January 1, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia 23860

 

The Nature of Our World-2006

 

Introduction

 

The beginning of a new year provides us with an opportunity of reflection about the present condition of our world.  Two weeks ago, we thought about the past year in our annual “Year-In-Review” for 2005.  What we think about our world will depend upon many factors, not the least of which is the difficulty of wrapping our mind or thoughts around such a vast subject.  Humans often fail at this very point; that is, the failure to see the big picture, to live in a very small world with a limited view, and to be self-consumed and self-centered.

 

A State of Chaos and Confusion

 

Our world seems to be in a state of chaos and confusion, more than at any other time in recent history.  There seems to be less certainty about how we should live and what we should do to give stability and direction.

 

I am sure that there have other such times in human history when everything seemed to be turned upside down.  Adam and Eve must have felt that when they were driven from the Garden of Eden away from the presence of God.  I am sure that they felt confused and lost, wondering what their future lives would be like.  Noah and his family could have rightfully sighed, “There has never been a time in history like this one.”  Israel would surely have thought that their world was filled with chaos and confusion when they were carried away into captivity in Assyria and Babylon.  When the Jewish temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, the Jews no doubt felt their world was collapsing.  Historians described the day the Roman Empire collapsed as the end of the world.  The period that followed is called historically The Dark Ages.  World Wars I and II were so devastating to the morale of our nation that the optimism of post-millennialism was shattered.  This view of history was widespread in the 1800s prior to these world wars.  Alexander Campbell embraced it, though others warned him concerning its pitfalls.

 

We feel this state of chaos personally as well as nationally and internationally.  This world-wide chaos may be due to our ability to know what is happening around the world in just a few minutes.  Our worlds are not as limited as they once were.  The age of technology has brought about increased tension and uncertainty.

 

We feel today much like Ezekiel, Daniel and John felt in describing their world in terms of demons, seven-headed beasts, the red dragon and angels at war.  This language vividly portrays at world in chaos and conflict.  John wrote:

 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels.  And they prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  (Rev. 12:7-8.)

 

And I looked and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death and Hades followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with famine and with the beasts of the earth. (Rev. 6:8.)

 

I have never felt unsafe about traveling overseas before now.  Maston Kerkula is going to Liberia to preach; his country has been involved in a long civil war where thousands have been killed.  There are dangers that threaten visitors, not only in the Middle East, but also in Europe.  Our world is in a state of confusion and chaos.

 

The Great Conflict with Islam

 

Simmering behind the scenes has been a growing conflict with Islam.  While it is true that there are secular Islamic countries that are more moderate, the world-view of Islam is world domination.  The religion from its inception viewed all other religions and countries as infidels and enemies.  Their desire is to push Israel into the sea and conquer all non-Islamic countries.

 

I am aware that many argue that Islam is a peaceful religion and that we are not at war with Islam.  I believe that statement to be more diplomatic than the actual case.  Mohammed practiced violence and conquered those who opposed him with the sword.  The Koran teaches that all enemies should be killed with the sword and defeated.  Islam is a sixth-century religion and culture stuck in the past.  It is in a life and death struggle with the modern world.

 

Recently in the news, a Pakistani father killed his daughters because his family was dishonored.  Honor killings are a common practice among Muslims.  It almost always has to do with sex and pregnancy outside of marriage.  The father, Nazir Ahmed slit the throats of his three young daughters, ages 8, 7, and 4, and a 25-year old stepsister who had been with her lover.  The media has reported more than 260 honor killings in Pakistan during 2005.

 

What happened in our country on September 11, 2001 should always be remembered as an example of the goal and intent of fundamental Muslims.  We should remember that they attacked the very center of our government and financial institutions.  The Pentagon, the center of our military, the White House, and the Twin Towers were targeted.  It has been reported that their intent was to destroy important structures and institutions on the East and West Coast at the same time.  They had about two dozen targets in mind.  They experienced limited success by hitting only 3 of those targets.  But they killed nearly 3000 people in one day.

 

I oppose Islam religiously and philosophically.  Its world-view is opposed to Christianity.  They reject Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.  I support our nation’s military opposition to radical Islamic countries.  If Islam has its way, we will become an Islamic country.  This danger is just as real as that posed by Hitler in the 1940s.  Communism, as an ideology, has been defeated militarily and intellectually.  Now, we are in a great struggle against an ancient religion and radical adherents of it.  This is a part of our world as we begin 2006.

 

A National Secular Atheism

 

Our country is not only at odds with the radical views of Islam internationally, but nationally we have an ongoing battle with secular atheism.  What I mean by secular atheism is the effort by many to make our nation a non-religious nation.  They are not content to be atheists personally.  They desire to have any display or mention of God removed from public life.  However, since the founding of our nation, we have had such strong religious convictions that almost every institution, public and private, has some reference to God.  Schools have the pledge of allegiance with a reference to God, our money has the inscription “In God We Trust,” our courts, including the Supreme Court, refer to God, our legislative branches begin their deliberations with prayer, and our Presidents are sworn into office by placing their hand on the Bible.  Secular atheism seeks to remove all such religious convictions and usage.

 

Most would probably agree that in a nation of many religions and beliefs, it would be difficult and unwise to favor a national religion.  However, our government should not be opposed to religion.  In the Bible, there is an inseparable connection between government and God.  Here is just a sampling of that relationship: 

 

1) Kings rule by the power granted to them by God.  Pilate said to Jesus, “Knowest thou not that I have the power to crucify thee and have the power to release thee?  Jesus answered, You would have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.  Therefore, he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”  (John 19:10-11.)  Daniel said, “To the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the  kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will and sets up over it the basest of men.”  (Daniel 4:17, 25, 26, 32.)  

 

2) The political power is ordained of God.  Just as God has ordained and established the home and the church, so also he established the government of men.  Paul wrote, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power, but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God.”  (Rom. 13:1.)  That passage forever rules out the notion of a secular society. 

 

3) We should pray for kings and those in political authority.  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life with all godliness.”  (1 Tim. 2:1-2.)  That does not seem like a separation of church and state.  There is no such thing in Scripture.  There are only two choices before us as a nation.  Either we acknowledge God and live before him as a nation depending upon him, or we turn and deny any relationship with God as a nation.  When we turn from God, we will surely fall just as other nations have before us.

 

If someone opposes the President-elect being sworn into office by placing his hand on the Bible, what would you propose in its place?  Would you suggest that he place his hand on the Koran, the Torah, the Book of Mormon, Darwin’s Origin of Species, or no book at all?  Should the President sware by himself, by the people, or by no one?  The Hebrew writer said, “For verily men swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.”  (Heb. 6:16.)  Secular atheism has no one greater than man to swear by.  They would have our President pledging to keep his oath of office by no one.

 

It is not possible to be totally secular.  A stance against God is a religious stance.  Men will invariably worship someone or something.  The ancient Romans worshiped their Caesar as a god.

 

Our nation is confused as we enter into 2006.  It seems that we favor Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and even witchcraft over Christianity.  Christianity seems to be the object of their objections.  You rarely hear of any opposition to religious practices in our country by Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists.  The opposition is almost always against Christians.

 

All Sins Are Now Public

 

We are familiar with the phrase, “Coming out of the closet.”  I prefer that they had stayed in the closet.  But today, like terrorists who rush to take credit and responsibility for murder and cowardly attacks on innocent people, sinners rush forward to admit to the world their ugly and sinful behavior.  They are not ashamed; many have lost the ability to blush.  We have politicians, actors, singers and now even religious leaders announcing with pride their ungodly behavior.

 

In our present world, homosexuals are not the only ones who are coming out of the closet.  Rushing in behind them to display their unbelief and hardness of heart are a chorus of like-minded sinners.  They all have some things in common.  They are united in: 1) their rejection of God in their lives, 2) their right to live as they please without any rules or commandments, 3) a rejection of the values of their parents and community.

 

We live in a world where criminals have more rights than victims, where those who take a stand against evil are the ones who are evil, where Christian values are despised, and where the followers of Jesus are looked upon with scorn and contempt.  Isaiah denounced those who “call evil good and good evil; put darkness for light and light for darkness; put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter; and those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight.”  (Isaiah 5:20-21.)

 

No Pursuit for Truth

 

It does not seem to bother our present world that they have nothing to replace what they have trampled upon.  There is no real pursuit of truth.  Pilate at least asked Jesus, “What is truth?”  (John 18:38.)  Our world of 2006 does not even ask the question.  It seems to hope that there is no truth.  Jeremiah wrote, “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land.  The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so.  And what will you do in the end thereof?”  (Jer. 5:30-31.)

 

If we ask scientists, Where did man come from and where are we going, they reply that they do not know yet.  Philosophers talk a lot about a lot of things, but they do not know truth.  What is reality?

 

Jesus is the only One who has arisen to give a consistent and hopeful answer.  He said that he came to bear witness to the truth.  (John 18:37.)  He is the way, the truth and the life.  (John 14:6.)  The only way to clear the confusion and chaos of our world is to follow Him.

 

Conclusion

 

How should we live in a world of chaos and confusion?  The answer is that we should live by faith in the Creator and Father of mankind.  The problems of the world are greater than we can solve.  Sin is the central problem.  We must repent and turn back or we will perish.  (Luke 13:3-5.)  Our sins are just as wrong and despicable before God as those of Muslims, homosexuals and anyone else.  We should be troubled by the condition of our world.  Remember that the world is lost; it always has been.  Jesus came to establish another Kingdom in which we must live.  There is peace in the Kingdom under his rule.  He is the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Almighty God, and Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6.)