For some time I have felt I should blog on the subject of election but to this point have held my counsel. I suppose my reluctance is based on the fact that I have many close friends who would not share my views on the subject and I have no desire to offend or be insensitive.
When I was younger I referred to myself as a Calvinist, I think I did so more in an effort to make it clear that I was not an Arminian rather than being a convinced Calvinist. I did not want anyone to think I belonged to the ‘lost again’ brigade, but I always struggled with the Calvinist notion of limited atonement. I could never get away from verses like, ‘He tasted death for everyman’, ‘he would have all men to be saved’ and ‘he is not willing that any should perish’. Calvinists of course have their explanations of how these verses should be understood but I am never comfortable with a system of doctrine that has to explain away clear biblical statements like these.
With a few more years behind me I have come to the conclusion that both systems of interpretation have holes in them and I believe there is a more biblical way too look at all the subjects of mans depravity, the nature of election, the scope of the atonement, God’s movings in Grace and the eternal security of believers. This short blog is in no way an attempt to answer any or all of these questions and perhaps I will pick some of these topics up in the future but for now I just want to throw out two thoughts about a verse that I think must be difficult for reformed theologians to explain.
‘Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:’ 2 Peter 1 v10
Problem.1
Why is this verse even there? If the Calvinist is correct, God has ordained by His will alone who will be saved and He sees to it that they are saved. If this is the case why on earth would we be encouraged to make our calling and election sure. The fact that this verse is in the Bible shows quite clearly shows that we have to place our faith in Christ’s finished work, as a deliberate act of our will, yes and we would never would have done it left to ourselves without the drawing of the Spirit but we still had it to do.
Problem.2
I am a great believer in taking note of the order of scripture. For example sometimes our Saviour is referred to as Jesus Christ, this emphasises His humanity, sometimes He is referred to as the Lord Jesus, this emphasises His Deity and sometimes He is referred to as Christ Jesus and here His office as Messiah is being emphasised. Notice the order in the verse, we are asked to make our calling 1st and election 2nd sure. Now if Calvinism is right surely the election comes before the calling, but that is not how the Spirit of God inspired Peter to put it. The election we are told was determined in eternity past but the effectual call is a more recent event. But Peter here suggests that it is the other way around that election follows the call.
This is where we really get down to understanding this whole debate, what is election? We have been conditioned to believe that election is to do with salvation but I’m not so sure. The Lord Jesus is described as being elect and He certainly does not need salvation, there are angels described as elect angels, but angels know nothing of salvation and the nation of Israel is described as an elect nation but we know that all Jews are not saved. So election must have more to do with God choosing individuals for a purpose, to do some task for Him.
I must admit I have not fully developed all of my views on this subject but I have reached a milestone and that is this, I do not agree with Calvin or Arminius!
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Advertising Murder
While listening to Radio 5 Live on the way to work this morning I heard of a company that provides abortions called ‘Marie Stopes International’ planning to run a television advert promoting their services. This advert will first be aired on Channel 4 on the 24th May.
The fact that such an advert is to be allowed on our television screens shows just how far from God our society has departed. Many no doubt will rightly challenge the decision to allow this ad to run but I fear this is a mere skirmish compared to the real issue. The real issue is we live in a society where the murder of innocent babies is legal. It is hard to believe in a so-called civilised society that 215,975 abortions were carried out in Britain in 2008, in fact 1 in 5 pregnancies now end in abortion.
Our Nation should take note of the judgement that fell on another nation that was guilty of the blood of innocents. In the Old Testament the Children of Israel departed from the true God and began to follow the false gods of the pagan nations around them. One of those false gods was called Molech. The worshippers of Molech made a brazen image of a god with his arms out stretched. This image was then heated to be red hot and people sacrificed their babies by placing them onto the burning hot out stretched arms of the image. This was known as ‘making them pass through the fire’. The sad refrain over and over again in the Old Testament record is typified in the following quote from 2 Kings.
‘Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.’ 2 Kings 16 v2-3
The God then was called Molech, today the method has changed and so has the name of the god, it is now called convenience, but it is the same wicked spirit at work. One in five women now find the child in their womb to be inconvenient, it will encroach on their lifestyle, it will hold back their careers or it will give them stretch marks (how awful for them). What an inconvenience! So they sacrifice their unborn child to the God of Convenience.
Surely our land is ripe for the judgement of God. If the blood of righteous Abel cried out from the ground to God there must be an even greater cry from the blood of innocents butchered in our land.
‘O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.’Habakkuk 3 v2
The fact that such an advert is to be allowed on our television screens shows just how far from God our society has departed. Many no doubt will rightly challenge the decision to allow this ad to run but I fear this is a mere skirmish compared to the real issue. The real issue is we live in a society where the murder of innocent babies is legal. It is hard to believe in a so-called civilised society that 215,975 abortions were carried out in Britain in 2008, in fact 1 in 5 pregnancies now end in abortion.
Our Nation should take note of the judgement that fell on another nation that was guilty of the blood of innocents. In the Old Testament the Children of Israel departed from the true God and began to follow the false gods of the pagan nations around them. One of those false gods was called Molech. The worshippers of Molech made a brazen image of a god with his arms out stretched. This image was then heated to be red hot and people sacrificed their babies by placing them onto the burning hot out stretched arms of the image. This was known as ‘making them pass through the fire’. The sad refrain over and over again in the Old Testament record is typified in the following quote from 2 Kings.
‘Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.’ 2 Kings 16 v2-3
The God then was called Molech, today the method has changed and so has the name of the god, it is now called convenience, but it is the same wicked spirit at work. One in five women now find the child in their womb to be inconvenient, it will encroach on their lifestyle, it will hold back their careers or it will give them stretch marks (how awful for them). What an inconvenience! So they sacrifice their unborn child to the God of Convenience.
Surely our land is ripe for the judgement of God. If the blood of righteous Abel cried out from the ground to God there must be an even greater cry from the blood of innocents butchered in our land.
‘O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.’Habakkuk 3 v2
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
The Fruits of Repentance
John the Baptist was a preacher who majored on repentance, on one occasion when challenging the Pharisees he said ‘bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:’ Matt 3 v8
Repentance is a neglected doctrine in the contemporary church but it is a vital doctrine if we are to preach the gospel in all of its fullness.
There is a great demonstration of repentance in action in the 3rd Chapter of the book of Jonah. The prophet Jonah delivered a message of the impending judgement hanging over Nineveh, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.’ Jonah 3 v4 This was what Jonah cried as he journeyed across the city preaching. God’s Spirit took these works and convicted the inhabitants of Nineveh and they did exactly what John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees to do, they brought forth the fruits of repentance.
A Changed Attitude
‘So the people of Nineveh believed God,’ Jonah 3v5
The people of Nineveh never had much time for the God of Israel; they were a race known for their cruelty and worshipped the pagan deity Dagon. However, on hearing the message of God’s judgment they changed their minds and for the first time they believed in the God of Israel. That is always the starting point for Salvation; we need to start agreeing with God about our sin and its consequences. We need to believe God.
A Changed Appetite
‘and proclaimed a fast’ Jonah 3v5
Like all the pagan societies of that day the people in Nineveh lived their lives in excess, drunkenness and immorality were the order of the day. Sounds a bit like 21st Century Britain. However, their turning to God changed their appetite, they proclaimed a fast, and denied themselves food. Sadly today many Christians don’t know much of self-denial. They drink the booze of this world; they indulge in premarital and extra marital sex. I was shocked recently to hear of a young Christian girl who was mocked by her so-called Christian friends because she was still a virgin
A Changed Appearance
‘put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.’ Jonah 3 v5
A returning visitor to Nineveh at this time would have noticed something different about the people; their dress had changed. No longer were they wearing their normal clothes but rather a covering of sackcloth was now their garment. Can people who look at us know that we belong to God by our appearance? I am not merely talking about modesty in dress although that is important but what about our conduct, our conversation, our whole manner of living is it Godly. Surely as God’s children we should exhibit ‘fruits meet for repentance’!
Repentance is a neglected doctrine in the contemporary church but it is a vital doctrine if we are to preach the gospel in all of its fullness.
There is a great demonstration of repentance in action in the 3rd Chapter of the book of Jonah. The prophet Jonah delivered a message of the impending judgement hanging over Nineveh, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.’ Jonah 3 v4 This was what Jonah cried as he journeyed across the city preaching. God’s Spirit took these works and convicted the inhabitants of Nineveh and they did exactly what John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees to do, they brought forth the fruits of repentance.
A Changed Attitude
‘So the people of Nineveh believed God,’ Jonah 3v5
The people of Nineveh never had much time for the God of Israel; they were a race known for their cruelty and worshipped the pagan deity Dagon. However, on hearing the message of God’s judgment they changed their minds and for the first time they believed in the God of Israel. That is always the starting point for Salvation; we need to start agreeing with God about our sin and its consequences. We need to believe God.
A Changed Appetite
‘and proclaimed a fast’ Jonah 3v5
Like all the pagan societies of that day the people in Nineveh lived their lives in excess, drunkenness and immorality were the order of the day. Sounds a bit like 21st Century Britain. However, their turning to God changed their appetite, they proclaimed a fast, and denied themselves food. Sadly today many Christians don’t know much of self-denial. They drink the booze of this world; they indulge in premarital and extra marital sex. I was shocked recently to hear of a young Christian girl who was mocked by her so-called Christian friends because she was still a virgin
A Changed Appearance
‘put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.’ Jonah 3 v5
A returning visitor to Nineveh at this time would have noticed something different about the people; their dress had changed. No longer were they wearing their normal clothes but rather a covering of sackcloth was now their garment. Can people who look at us know that we belong to God by our appearance? I am not merely talking about modesty in dress although that is important but what about our conduct, our conversation, our whole manner of living is it Godly. Surely as God’s children we should exhibit ‘fruits meet for repentance’!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Unlimited Access
I was struck this week while praying about the wonderful privilege that God’s children have of unlimited access to the heavenly throne of grace. We are welcome to come to speak to the King of Kings 24-7, 52 weeks a year. Nothing is too small to bring to our God in prayer, this is the God who is interested in the falling of a little sparrow, how much more is He interested in our lives. Not only is the way of access always open but also we are actually encouraged to come with boldness non-daring to make us afraid.
‘For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4 v15-16
The key to such bold access is found of course in verse 15 quoted above. The Lord Jesus our great high priest. He was that sinless sacrifice that was well pleasing to God that in turn resulted in the way into the holy place being opened for us. This truth was typified on the day that the Saviour died when the veil of the temple in Jerusalem, which barred the way to the holy place, was ‘rent in twain’ by the unseen hand of God. The message was simple a bridge to God had been made by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, access to heaven was now granted for those who come by the way of the cross.
A Contrast
In sharp contrast to the access Christians enjoy to the King of Kings I was struck by the restrictions this week to an earthly monarch. On Tuesday evening our former Prime Minister Gordon Brown communicated to Buckingham Palace his intention to resign as Premier. An audience with the Queen was arranged and Mr Brown made the journey from Downing Street to the Palace to tender his resignation. This was a familiar journey to him for as Prime Minister Mr Brown had more access to the Monarch than the average subject, he had a weekly audience with her to discuss the affairs of state. However, as he left the Palace on Tuesday evening for the last time he joined the rest of us ordinary subjects again, whose access to her majesty is greatly restricted.
If was to travel to London tomorrow and arrive at the gates of the palace and was to ask the guard on duty at the gate to let me in, what do you think my chances would be? 'No chance' would be the reply! How amazing it is then that an insignificant person such as I can by faith walk right into the throne room of heaven and speak to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in prayer.
What wonderful access! What a privilege? What a Saviour!
‘Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.’ Psalm 47 v6-8
‘For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4 v15-16
The key to such bold access is found of course in verse 15 quoted above. The Lord Jesus our great high priest. He was that sinless sacrifice that was well pleasing to God that in turn resulted in the way into the holy place being opened for us. This truth was typified on the day that the Saviour died when the veil of the temple in Jerusalem, which barred the way to the holy place, was ‘rent in twain’ by the unseen hand of God. The message was simple a bridge to God had been made by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, access to heaven was now granted for those who come by the way of the cross.
A Contrast
In sharp contrast to the access Christians enjoy to the King of Kings I was struck by the restrictions this week to an earthly monarch. On Tuesday evening our former Prime Minister Gordon Brown communicated to Buckingham Palace his intention to resign as Premier. An audience with the Queen was arranged and Mr Brown made the journey from Downing Street to the Palace to tender his resignation. This was a familiar journey to him for as Prime Minister Mr Brown had more access to the Monarch than the average subject, he had a weekly audience with her to discuss the affairs of state. However, as he left the Palace on Tuesday evening for the last time he joined the rest of us ordinary subjects again, whose access to her majesty is greatly restricted.
If was to travel to London tomorrow and arrive at the gates of the palace and was to ask the guard on duty at the gate to let me in, what do you think my chances would be? 'No chance' would be the reply! How amazing it is then that an insignificant person such as I can by faith walk right into the throne room of heaven and speak to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in prayer.
What wonderful access! What a privilege? What a Saviour!
‘Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.’ Psalm 47 v6-8
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Pray for David
The negotiations are over, all of the horse trading is done and the United Kingdom has a new Prime Minister, Conservative party leader David Cameron.
I must admit I wouldn't fancy the job and he certainly has his work cut out to lift our nation out of a deep financial crisis. Maybe you would pray for him, not just today but regularly and consistently. This is after all what the Lord requires of us.
'I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;' 1 Timothy 2 v1-3
You may not agree with his politics, you may not even like him very much but he is the man that the Lord has ordained to be the leader of our nation.
Pray that the Lord would give him wisdom as he steers our nation and most of all that the Lord would bring him to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I must admit I wouldn't fancy the job and he certainly has his work cut out to lift our nation out of a deep financial crisis. Maybe you would pray for him, not just today but regularly and consistently. This is after all what the Lord requires of us.
'I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;' 1 Timothy 2 v1-3
You may not agree with his politics, you may not even like him very much but he is the man that the Lord has ordained to be the leader of our nation.
