“Could God be calling you to be the answer to someone else’s prayers—and, will you go?”
Note: In our last blog, “When the Light in America Dimmed, and the Salt Lost Its Flavor,” we examined the vacuum created when the Christian Church in America stays silent. Here, we explore persuasive responses to some of the most popular excuses preventing us from being a societal driving force. This is a must-read for Biblical citizens looking for Scriptural and rational support in restoring our Judeo-Christian heritage as salt and light in American culture:
The 1989 publication of After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s created a public relations coup. American theologian Albert Mohler writes of authors Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, “Conceiving their book as a ‘gay manifesto for the 1990s,’ the authors called for homosexuals to repackage themselves as mainstream citizens demanding equal treatment, rather than as a promiscuous sexual minority seeking greater opportunity and influence.”[1] It worked.
Fast-forward to today. Toni is a typical Biblical citizen. In pollster George Barna’s parlance, she is a “SAGE Con”— a “spiritually active, governance engaged conservative,” Toni thinks and behaves in accordance with the Bible, and extends it to exercising the freedom and privileges of the USA in the elective franchise.
Toni has Christian friends who are spiritually active, too, but choose not to be governance engaged. These folks may, or may not, vote along conservative lines. In fact, they may not vote at all. This leaves Toni swimming in seas of ambivalence and apathy. When she approaches her Christian friends about confronting societal ills, eyes gloss over as her words sink like lead balloons. Wanting to shy away from anything controversial, and sensing danger in taking sides, her acquaintances—both in and outside of church—make excuses as to why believers are not to be involved in such issues.
Secular society, having absorbed the shock of homosexuality, is now accepting transgenderism; next stop, postgenderism? We are experiencing the death knell of Christian America, as “bathroom bills” chip away all concepts of civility. Never mind that public acceptance of transgenderism depends on myth built on imagination. Government, media, our public education system, business, and even churches are promoting a delusion. We too easily forget that changing our God-given sexual identity is impossible; every cell in our bodies is indelibly marked male or female.
People like Toni contact The Salt & Light Council asking how Christians can reengage those who make excuses. Bottom line, excuses are for people who don’t want something bad enough. When Marsden and Kirk promoted homosexuality as normal, they found a segment of society—albeit small—that had nowhere else to go: That community wanted it bad enough!
Does the body of Christ want America restored to God bad enough? In addiction parlance, we haven’t hit bottom yet. Ready or not, Scripture enjoins us to tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:14). This is not only about America. At stake are eternal consequences—think God and the Gospel. So, let’s look at some of those “arguments / presumptions / objections / excuses”—and demolish them.
Objection: Our duty, as Christians, is to pray—it’s God’s job to answer those prayers.
Response: Yes, pray! The Hebrew slaves in Egypt prayed, and God responded. He sent His servant, Moses, to deliver the people. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nathan, and Samuel prayed, and God sent them to confront boldly the evil in governmental hierarchies. Some prophets bristled at God’s summons; but they went, as with Jonah. Jesus prayed. God directed him to commission the New Testament Church—Peter, John, Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, and countless others—to preach in His name. God, who is sovereign, has chosen to reach people through people. Could God be calling you to be the answer to someone else’s prayers—and, will you go?
Salt and Light Affiliate Leader Testimony (CA): “Two members of the Thousand Oaks school board participated in our Prayer and Action meeting that followed the Church service. I will continue to keep you posted. There is much to do and much fertile ground.”
Supporting Scriptures:
- Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying: “Whom should I send, and who will go for Us?” So I said, “Hineni (Here am I). Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 TLV).
Objection: “You’re being too political.”
Response: Plato and Aristotle described politics—Greek for polis—as people seeking to create an ideal state, or society; an impossibility. Removed from God, politics becomes whatever seems right in the mind of its devisor; think “government out of control,” or “dictator.”
How should Christians respond in this politicized climate? Just as we always do when confronted with pagan, worldly systems. We become organic salt, seasoning the culture with God’s truth and love—two standards that go hand-in-hand. To love effectively, we must be honest.
This is the heart and courage of a missionary willing to give all for the sake of the Gospel. In short, Christians are not political; we are what we always have been—we are Biblical! The big issues confronting society—marriage, sexuality, life—were Biblical issues long before they were politicized by people—and, they still are Biblical.
Salt and Light Affiliate Leader Testimony (TX): “I have made visits to a city official and prayed with her about the pending decision of gay marriages. She is concerned. We have a lot in common and really enjoy seeing each other on those visits. We had an election here recently, and we offered to take food to the election workers, but the Voter Registrar said it was not necessary this time but would contact us to help in the next election.”
Supporting Scriptures:
- Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2.
- But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29.
- We laid down like the ground to be walked over.” Isaiah 51:23.
Objection: Biblical citizenship is not our church’s vision, mission or focus.
Response: Feeding the poor, visiting the sick, and offering shelter to the homeless are symptoms of deeper, root problems. Let’s not simply put our finger in the dike; let’s build a new and sustainable Biblical infrastructure by entering the “new” missions fields of government, media and education.
Salt and Light Affiliate Leader Testimony (IN): “We visited the statehouse, along with 14,000 other citizens, to protest the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) law, aka a Bathroom Bill, that would allow persons of any proclaimed gender to use whatever bathroom they chose. The law was voted down.”
Supporting Scriptures:
- If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin. James 4:17
- When I say to the wicked, “You will surely die”’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Ezekiel 3:18.
Objection: We don’t want to lose our 501 c3.
Response: Don’t worry, you won’t! At least, no church has yet. Did you know the IRS requirement isn’t Constitutional? And, should a church be singled out and sued, it offers the opportunity to be salt and light and cast a national spotlight on governmental overreach.
By the way, the Johnson Amendment on which the 501(c)3 ruling sits, was aimed at two businessmen who ran non-profits and opposed then-Senator Lyndon Johnson in his bid for reelection. The law was intended to silence the businessmen—not chill the pulpit.
Salt and Light Affiliate Leader Testimony (FL): “Last Sunday we shared the pulpit announcements and set up the Salt & Light table. We had just over one hundred post cards written that morning and sent out Monday. We also distributed the current newsletters, and the four-page Salt & Light prayer lists. We ordered some of the Heritage Foundation booklets to share, as well.
Supporting Scriptures:
- Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great! For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:12.
- If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. John 15:18.
