The Oklahoma Baptist Messenger ran the following guest editorial today (6/29/11). I replied to it. I will post a link to the Messenger, and copy and paste both the editorial and my reply.
by Paul Moody
How can Christians win, in the culture war that is raging in our nation?
In the first place, we must have unity of spirit. Colossians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Can we agree that our nation has been in a moral decline for many years? Can we agree that if our nation’s moral decline is going to be reversed, it will be because Christians are motivated to address the problem?
The objective of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee of the Capital Association is to develop awareness of the moral and social issues impacting our society and to encourage our churches to effect positive change. With this in mind, I want to call to your attention nine moral issues facing our nation as identified by Charles Stanley in his sermon of July 4, 2010, called “Turning the Tide.” The nine moral issues are as follows:
1. America’s national debt, now exceeding $14 trillion, is driving us to bankruptcy.
2. The steady movement toward socialism, where the government takes more and more responsibility for things not spelled out in the Constitution.
3. The squashing of religious thought in numerous public arenas.
4. Confusion and corruption in America in both the public and private sectors.
5. Growing opposition by a group of Americans to Christians praying in public events and using the name of Jesus in their prayers.
6. A tide of terrorism spreading throughout our nation.
7. Government leaders are moving to distance us from support of Israel.
8. The fact that the people of America have aborted more than 50 million babies since Roe vs. Wade.
9. Homosexuality and abandonment of the biblical view of marriage by an ever growing number of Americans.
Stanley’s solution to the moral crises in America was to ask those who heard his message to commit to pray for our nation.
I would agree that STEP ONE must be for God’s people to pray daily for the restoration of the Judeo Christian ethic and value system our nation was founded on and that it permeate every aspect of American life. We need to pray that God will give wisdom to the officials we have elected to state and national office.
STEP TWO is for Christians to commit to becoming educated to the moral issues of our day. If you go to our website, http://www.cbaokc.org and then click on ERLC, you can find the following information to be very helpful:
1. You can find the name, address and phone number of your state and national officials.
2. You can examine the moral issues identified in “action alerts” by such groups as the National Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the State ERLC and the Capital Association ERLC. You can also increase your awareness of the moral issues by clicking on http://www.richardlandlive. Richard Land is President of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He hosts a daily talk show on the Internet. Land encourages people to call in and discuss the issues of the day. He maintains offices in Washington, D.C. and in Nashville, Tenn.
3. Other links on our website are, Reclaim Oklahoma, American Family Association, Focus On The Family, KQCV Bott Radio, National Right To Life Committee and Wall Builders.
STEP THREE is to put “feet to your prayers.” Armed with knowledge of the moral and ethical issues facing our nation and what needs to be done to make corrections, we must communicate our thoughts to our elected officials. For too long, Americans have left the governing of our states and our nation to those we have elected to office. The complaint among many is “I don’t have time to concern myself with the affairs of state.” This has gone on so long that many of our elected officials ignore what the vast majority of Americans want to see happen relative to restoring the values we hold dear. It’s time we Christians wake them up to the fact that our government is “of, by and for the people.” We believe in the Constitution of the United States. We believe we should follow it and adhere to it.
I believe America’s greatest days lie ahead. This hope is rooted in the thought that more Christians are going to rise to the occasion by becoming more informed about the issues that threaten our nation’s very survival—that more Christians will determine to elect Christians to office who promise to reduce the size of government, enforce the laws of the land and insist on the highest standards of ethics on the part of those holding office.
America has a great history of patriots who have served their country well for more than 200 years. It is a privilege and an honor to live as free people in this great land. Let us never take our freedom for granted. God looks to us to be the “salt and light” to the world that Jesus spoke of in the “Sermon on the Mount.”
Let me summarize what I hope more of us will commit to do. Pray daily for our nation and her leaders. Become informed on the moral and ethical issues facing us. Communicate with our elected officials regularly so they know we stand behind them in their decision making process as long as we are moving in the right direction.
Paul Moody is chairman, ERLC Committee, Capital Association
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MY REPLY IS AS FOLLOWS
Ken McKinley says:
The culture war will not be one by electing Christian leaders. It will not be won by giving money to conservative groups or causes. It cannot be won through politics or legislation. That’s fighting the war using the enemies tactics. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. The things that we see happening in our country (such as same sex marriage, abortion, removal of prayer, etc…) are wrongly said to be things that are going to bring judgment upon America, when in-fact they are types of judgment upon America. The way we are going to win the culture war isn’t outlined above. It’s outlined in Scripture. Step 1 – Christians need to pray and repent. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 doesn’t mention godless unbelievers, but speaks of God’s people who are called by His Name. It is we (Christians) who need to humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways, and seek His face. We need to repent. We demand that the world live like Christians when in reality they are stilll in bondage to their sinful nature. Step 2 – Share the Gospel with the unbelieving world. Until they are born again, they are going to live in accordance with their old nature. They need a heart transplant, and to be born from above in order to first of all see the condition they and the nation are in. Until then, those without Christ may or may not approve of same sex marriage or abortion, or any of the above, but nor do they condemn it or reject it as sinful. Sharing the Gospel is not doing social action. It is a verbal proclimation of a man’s lostness and Christ’s provision of salvation. Though social action may open the door for sharing the Gospel, the Gospel has not been shared until the verbal proclimation of it has been given (how shall the beleive unless they hear?).
The Gospel alone is the power of God unto salvation. It is the means that God has chosen to use to save sinners. Our world and our naiton will continue on it’s downward slide until the Gospel penetrates the hearts of sinners and changes them from the inside out. Until then, all the political and legislative action, and all the writing to senators and congressmen, is just the useless wranglings of men. Politicians are not another CP, that we can give our money to and feel good about doing our part. Until we as individual Southern Baptists get off our pews and share the Gospel with each and every person we know. Nothing will change. Our culture will continue its downward slide and our conversion/baptism numbers will continue to decrease.
fiat lux 