Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Sexual Ethics”
Our Bible verse for today: “But Peter and the apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Sometimes we have to engage in civil disobedience.”
The Bible is clear that Christians are to be good, law-abiding citizens in whatever society they live in. The “laws of the land” differ greatly depending on “the land” that you live in. No matter, Christians are still to be the best citizens of whatever society they’re part of and we are to obey the laws whatever they are – unless those laws conflict with Biblical principles. Then we are to engage in civil disobedience. That’s what Peter was saying in Acts 5:29.
With respect to sexual ethics and the associated cultural issues, Christians in the USA are increasingly finding themselves faced with the prospect of engaging in civil disobedience for the sake of Biblical principles. But that disobedience always comes with a cost. Christian pharmacists have been fired for refusing to dispense abortion-inducing drugs. Christian medical students have been dismissed from medical school for declining to be trained in abortion procedures. Christian business owners have been sued for refusing to photograph or bake cakes for a same-sex wedding. Christian pastors were ordered to turn over to government authorities any sermons, Bible studies, and private communications with church members that had anything to do with gay and lesbian issues or which made reference to that city’s lesbian mayor. Those pastors faced the potential of going to jail for failure to comply.
This is nothing new in Christian history and in fact, is rather mild compared to what other Christians in other places have endured in the past, and continue to endure today. In China pastors aren’t considered to be fully qualified or fully trained for the ministry until they’ve spent at least three years in prison for their faith.
As the cultural shift in America continues, Christians can expect to experience more opposition, and perhaps even penalties for being faithful to Biblical principles. While we aren’t inviting or seeking the persecution, we should not fear it or shy away from it either. They opposed Jesus in His day and He assured us that they will likewise oppose us in our day.
The answer for Christians today in the USA is the same as it has always been for Christians everywhere in every age – we are to faithfully stand for Biblical principles. If that means we have to take our lumps, then we take our lumps. God is faithful and He will get us through it. We have read the last chapter of the last book, so we know how this ends. Just be faithful and trust God.
But we are not to be doormats either and we are not to simply roll over in the face of opposition and persecution. Tomorrow we will discuss some specific steps churches need to take to protect themselves as things continue to change in our society.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 