Is the sun setting on America? No one knows. He does, of course, but we don’t.
The temptation is to assess matters based upon snapshots and not videos. Snapshots capture a moment in time. Videos record much more. A photograph of Russell Wilson surrounded by three imposing defensive linemen doesn’t look good. A video doesn’t deny that dire reality, but keep watching, he ducks and reverses out and throws a touchdown.
I don’t know if there are any “touchdowns” in our future. Perhaps we are about to be “sacked.” As a nation, we certainly deserve to be. Sorry to keep bringing this up, but we’re still killing over 2,000 babies every day. You think there is no consequence for that?
Hope is one of God’s gifts to us. We are to look forward to our eternal home. This is not escapism. It is what we are to do. That doesn’t mean we don’t care our nation is burning. We are to care a great deal. Through the years it has been Christians whose hope is heaven who have done the most for the world (slavery abolished, hospitals built, universities begun, care for orphans, concern for the poor, and so on).
C.S. Lewis awhile back said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you will get neither.” I am wondering if we have been too temporal in our concern. If we have, we are going to be less effective. There is a lot to look at these days, disfunction abounds. Our thought leaders are clueless. The political, technological, and entertainment voices are naïve, oblivious, and in some cases evil. The parade in front of us is one clown car after another. It is easy to stare.
What is the church to do? In short, be the church. Preach God’s Word. Proclaim the Gospel. Sing songs of praise. Meet at the Table. Be sent out with his benediction. The church has the anecdote. His name is Jesus.
Don’t assume the above is happening. A cross and shingle out front means nothing. Critical Theory has had a foothold in the liberal church for some time. In many places, the conservative church has been entertaining itself to death, “a good time was had by all” seems to be the objective. Good advice is dispensed but if that’s all Christianity is it is of no value.
We must not throw up our hands in despair. We keep our eyes on Jesus. We worship him on Sunday. We serve him throughout the week. We invite others to do the same. And then we do it all over again.
Remember, it’s a video, not a snapshot.
Pastor Rich Hamlin
January 14, 2021