Unless you were on another planet this past year or so, I guess you may have noticed that to express anything like a Christian point of view, or to live anything like a Christian lifestyle is fast becoming almost illegal. In fact, in America, according to most of the liberals, if it’s not illegal then it should be illegal to even think Christian let alone act, speak, or live Christian. And Britain and Europe are following fast.
Listen to this quote from a famous Hollywood actor, “In this town, you can be a wife-beating, manic depressive crack head and everyone opens their arms to you. They say, “Hey pal, don’t worry about it. We’ll get you into recovery. It’s all part of the journey.” But if you become a born-again Christian and want to share that with other people, they say, “You’ve committed the unpardonable sin.” “
The legal systems have become so politically correct and weighted towards the minority, that it is now virtually illegal to be part of the majority. Christians are deliberately targeted by those who simply disagree with them, in order to force them to change their stance. A sort of ‘deny Christ or die’ philosophy that has been absorbed into the whole social structure from the law of the land to the rights of any individual, except Christians, apparently.
Before you wring your hands in despair, let me tell you what I am finding more and more.
As many of you are aware. My wife and I run a Christian charity shop and café in the centre of our town. We are also linked with a Christian-run food bank; a Church sponsored weekly feeding program; a Christian run youth program; and a churches sponsored elderly outreach program. For a society that is supposedly turning its back on all things Christian, we appear to be in a good position. After all, the local authorities rely on us to run the food bank deliveries; up to 40 or 50 people rely on getting a good nourishing meal every Monday evening; the local authorities approached us about running the youth program and attendance has increased from 10 to over 50 every week; and between 20 and 30 vulnerable and lonely elderly people have been befriended with regular visits and real friendship. All this in a small town of less than 20,000 people where we reckon we have barely scratched the surface in terms of market penetration.
Yet this isn’t the best thing about all this. I have not told all of this to show either how good ‘we’ are nor how clever we have been. I am trying to emphasise much more the real, ‘on the ground’, social temperature here in this small part of the UK. I don’t see any reason why it should not be the same anywhere else. The main thing about all of this is the world’s response to a demonstration of the power of the Gospel in action. People can smell phoney from a mile away. People are simply reacting positively to a demonstration of Christ’s love through a very few souls who believe in St Francis plea to “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” They know we are Christians but they appreciate our efforts. They know we pray for them ‘secretly’ and now they frequently ask us to do so openly. They see the Gospel in action and they react with gratitude, trust, and favour. Just one example is the charity shop – one of seven in the town. All the other shops are begging for donations while the Lord provides for us bountifully. All the other shops turnover is down, while ours is rising. Greed is not on our agenda and people know it. In fact, we have the reputation of being the best value for miles around.
Sounds like I have been blowing our trumpet a bit and maybe I have – but only in pursuit of giving Glory to God. Political correctness and legalities are one thing, but a demonstration of Gods love and power supercedes the worlds powers every time. The politico’s have one agenda while God has another agenda. Where God’s agenda can be demonstrated, the world reacts very favourably thus proving that, in these end-times, a final great revival is not only in the Bible and is now on the cards but that the world is looking to Christians for a lead into that place.
I just like this quote from Gary Northington, “I will not hold the watchman guiltless who has embraced my enemy. Appeasement is no more then surrender. This is the day for my remnant to come forth. Those who refused to be satisfied with the waters of Babylon. Those who have refused to party with Belshazzar while the enemy is at the gate.”
I suppose the lesson is for us to BE Christ's hands, ears, and mouth. Oh that we would all believe this, grasp the nettle, and go for it. Once again – Just Do It !!
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