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By Paul Proctor
October 25, 2006
NewsWithViews.com
America is absolutely awash in "Christian" leaders, pious politicians and pro-family groups whose apparent goal is to save it from self-destruction. Many seem to believe this can be accomplished by Christianizing the culture - by rallying people of pride, principle, patriotism and perseverance to shake their collective fists at the enemies of Christ with legions, letters, lawyers and legislation - that America can be saved from itself if enough people get indignant and involved.
But friends, this is not Christian evangelism. This is religious environmentalism - an earthly and erroneous idea borrowed from secular society and the liberal left that says man can save himself and the world he lives in if we all just get onboard the Vain Train To A Better America and apply ourselves. But when did Jesus or any of His apostles ever endeavor to make Rome sacred ground by organizing its inhabitants into action groups, protesters and boycotters to fight the forces of evil with carnal Christian weaponry? Jesus was not a zealot and neither were his true followers.
Look at the Lord's instruction to Israel:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2nd Chronicles 7:14
Did you catch that? If my people will "humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways" - God will hear and heal. Christians ought to reconsider this well-known scripture and take it to heart because there are some very important things that seem to be missing here on the fruited plain. Two things that are conspicuously absent in this verse are Christians copping an attitude for Christ and religious leaders rallying the spiritually incensed to take matters into their own hands.
Even if we were somehow successful in manually moralizing mankind into cooperation, what would the end result be but an artificial Heaven full of artificial Christians proclaiming an artificial Gospel? What better plan could there be to lure the lost away from the Kingdom of God and secure their eternal damnation than to pompously promote and produce a replica of it here on Earth? Not only does it foster false converts, it makes those of us whose Kingdom is NOT of this world the worst of all enemies - more dangerous to the "holy cause" than Hollywood itself!
"�yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." - John 16:2
Religious environmentalism is just another form of idolatry and Earth worship and no more biblical than the radical environmentalism of today's greenies. That doesn't mean we should all become pacifists and refuse to take stands against evil. On the contrary! It means we should take a stand against ALL evil - especially that which deceitfully arrays itself in Christian costume with the intent of clothing others in it. It means we yield to God and His Word with a humble and obedient heart, not rush arrogantly into a war against our favorite vice armed with nothing but passion, purpose and pride. That's a recipe for disaster and a great way to invite a rebuke from above.
It means we do not try and make holy ground out of that which is clearly cursed by sin and rebellion simply because we covet it and desire control over it for our own egos and agendas. It is my understanding that the Lord has other plans for believers on this battleground called Earth and it is not to acquire real estate for Him. It is a chosen place to test our faith in His Word - not a place to be conquered by force or intimidation to build another Heritage USA for anyone willing to march in our grand parade.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9
If our focus remains horizontal and territorial, when will we ever look up and earnestly seek deliverance from above? Never, if we convince others and ourselves that MAN CAN here on Planet Earth. And isn't that what the tower of Babel was all about? Do we honestly think that rebuilding that tower "for Jesus" is any more a righteous cause than that of Nimrod's? Frankly, I consider it worse because we profane the name of our Lord by wearing it around our wicked workshops to give us legitimacy before the eyes of onlookers.
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:22-23
There's a lot of talk these days about the failure of Republicans and "right wing" Christians to return the United States to its days of glory past - to the kind of place our forefathers envisioned and intended - especially since enjoying majority control over the last few years in Washington and across the nation. In fact, in a 2004 article entitled, The Secret Hand, I commented that immediately upon hearing the November election results on TV I told my wife: "Well, the republicans finally have it all; I wonder what they'll use for an excuse now?"
Well, those lame excuses are now being played in political ads around the country as we approach the final turn toward mid-term elections because, as voters are beginning to see, Republicans are no more capable of moralizing mankind with their legions, letters, lawyers and legislation than are Democrats.
A swamp is still a swamp regardless of whose name is on the deed; and a sinner is still a sinner whether he rides through it on a donkey or an elephant.
Democrats can try and glorify that swamp if they want to by calling it a "wetland" and Republicans can temporarily take control of it with a "moral majority" if they wish, but either way, it's still a swamp run by sinners whose eyes ought to be focused on another place to spend eternity - not trying to turn this wanton 'wetland' into a Divine Disneyland.
It is not the Garden of Eden - nor can we remake it into such with our lofty aspirations. The Lord Himself took Eden away from us. It's gone - and no political party, platform or pro-family group can return it to us literally or figuratively.
However, for those who long to leave this malevolent marsh and follow Him to "a Kingdom not of this world," there is deliverance. Others who wish to try and build themselves some sort of lasting legacy here for purposes of pride, profits, political gain or posterity, do so at their own peril.
One more time:
Jesus Christ did not suffer and die on a cross two thousand years ago to change the world, but rather to redeem us from it. By erroneously embracing the former, one foolishly forfeits the latter.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." - 1st John 2:17
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Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print.
E-Mail: watchman@usa.com�
But
friends, this is not Christian evangelism. This is religious environmentalism
- an earthly and erroneous idea borrowed from secular society and the
liberal left that says man can save himself and the world he lives in
if we all just get onboard the Vain Train To A Better America and apply
ourselves.
