The Preacher's Pen

America has problems, doesn't it? One doesn't have to read Abundant Life to know that, but I hope that we have served to bring these critical issues into sharper biblical focus. However, I dread that this issue might give cause for hopelessness and paralysis among the saints. That happens to us sometimes, doesn't it? We discuss the state of the world and before we know it we are throwing a pity party for ourselves. "Temptation is everywhere!" and "How can anyone be a Christian today?" are repeated in various forms, causing everyone to be thoroughly discouraged about serving the Lord.

Let's get some realism. While things are not good in this country, and while serving God today may be difficult, the moral state of this country is not nearly as bad as times in the past. Genesis six tells us that only eight righteous souls were found in the entire earth. Despite the thoughts of man's hearts being evil continually(6:5) Noah was still able to raise three righteous boys who found three girls who could also be taught of God. If they did it then who are we to say we cannot do so now?

What about the times Israel was tempted by nations that used sexual immorality and lust as part of their religion (see Num. 25:1)? While we live in a society obsessed with sex, it has not reached that point yet! Further, we live in a time when we can practice our religion freely and without fear. Direct physical persecution is not part of our lives, as it was in the first century. It may be bad out there, but it is not as bad as it could be, or has been. Others have known worse, and still stood faithfully. We can do the same.

Nevertheless, if we allow ourselves to be sucked down with self-pity we will inevitably give up on evangelism. This is what I mean by paralysis. Probably the most common excuse for not speaking with people about Jesus is "no one is interested." Yet American interest in religion and religious activity remains, in every poll, very high. Would we rather try to teach someone out of denominationalism or away from idol worship that involves temple prostitution? Simply put, other Christians have known far greater challenges than we do and have risen to that challenge. Let us not put our heads down and let the devil beat us without a fight! In our Lord Jesus we can be "more than conquerors" (Rom. 8:37).