History seems to be repeating itself. Christians were persecuted in the first century for their beliefs and for standing true to their conscience. During the Dark ages, Christian believers were persecuted for their beliefs and for remaining firm in their understanding of the Bible. Just recently we are seeing the same Christian values attacked, criticized, and condemned. Let me just state a few incidents.
“The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity to Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court.” Todd’s American Dispatch October14, 2014
Amazing, a mayor is demanding that sermons be turned over. Verdict? Not one pastor turned their sermons over. They made a choice. They were going to serve God not man.
Just a few weeks ago, on May 19, 2015, the Ashers Baking Company located in Northern Ireland was fined for refusing to decorate a cake with the slogan “Support Gay Marriage,” along with the QueerSpace logo and a picture of Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie. Judge Brownlie ordered the bakers to pay £500 ($784 U.S.) in damages. Ashers’ general manager Daniel McArthur told Gareth Lee, who made the request, that he declined the request on conscience grounds, noting that the wording and graphics clashed with the Christian ethos of the couple’s business. LifeSiteNews.com
As Christians, our beliefs, our conscience, our morality, our code of ethics is not formulated by society and its ever changing norms, but by the principles discovered in the word of God. Very often the principles of interpretation, are imposed on the Bible by intellectual and philosophical understanding of the current times. However, the Bible stands in time, and outside of time. The Bible is relevant in every age, every epoch, and every period of time. It is consistent, reliable, and unswerving in its theology and doctrines. This is why the Bible is attacked. Because it points out, clarifies, and illuminates what sin is for each and every generation.
The world doesn’t want to be told that there exists timeless laws, and commandments that are part of the very character of God. The world doesn’t want to be told that their actions, lifestyle, and immoral ethics are contrary to the Creator. The world doesn’t want to know, believe, or accept that their lifestyle choices lead to demise. What people want today is to have their conscience placed at ease and told that God accepts their views of modern philosophical morays and personal behavior. Here is what the Bible says concerning this very same issue. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3,4
Most Christians understand the gospel. Christ came to conquer sin, and release men and women from the grips of deception. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Christ came to change lives, so that we don’t have to live in sin, but be free from bounds of sin. Christ accepts us as we are, then changes us to become more and more into His image. The world wants a different gospel. They want the gospel of Cain, not Abel. They want the gospel of Aaron, not Moses. They want the gospel of Jezebel, not Elijah. They want the gospel of Judas, not Paul. In the end, we will have to make a choice. Who will we follow? Here are some words of encouragement.
“Daniel and his companions had a conscience void of offense toward God. But this is not preserved without a struggle. What a test was brought on the three associates of Daniel when they were required to worship the great image set up by the King Nebuchadnezzar in the plains of Dura! Their principles forbade them to pay homage to the idol, for it was a rival to the God of heaven. They knew that they owed to God every faculty they possessed, and while their hearts were full of generous sympathy toward all men, they had a lofty aspiration to prove themselves entirely loyal to their God…. The king declared to the three Hebrew youth, if ‘ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?’ The youth said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up….’ (Daniel 3:15-19)…. Those faithful youth were cast into the fire, but God manifested His power for the deliverance of His servants. One like unto the Son of God walked with them in the midst of the flame, and when they were brought forth, not even the smell of fire had passed on them…. “ In Heavenly Places p.149
May we worship God this Sabbath with a clear conscience and rock solid belief in the gospel of Christ.
Angel
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor