I am utterly amazed at what is happening in our country and am further amazed that so many, including too many of God’s people do not understand, or care not to take a stand on the issues of our times. My concern is not merely political. I wish it could be limited to that. My concern is cultural and spiritual. Do we understand what is happening right before our eyes, and are we prepared to resist the pressures that are mounting? I have always believed one of the most sobering challenges given by our Lord Jesus is that of Matthew 5:13. It is a message of principle that is applicable to the Church in our day. He said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”. Salt has many uses including preservation and flavor, but if it loses its savor, it is unable to fulfill its appointed task and purpose. In fact, as the text says, “it is thenceforth good for nothing”. Having lost any practical value, it will be thrown out and men will simply walk on it. Two things stand out from the text. The world will decay more quickly if believers lose their “savor”. That is surely happening; but also think about this. Our Lord posed this question. If the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? How do you get the savor back into the salt once it is lost? The implication of the question is that you don’t! That should concern us. If as believers we lose sight of our purpose; if we forsake our unique role here on earth, what should we expect in the future? Over the last few months I have learned more about the impending collapse of our country than ever before and I have learned more about spiritual apathy and complacency than I would wish to know. I believe in the imminent return of the Lord, but we are never told to put all of our spiritual eggs in that basket. The church is never supposed to retreat. It is
FOR THE FAMILY
In this column we are continuing to discuss children who grew up in a Christian home, but have not followed the Lord. We have talked about authority and how careful we must be to handle our God given authority over our children, in a God honoring way. Again we would ask parents to consider what atmosphere did the use of authority create in your home? The Bible clearly states that it will affect your children. More could be said on that issue, but lets move to another area of concern. I may have mentioned this at other times and try to always remember to deal with it in conferences. It is the issue of influence. Who or what have been the greatest influences in your child’s life? And, have those influences been good or bad? Webster (what we do without him?) defines influence as a power that indirectly or intangibly affects a person. He calls it, “the power to sway”. Is this a legitimate concern for the
supposed to be aggressive, attacking the gates of Hell (Hades) and taking captives for Christ. The Lord Jesus said the gates of Hell (Hades) would not prevail against it. His work is still the building of His church, but the laborers are not only few, they seem distracted by problems; confused about their role and purpose; and conflicted about their true priorities. Has the salt completely lost its savor? I dare say we are not far from being trodden under foot of men.
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