April 2
Deut 21:1-22:30 | PS 74:1-23 | Prov 12:11 | Luke 9:51-10:12
Any society that deems itself more righteous than God finds themselves on the wrong side. When laws are set up that stand in direct opposition to the laws of God, that society will not last. When sins are tolerated, but those who stand for God are deemed intolerant, the end is imminent. When evil is tolerated, called something other than evil, even celebrated, then that society has already rotted, most just don't perceive it yet. Those who see our society crumbling all too often point to the symptoms rather than the root cause, which is pervasive godlessness. Day after day, people are murdered and raped. When this is done publicly, bystanders actually record the event on their phones rather than jumping in to stop the evil. People are murdered, neighborhoods are destroyed, and instead of labeling the acts as the evil that they are, the psyche and backgrounds of the perpetrators are discussed. A society cannot last when evil is uplifted, while righteousness, as defined by God, Who alone gets to call righteousness what it is, is deemed wrong, evil, or intolerant.
In Deuteronomy 21:18-21, God directs what is to be done for the son who is rebellious and refuses to accept the chastening hand of their parents. This might seem harsh, as the son is to be stoned, but God explains why in 21:21, "Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear." In 22:1-4, the citizens of that society were required to get involved, to do what is right, to restore that which is taken unrightfully, and to stand up against evil that is being done against another. Deuteronomy 22:5 speaks for itself, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God." In 22:13-29, we see virginity lifted up, and the lack of it punishable.
We live in a society which has laughed at each and every one of these laws of God. Though Christians are under grace, we must not forget that in the New Testament ii is stated in multiple places that "the law is good". Explaining away and tolerating evil behavior, doing away with any restraint in the area of sexuality, blurring the lines between genders, promoting relationships outside of a man and woman in marriage is all against God's law. I don't care what banner or flag might be hanging outside of a supposed place of worship, if that flag promotes anything other than what God has clearly stated, run! God is not welcome in that place. The sad thing is that people are fooled, even pastors. When people move away from biblical literacy, a steady diet of God's Word daily, anyone can be fooled into believing that their unrighteousness is actually righteous. Listen to the words of Jesus when His representatives are not welcomed in Luke 10:10-12, "But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city." May we in Christ never assimilate, but remember Jesus' words which are just as true today in 10:2, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." It's not over until it's over. May we, His ambassadors, move into action at such a time as this.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: