Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The Bible teaches that the Church is the salt and light agent of the Kingdom of God. Its purpose, among other things, is to provide a clear moral alternative to the world’s ways. The moral compass for society, and the right or wrong on matters of morality and justice from a Godly perspective are seen and heard through the institution of the Church.
Salt acts as a retardant and slows down or prevents spoiling or corruption. Light illuminates and exposes areas of deterioration. From a spiritual perspective, these two elements protect and reveal troubled areas in our culture and society.
In recent years, one of the areas of concern in America has been the issues of sexuality, marriage, and gender identity. The LGBTQ community has sought to change how we view sexuality by forcing upon society their view of sex and gender identity, which violates the divine design represented in the Holy Scriptures. It seems they have had some measure of success.
Traditional values that often reflect biblical values are under open assault by the homosexual community and progressive ideology sourced in secular philosophy. Secularism is a godless philosophy influenced by socialism and Marxism and has infiltrated every major institution in America to date. Their agenda is to replace our nation’s Judeo-Christian legacy whose influence launched this nation into existence and made it one of the more prosperous nations in history.
Currently, the assault has been targeted against gender-specific identity and traditional marriage. The secularist is forcing society to openly embrace transgenderism and gender fluidity through legislation and policies that defy God’s laws. They try to normalize gender dysphoria and demand that men who believe themselves to be women have access women’s showers and bathrooms. Gender fluidity is now a part of the lexicon of the public square.
We are witnessing a shifting of our nation’s values away from the Judeo-Christian heritage of our parents, subverted by the homosexual agenda and by progressive secularism. Both are devoid of the Divine perspective. Through political correctness, same-sex marriage has been codified into law in America, shifting us away from God’s view of marriage between one man and one woman.
Why is this happening?
The Bible warns believers in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
This passage of scripture makes clear that it is our stewardship responsibility, our duty not to be seduced into following the philosophies of men, their traditions, or the rudimentary principles of the world, rather than following after Christ. The passage tells us that these things are but “empty deceptions.”
What’s being cautioned against in this verse is precisely what has happened to the body of Christ through the doctrine of political correctness. Our vulnerability to these four enemies of faith list (philosophy, empty deception, tradition of men, and the elementary principles of the world) has been in large part the failure of shepherd watchmen of the church to sound the alarm and warn God’s people of the threat progressivism has imposed upon the church and the culture. Progressivism is incrementally infecting our nations with doctrines that pollute all sense of decency and morality.
God’s shepherds are His modern-day watchmen perched on the wall of faith, preaching the unchanging truths of God’s word and, at the same time, observing the culture (Ezek. 33:6-7). As they see the advancement of evil and the kingdom of darkness, they are to sound the alarm and mobilize the saints to assume their role as salt and light soldiers against the onslaught. This, sadly, has not happened.
Far too many watchmen have opted out of their God-given responsibility with the excuse, “I’m not into politics,” or they find themselves supporting secularism and their agenda because of party loyalty. In effect, they have abandoned their allegiance to God and their duty as watchmen and have exposed the Church and the culture to an ever-increasing evil called secular humanism. The time has come to hold these watchmen accountable. Our children — our families — are being adversely impacted by the failure of these stewards to do their job. Either do your job or get off the wall! Too much is at stake.
It is time for us to tell the truth about the failure of church leaders to do their job. Far too many are fake preachers, wolves seducing and producing a lethargic church being led to the slaughter by “empty deceptions.”
Hear the voice of the Prophet Jeremiah in chapter 23:13-14. Woe to you, Shepherds…
“Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria, I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. “Also among the prophets of Jerusalem, I have seen a horrible thing: Committing adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers. So that no one has turned back from his wickedness, all of them have become to Me like Sodom And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
Watchmen, blow the trumpet or get off the wall!
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Col 2:8). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Stephen Broden, Senior Pastor
Fair Park Bible Fellowship
Dallas, Texas
Author of “Pawns of Change”
The views expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Black Community News.
