Good evening, ladies and gentlemen; please excuse this slight interruption of G4T's regular programming.
This explains one of the purposes of this post (thanks to
cshayden.blogspot.com):
We are to listen to the testimonies of our physical and spiritual parents, remember God's providence in history, and pass these truths to future generations. We are not to forget or neglect to tell of His mighty deeds, but rather to remember and declare them (Ps. 78). (@ C.S. Hayden)
But this is another reason:
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13, NIV)
I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells... I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me. (Micah 5:12,15, NIV)
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Why do so many Christians "live on the edge", so to speak, in this area? In Deuteronomy, God said that witchcraft is detestable to Him (in the same sentence that He says "don't sacrifice your children in the fire"), and He will drive out the nations that engage in those practices. In Micah, God says that He will destroy witchcraft, and take vengeance in anger and wrath up the nations that have not obeyed Him. In Galatians, God equates witchcraft with idolatry and sexual immorality. What's the big deal, God? Just a little witchcraft... just burning a few of our children in the fire... why are some people so uptight? We got to rid the church of all this legalism. I just can't take those religious fanatics who want to crack down on Devil Day.
I still struggle with many of the "obvious" sins that are described in Galatians, so I say this humbly, and so incredibly grateful to the Lord for his abounding grace and mercy, which are (hallelujah!) new every morning. But this is an area where we cannot compromise! Listen to the following:
In the post-modern times that today's church-goers live in, many religious leaders and laity are finding relief in stepping beyond some of the rigid boundaries that were arbitrarily set down by what they term as their "spiritual forefathers". Some are growing comfortable with holding neighborhood cursing nights, "which has really helped us reach out to an people group that we've never been able to effectively reach before", according to Rev. Don Nickels of First Church of Canterbury, CA. Other church members report being taken to new spiritual heights by the conferences their denominations have hosted on how to incorporate idol worship into their lives. "I've never felt so in control of my view of God, and it's really terrific", said lay-member Jerry Parker. (Source: TMU News Corp., accessed 31 October 2009)
I hope you didn't fall for that; sadly, that's somewhat of a fair comparison to the view that many Christians hold on "entertainment" for each October 31st. God hates witchcraft. I'm not making that up - read the Scripture passages above. He also hates idolatry. Do you think he appreciates you joking about worshiping other gods? No. Do you think he delights in you playing around about witchcraft? So what are you going to do about it?
Whew. Back to remembering our spiritual forefathers...
Today, if you weren't sure, is Reformation Day. This year marks the 492nd anniversary of Martin Luther's famous nailing of 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany. Thus started the fire that ultimately set Europe ablaze - spreading to Switzerland with Calvin, Scotland with Knox, and France with the Huguenots. It didn't stop in Europe, however - it traveled across the Atlantic ocean, and those Reformation principles became a part of the foundational pillars of the USA.
That USA now has the most Christian colleges and seminaries, Christian bookstores, Christian radio and television programs, and Christian schools. We also have the most churches. And we've sent out the most missionaries of any other country in the world. That little spark that started with Luther's hammer fantastically changed the course of entire nations! God is good.
Tragically, that once-Christian nation is now a nation of apostasy, where more and more people are turning their backs on Christ. Christ, the ultimate treasure and priceless jewel, is being scoffed, mocked, cursed, and rebelled against. Immorality is rampant; moral absolutes are a thing of the past. Even our children are leaving the church in growing numbers - mentally checking out in junior and senior high, and physically saying sayonara once they've been "enlightened" by their freshman-year professors.
So what's the church to do? We must honor and remember what God accomplished through our spiritual forefathers, as C.S. Hayden so fittingly reminded us (quoted at the top of this post). And, if there's anything that bests sums up what those Godly (with their imperfections, to be sure - along with you and I and Abraham) men of old, those men of grit and battle - Luther, Calvin, Hus, Knox - if there's anything that best describes what they (literally) gave their lives to, it is this:
Semper Reformanda. Always reforming - their personal lives, their families, their churches, their nations, and their world. How? By their own brilliance? No, although God did gift them with brilliance for a purpose. By their own power? No, although God did bless them with sturdiness and steadfastness for a reason.
Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)
Not by their might, nor by their power - but by the Spirit of the Lord...
the reformation way:
- Sola Gratia
- Sola Fide
- Solo Christo
- Sola Scriptura
- Soli Deo Gloria
What better way to live, than Semper Reformanda? Always reforming, to advance the kingdom of the King of Kings, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone - equipped unto every good work by the complete Word of God - and for the glory of God alone. May this be our prayer, our longing, and our battle cry.
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