1. The Times of London recently reported on the views of one, Jonathon Porritt, who chairs the British government's "Commission on Sustainable Growth." He's been called the U.K.'s "Green Guru." Here is what he said:
"I think we will work our way to a position that says that having more than two children is irresponsible. Curbing population growth through contraception and abortion must be at the heart of policies to fight global warming. I am unapologetic about asking people to connect up their own responsibility for their total environmental footprint and how they decide to procreate...""How they decide to procreate"? Last I knew, there was still only one way to do this... but perhaps I miss his meaning. Folks, this is the U.K., and culturally much "closer to home" than China which has had a strict birth control policy in place for years.
To lend credibility to the "Green Guru's" ideas, the article goes on to point out that "every baby born in Britain will, in his or her lifetime, burn carbon roughly equivalent to 2 1/2 acres of old-growth oak woodland." Horrible to imagine wasting over 2 acres of woodland just so a little baby could come into the world, live, thrive, and yes, eventually pro-create more carbon footprint villains!
2. Yesterday, President Obama offered the commencement address to the graduating class at Notre Dame. America's foremost Catholic University invites one of America's foremost abortion supporters. This is the man who opposed the ban on partial birth abortion, and promised that one of his first acts as President would be to pass the Freedom of Choice Act? And for this he is honored with a speaking invitation, and an honorary degree from a Catholic University. Folks, this is insane-- They even gave him a standing ovation! It doesn't make any sense. The old categories are getting blown apart!
3. A friend of mine, one of the bloggers here in "FreeTruth", Ok, the original blogger... Ok, Tim Shorey... This friend and pastor sends in a well-written letter to the editors of the Asbury Park Press. The letter addresses what used to be a hot political topic, abortion. Tim sends in a thoughtful, well-written letter discussing the cultural "conscience plunge" since Roe v. Wade, and asks the public "is anyone awake?" Well, the editors turn it down. Friends, this is an opinion letter for the Opinion page of the public newspaper. If you want to gripe about the School Superintendent's compensation package they are happy to share your gripe (over money) with the public... but please, don't bring up life and death issues, or anything of eternal importance.
Brothers and sisters, these 3 stories are recent reminders that the culture war is not going "our way." Of course, the battle isn't over, and we know that the King, when he returns, will be victorious.
Even now there are signs of life, signs of a future for our Faith, and a reason to hope...
Yesterday, after the preaching of the Word (Psalm 78), an invitation was given. My 15 year old son felt a pounding in his chest, and obediently went forward for prayer, and, well, for "more of God." Not an easy thing to do. Praise God, the Spirit of God is active, he can still make the heart of a young man pound. The "generations to come" are getting it. And this is victory...
The times are what they are. As with Esther we've been raised up for such a time as this to make a difference in our generation and in those to come.
ReplyDeletePeter's observations that the times are changing --and in many ways not for the better--is a wake up call for us to redouble our efforts to witness, to walk, and to worship in such a way as to command the attention and inspire the awe of those here and yet to come.
As I see it the end of time is going to be marked by clear bold lines between those in the light and those in the dark. The church will continue to be built, for nothing can stop it, so that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will spread to every nation.
But simultaneously evil men will go from bad to worse (2 Tim. 3). The lines are being drawn, and each person wil have to choose his or her side. The world will be no friend to God or grace or holiness, so we might as well get used to having all the worldly guns turned against us.
But the Lord is our fortress and strength. He moves mountains and makes a way for truth to conquer. He will give us grace to fight on, with weapons not made of iron or even print. Let us live lives of compelling godliness, irresistible love, and irrepressible joy--and watch what God does.
That was Tim commenting.
ReplyDeleteTim, thanks for offering perspective-- your last paragraph cheered my spirit.
ReplyDeleteAfter re-reading my own post, I felt suddenly heavy. We melancholics are good at depressing ourselves!
I needed the reminders offered in your last paragraph-- Truly, as believers, and followers of the Lion/Lamb, there is nothing that should discourage our hearts for more than a moment.
Yes, "He will give us the grace to fight on" and the strength to live lives of "irrepressible joy" even as the culture is in moral decline. Thanks for your help in re-focusing.
Peter, I do feel your grief and concern. Personally, I must say that unless God brings radical reformation and revival to His church and this decadent culture, I am not optimistic. It is a strange, almost surreal feeling being part of and witnessing a culture under the wrath of God and increasingly given over to its depravity. To witness it with our own eyes-------and what is still to come unless God has mercy!
ReplyDeleteWhat Tim says is right though. Let's pray for each other that the Lord will give us strength by His Spirit to so live.