What Are We Going to Do Now?
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Intro:
Intro:
(Thank you for the invitation).
“In 1973 the Supreme Court said it was okay to kill unborn babies. Since then we’ve killed more than the entire population of Canada, and it continues. A woman’s choice? Half of those who have died in their mothers’ wombs have been women. They didn’t have a choice. It’s called abortion. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home! That’s what Christians do now.
“First it was in dingy, dirty theaters, then convenience stores, then grocery stores, then on television. Now it’s in the homes of millions via the internet. It’s called pornography. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home! That’s what Christians do now.
“They call it ‘no fault.’ Why should we blame anyone when something so tragic happens? Haven’t they already suffered enough? Half of the marriages end this way. The children suffered. The family broke down. It’s called divorce. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home. That’s what Christians do now.
“At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and hope for those who practiced it. Now it’s praised. We have parades celebrating it, and elected officials give it their blessing. Now it’s endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some ‘Christian leaders’ (quote unquote) praise it. It’s called homosexuality. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home. That’s what Christians do now.
“It used to be an embarassment — a shame! Now a third (a third!) of all births to mothers are to mothers who aren’t married. Two thirds of all African American children are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. That’s why we pay our taxes, so that the government can take care, take the place of parents. After all, government beaurocrats know much better how to raise children than parents do. It’s called illegitimacy. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home! That’s what Christians do now.
“At one time it was wrong, but then the state decided to legalize it, promote it, and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. But just look at all the money the state has raised! No longer do we have to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them that they can get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join the fun and excitement! Just look at the big sums of money that people are winning! ‘They’ll never have to work again!’ It’s called gambling. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home. That’s what Christians do now.
“Not long ago, the Christians were the good guys, but now any positive image of Christians in movies or television is gone. We’re now depicted as the bad guys — greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites! The teacher can’t have a Bible on her desk, but she can have a Playboy! We don’t have Christmas and Easter holidays, just winter and spring breaks. We can’t pray in school, but we can use foul language. It’s called being tolerant. Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home! That’s what Christians do now.”
“Yes, all of these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the CHRISTIANS? Why, they were at church! All these things are for somebody ELSE to deal with! Times have changed! Involvement has been replaced with apathy. But don’t blame me! I didn’t DO anything!
“… … … I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home. That’s what Christians do now.”
First time I heard those words (I heard them on the radio), and they brought me to tears!
Those words are not original with me. Those words were spoken by a man named Don Wildman, the founder of the American Family Association.
And while I don’t agree with everything that the American Family Association stands for theologically, I do agree with Mr. Wildman’s words there.
These words brought me to TEARS!
Because I realized that although this is not a stinging indictment of every Christian, it is a stinging indictment of MANY who profess to be Christians in the land because we have sit and let our world fall apart!
“Me? I didn’t DO anything! Somebody ELSE did it!”
Exactly!
Brethren, what are we doing as the world falls apart all around us from a morality standpoint?
For the morality of this land — or should we say IMMORALITY of this land — bleeds over into every other aspect of society and we’re seeing the fruit of it — What are we DOING?!
We go to church, the minister preaches, and then we go home — Is that what we’re doing?
Or are we getting involved?!
Are we making a difference?!
Brethren, we’ve got to wake up!
We’ve got to see with clear eyes what’s going on in this nation!
Name calling, lies, even violence on every side!
Are we just going to sit back on the sidelines and watch, or are we going to do something?!
LONG GONE should be the days when Christians sat on the sidelines and did nothing!
Brethren, we’ve got to DO something!
James 1:22 - “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, DECEIVING yourselves.”
We need to stand up for Jesus as we sometimes sing!
We’ve got to stand for the truth!
We’ve got to stand for the right way to go about things! (not resorting to violence like we see on the news)
We’ve got to stand for LOVE and the truth!
When Christians turned over politics to secularists/atheists, we made a mistake!
When Christians turned over the schools, and the media, and morality (collective) to secularists, we made a mistake!
So what are we going to DO … … … now?
“Let’s just bury our heads in the sand ...”
“Let’s just not pay attention, let’s just pretend it’s not happening.”
THAT’S HOW WE GOT IN THIS MESS!
“The silent majority?” I’m growing to despise that term.
You know why?
Because if we’re truly the majority, then why in the world are we being silenced?!
What do we have to fear?
It wasn’t too terribly long ago that an American President said: “We’ve got nothing to fear but fear itself!”
It wasn’t too terribly long ago that another American President said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!”
Another person in History (Edmund Burke) said: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing!”
Brethren, evil is triumphing right now — And it will continue until good men stand up and put a stop to it!
We need to pray, and we need to be active in God’s kingdom.
“What are we going to do NOW?!”
I. CHRISTIANS, WE’VE GOT TO GET TO WORK:
I. CHRISTIANS, WE’VE GOT TO GET TO WORK:
Again, James 1:22 - “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Let me say this — I believe that we as members of the church OF Christ (the true church that belongs to Christ) — we are usually very good at HEARING God’s Word!
We have high regard for the Bible! We believe it! We HEAR it!
… But we’ve also got to put it into practice!
“The Bible says this?” (“I believe it!”)
“The Bible says that?” (“Then that’s what it says!”)
“I ACCEPT it!”
… … … But how well do I accept it and then put it into practice?!
Being doers of the Word and not just hearers only!
We’re quick to point out from James chapter 2 that faith without works is dead!
We’re quick to point out that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only (James chapter 2).
And we’ll say, “See, the idea of faith only salvation is false” (and it is!)
… But then how many turn around and live as if they believe in faith only?
How many turn around and say, “I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home,” and then call it a day!
And they don’t really live out their faith.
