America is a post-Christian nation. We have followed the course of secularism set by European countries as more and more churches have departed from the faith. From a culture where morality was informed by truth and Biblical Christianity was generally respected, we have witnessed a shift toward increasing hostility toward the church and apostasy within the church. This has happened in my lifetime.
So, do we ignore it and try to pretend we are living in the “good old days?” Or do we just complain and respond with fear and loathing about the condition?
We are to be Baptists in Babylon. Our response is to be informed by how the faithful Jews like Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther and others conducted themselves in exile. They remained light in the darkness. Here are God’s instructions,
Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. (Jer.29:5-7 NKJV)
We are in the world but not of the world—Baptists in Babylon.
Blessings,
Dennis Thurman, Haywood Baptist AMS
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