesus tells us that if we remain faithful and persevere, we will be the victors.
That’s the story of Revelation. A story of victory. In the final chapter, we read, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the [heavenly] city [in heaven].”
We can overcome the culture of our day as Noah did. We can let our light shine as the early Christians did. If I can be of help to you in any way, please call on me.