How many of us compartmentalize our faith?
“You see, faith is something that’s practiced on Sundays and Wednesdays, and then we go home!”
And our faith does NOT shine at the work place!
Our faith does NOT stand out at school.
Our faith does NOT impact the way we vote (if we choose to vote) — (I’m of the opinion that we should!)
How many of us COMPARTMENTALIZE our faith?
How many us compartmentalize our faith when we go to the movie theater?
“You know what? I realize that this has got umpteen curse words in it, and a lot of other objectionable content, but it’ll be okay. I’m not at church!”
Are we compartmentalizing our faith?
James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Acknowledgment of a need, but where is the follow through?
Are we working to solve societal problems such as this?
Matthew chapter 25 — A picture of the judgment scene, what does Jesus say there?
“I was naked, and you clothed me” (or didn’t!)
“I was thirsty, and you gave me drink” (or you didn’t)
“I was hungry, and you gave me food” (or you didn’t)
“I was sick and in prison, and you visited me/you comforted me” (or you didn’t!)
You see, we’ve got to live out our faith! (And these are real tangible ways that we do so!)
It includes getting involved.
It includes solving problems such as this!
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
This is being a DOER of the Word!
James 4:17 says
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
So we can’t just sit idly by, just sit on the pews and then go home, and not DO anything!
Matt. 7:21-25
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But what about those who hear Jesus’ sayings and do NOT do them?
Matt. 7:26-27
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
We’ve got to get to work!
WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRULY FOLLOWING CHRIST:
WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRULY FOLLOWING CHRIST:
Because truly following Christ means that the world isn’t going to like us!
Jesus said in Luke 6:26:
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
He says in Luke 6:46:
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Are we truly following Christ?
Are we evangelizing?
Matt. 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Teach (or Make Disciples) -> Baptize -> Teach
I have to wonder: If we were TEACHING more, if society would know better how to act?!
They would, wouldn’t they?!
Let’s do an exercise:
I want you to think of some names of people that you have helped convert (or at least ATTEMPTED to convert).
… … … … …
Could you think of any?
If not, why not?
I heard a story one time about a small country church that needed to baptize someone …
But their baptistery was broken — You see, they hadn’t used it in YEARS.
They called up another small country church and said, “Hey! We’re having a baptism, but our baptistery is broken. Can we use yours?!”
“Well, that’s great, but uh … Our baptistery is broken, too. In fact, we haven’t used it in years.”
Whether that’s a true story or just a made up anecdotal story is beside the point!
We know that they could take him out to a creek or to a lake and baptize him, but that’s not the point of the story.
The point of the story is: Why are we not baptizing more people?!
(And not just baptizing them, but actually seeing them through by DISCIPLING them!) [Not just throwing them to the wolves]
We’ve got to evangelize! That’s our purpose as Christians!
Matt. 12:50
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Evangelism, worship, godly living, serving others, being the salt and light of this world — That’s DOING the will of the Father!
And when we do the will of the Father, we’re Jesus’ FAMILY! His church!
Christians, are we truly following Christ?
Finally …
ARE WE SATISFIED WITH CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM?
ARE WE SATISFIED WITH CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM?
Because the kingdoms of this world are like the shifting sands …
We look at what’s happening in our “kingdom,” if you will — Our Constitutional Republic — And it’s alarming.
We see the rioting, the looting, the chaos, the turmoil, the infighting, and the moral decline, and it’s alarming!
But we should never put our trust in an earthly nation.
(I’m a proud American — I’m thankful to be here!)
But first and foremost, I’m a citizen of heaven — I’m a CHRISTIAN!
So Christians, are we satisfied with Christ and His Kingdom?
John 13:17 Jesus says:
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Context - Jesus was doing what? (WASHING … THE DISCIPLES’ … FEET)
So the idea is that we are to humble ourselves/We are to SERVE one another.
That’s part of the work of the kingdom!
Humbling ourselves, serving one another, and looking after what’s best for our brethren rather than ourselves — That’s how we keep unity!
And if we truly are doing that, and then others see us doing that, and we teach them and they obey the Gospel, then they’ll do it too!
And this world becomes a better place!
Matt. 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
So we keep Christ and His kingdom the priority in our lives!
Col. 3:1-10 - We put our Christianity into practice! (Read Col. 3:1-10 in Bible)
Php. 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Is our prayer, “Even so, come Lord Jesus?” (Rev. 22:20)
Are we looking forward to His arrival?
You see, those who are faithful Christians can say, “Even so, come Lord Jesus. Take us to heaven!”
Can say, “I hope Jesus comes NOW because I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!” (as we sometimes sing)
But if you’re not a Christian this morning, the last thing you want is for Jesus to come!
… Because when He does, He will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thes. 1:8).
At the end of the day, Christians, our citizenship is in heaven!
Come what may, we look at turmoil in this life, we look at moral decline — And what is going to happen is what is going to happen! What will be will be!
But at the end of the day, we’re still looking forward to heaven!
That gives us comfort and hope and joy and peace and love and confidence!
No matter what happens in this nation, no matter what happens in this world!
Heaven is the goal that we’re walking toward — Are we living our lives to accomplish the goal?
As we watch as our nation falls further and further into depravity — Perhaps we’ve watched it take place over the last several decades …
We need to ask ourselves, at what point did Christians decide that sitting on the sidelines is enough?
And we need to “get off the bench,” and we need to arm ourselves for the fight!
Physically? No, SPIRITUALLY (Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil!)
The Devil has been working overtime in our society!
All the while, Christians — not all Christians, but many of them — have been content to “go to church, hear the minister preach, and then go home!”
Is that what Christians do now?!
May it never be!
“What are we going to do now?”
(Offer invitation)