Common Sense?
Nearly 2000 years ago Christianity began to revolutionised the world.
The followers of Jesus obeyed the Lord’s command to “Go”
Over time the world was transformed.
Laws based on Christian values generally became the laws for the nations.
But now we see the Christian values and laws being eroded.
What happens if they are removed?
If you remove Christian marriage between a man and a woman you have to replace it with something.
If you remove men are men and women are women then you have to replace them with something.
If you want to remove the Living God then you have to replace Him with something or someone else.
These days, some areas of life are so far removed from Christian values that it’s difficult to understand what must be going on in peoples thinking.
It touches on the bizarre at what some consider as being a right way to live.
We live in a world where the long standing and biologically correct male and female roles are systematically targeted in what seems to be an effort to eradicate them.
I did a little research on this to pull out some facts and to ‘enlighten my understanding.’ Much of what I read was just bizarre.
- Some places you can’t say woman. A woman is now, a birthing person, birth giver, labouring person, menstruating person, pregnant person.
- A new born baby is no longer plainly male or female. The sex is assigned at birth. It’s called ‘Assigned sex at birth’ (which is male or female based on external anatomy) but for the transgender supporters is as if it the sex you start life is only assigned to you as you may change it later.
- You can say you are a woman when you are a biological man and visa-versa
- As such a man can enter women’s sports and thrash all the women but that seems to be Okay. (Women’s Lib where are you?!)
- You can be a 45 year old man joining a swimming club and changing in the same room as 9 to 11 year old girls.
- You can even be a biological male, get sentenced to jail, have a history of sex offences again women, and identify as a woman and be put in a female prison. This actually happens and they wonder why women in the jails have got pregnant. Derrrr
There is so much about that world that is pushing against Christian values and what used to be called ‘common sense’. Common Sense is just not that common now.
The World
The World – Generally four meanings in scripture
- The Earth
- The current age
- The collective population of the earth
- The structure and order of society
The fourth meaning, the structure and order of society comes from the New Testament use of kosmos. It’s used around 200 times.
While it can mean the whole of creation, or the earth as humanities habitation, or even all of humanity.
Paul and John give it a special theological meaning. Especially John.
The Applied Bible dictionary gives this insight . . .
‘Kosmos views human society as an interwoven system created by a web of sinful human desires, illusionary beliefs, and surging passions. As such the world is a dark place.’
Scripture clearly affirms this.
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
James 1:27 speaks of, quote; ‘to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’
And if you have any doubt that the World and its systems are not healthy for Christians read . . .
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Satan seeks to make the world as he wants it and as such will aim to use it to pollute the lives of Christians (and anyone really).
As if the world is not enough to contend with, we also have the flesh.
The Flesh
‘Flesh’ here implies humanity corrupted by sin.
Paul describes the capabilities of the flesh. . .
“ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like………. “ Galatians 19-21a
It’s quite obvious that humanity is fatally flawed.
Which is why Paul could say,
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. (flesh) (sarx) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18
- So, in the world we struggle against dark forces.
- In our lives we wrestle within ourselves.
And if the world and the flesh is not enough to contend with. . .
We also have the Devil. The Evil One.
The Devil
Diabolos the slanderer and accuser.
He is the Father of Lies – John 8:44
He twisted the truth when tempting Jesus – Matthew 4:6
Should we expect anything better for ourselves?
2 Tim 2:26 let us know that Satan seeks to entrap people and take them captive to do his will.
As Christians we know that Satan is evil.
But do you realise in there is a rise of support for the Devil.
Here are some selected parts from an online article by. . .
Mary Harrington
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Unheard.com
But if devilish imagery mostly feels a bit cringe, the Devil himself has gone mainstream. . . . . . . . . Satan now reads like the good guy. . . . . . . the Devil’s proverbial pride, self-regard and refusal to yield isn’t just celebrated — it’s on its way to becoming the established religion of the United States of America.
Salon magazine declared it the “last, best hope” for protecting abortion rights in the state.
As I read before, Ephesians 6 said we struggle, ‘…….against the powers of this dark world’
If you think it is bad now. . . The darkness will get worse.
Foreigners and Strangers
The World, The Flesh, and The Devil daily exert pressure on us.
The world trying to pull us in to its system and ways of thinking.
The sin nature trying to rise up within.
The Evil One accusing and slandering and trying to entrap us.
And I can partly tell you why. . .
1 Cor 7:30-31 when Paul is giving insights in how to live
……those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
This present world is passing away.
The Devil knows his time is short.
What does this mean for us?
Hebrews 11:13 – Re: Old Testament Faithful servants of God. . .
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
The saints of old realised they were foreigners and strangers on this earth
They knew their real home was with God in His Kingdom to come.
This is true for us too.
This world in not our true home.
We are not to be engrossed in the things of this world system.
Whilst here we are to live as strangers and foreigners to this world.
Because the true reality is that we have another true home.
Because there is a place where we are not foreigners and strangers
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
God’s household is our home.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
That is what we have.
A hope and a future. That is God’s plan for us.
A Hope and a Future
In the midst of a crazy increasingly God rejecting world. As we wrestle with inner battles. As we see Satan being glorified.
Remember, we have a hope and a future.
Do not fear.
A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?
Have you ever wondered how many millions upon millions of steps God has directed? And continues to direct.
Think of how many steps God had to direct for Jesus to be born at the right time in the right place. Think about the genealogy of Mary and Joseph. All those generations with their ancestors meeting the right person to marry and have the children to carry on their family lines for generation after generation. The choices and decisions of the Roman Empire to assist in fulfilling all the steps for Mary and Joseph to end up in Bethlehem.
Image the steps God had to direct to fulfill each prophecy in the Bible.
Think of Israel.
Zecharia and Ezekiel stated God’s promise of the Jewish people returning to Israel. (Zech 12:10; 13:1) (Ezek 36:24) Think of the steps required for Israel to become a nation again on the 14th of May, 1948. The British government. The USA. The United Nations. Even the events of WW1 to bring about the Balfour Declaration. Nearly 2000 years of being scattered.
This is why I get excited now.
I get excited when I look at how the world is.
I see prophecy coming to fruition
God is Too Big!
In the midst of a crazy increasingly God rejecting world. As we wrestle with inner battles. As we see Satan being glorified.
Remember, we have a hope and a future.
Do not fear.
A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?
Have you ever wondered how many millions upon millions of steps God has directed? And continues to direct.
Think of how many steps God had to direct for Jesus to be born at the right time in the right place. Think about the genealogy of Mary and Joseph. All those generations with their ancestors meeting the right person to marry and have the children to carry on their family lines for generation after generation. The choices and decisions of the Roman Empire to assist in fulfilling all the steps for Mary and Joseph to end up in Bethlehem.
Image the steps God had to direct to fulfill each prophecy in the Bible.
Think of Israel.
Zecharia and Ezekiel stated God’s promise of the Jewish people returning to Israel. (Zech 12:10; 13:1) (Ezek 36:24) Think of the steps required for Israel to become a nation again on the 14th of May, 1948. The British government. The USA. The United Nations. Even the events of WW1 to bring about the Balfour Declaration. Nearly 2000 years of being scattered.
This is why I get excited now.
I get excited when I look at how the world is.
I see prophecy coming to fruition
(2024 © Paul Cummings)