Pray that the Lord would give him wisdom as he steers our nation and most of all that the Lord would bring him to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Monday, 10 May 2010
More Pullman Blasphemy
Militant Atheist Philip Pullman is up to his old tricks again and is trying to discredit Christ and Christianity. For someone who doesn't believe in God he spends a lot of time and energy writing about Him. I don't believe in the tooth fairy but I don't go on about it, but Pullman spends a lot of time running down a God he says does not exist. The reality of course is that Pullman knows full well there is a God, he just hates him.
His own pronouncements bear this fact out. In an interview with the Washington Post in February 2001 he said 'I am trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief'. Speaking to a Daily Telegraph journalist he said 'If there is a God, and he is as the Christians describe him, the he deserves to be put down and rebelled against'. In a 2003 interview with the Sydney morning herald he said 'my books are about killing God.'
He's not joking either, his latest effort is called 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ'. In this book of sheer fantasy he claims that the Virgin Mary had twin sons, one called Jesus and the other called Christ, he alleges that Jesus was a good Son but the other one Christ was no good. Such a fairy tale has no basis in history and is just the imaginings of a wicked heart. 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?'.
The dangerous thing about this man is the fact that he is an acclaimed children's author with such works as 'The Golden Compass'(aka Northern Lights), 'The Subtle Knife' and the 'Amber spyglass'. These books are designed to sow the seeds of atheism in the impressionable minds of Children. Christian beware of this dangerous man and his dangerous material.
'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.' Psalm 14 v1
His own pronouncements bear this fact out. In an interview with the Washington Post in February 2001 he said 'I am trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief'. Speaking to a Daily Telegraph journalist he said 'If there is a God, and he is as the Christians describe him, the he deserves to be put down and rebelled against'. In a 2003 interview with the Sydney morning herald he said 'my books are about killing God.'
He's not joking either, his latest effort is called 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ'. In this book of sheer fantasy he claims that the Virgin Mary had twin sons, one called Jesus and the other called Christ, he alleges that Jesus was a good Son but the other one Christ was no good. Such a fairy tale has no basis in history and is just the imaginings of a wicked heart. 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?'.
The dangerous thing about this man is the fact that he is an acclaimed children's author with such works as 'The Golden Compass'(aka Northern Lights), 'The Subtle Knife' and the 'Amber spyglass'. These books are designed to sow the seeds of atheism in the impressionable minds of Children. Christian beware of this dangerous man and his dangerous material.
'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.' Psalm 14 v1
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Who will run the country?
This is the question hanging over our nation at this time. Just what will be the make up of our next government? Last Thursday's general election has left us with a hung parliament and now the fun begins as the politicians frantically run from one meeting to another trying to cobble together a deal that will give Britain a stable government.
The media are at fever pitch as 24 Hour news shows speculate along with the help of studio guests about how it will all pan out. Will the Liberals do a deal with the Tory party or will we end up with a Lib-lab pact?
The fact of the matter is I have no idea how this will all end but I am content in the knowledge that there is one sitting on the throne of Heaven who knows exactly what will happen. I have a little advice for our leaders from a politician of many years ago and they would do well to come to the same conclusion as Nebuchadnezzar leader of ancient Babylon.
'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?' Daniel 4 v34-35
God is still on the throne!
The media are at fever pitch as 24 Hour news shows speculate along with the help of studio guests about how it will all pan out. Will the Liberals do a deal with the Tory party or will we end up with a Lib-lab pact?
The fact of the matter is I have no idea how this will all end but I am content in the knowledge that there is one sitting on the throne of Heaven who knows exactly what will happen. I have a little advice for our leaders from a politician of many years ago and they would do well to come to the same conclusion as Nebuchadnezzar leader of ancient Babylon.
'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?' Daniel 4 v34-35
God is still on the throne!
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
For Tom Lowry
A gentleman from Australia felt my recent blog on 'A Broken Society' asked more questions than gave answers. I thank him for his interesting feedback and seek to clarify by means of this blog.
Firstly, I agree with you Mr Lowry, Church and State should be kept separate and I do not suggest that government hold an evangelical crusade. That is supposed to be the job of the Church. 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel' was said to the disciples not to the politicians.
Secondly, I do not leave the entire blame for our nations spiritual condition at the feet of the government. Each individual born into this nation or yours has a responsibility for their own actions. I was merely pointing out that some government policy in areas of morality have been unbiblical and some of their policies of social engineering have left many with a selfish irresponsible mindset.
Thirdly, I am certainly not suggesting the disbandment of government. Government has been ordained by God and God's people are encouraged to support them with prayer and obey them, even if we do not particularly like their agenda. Paul speaking of government in his Roman Epistle said:-
'For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans 13 v3-5
Finally, it is not for me to advise people on how to vote. I would certainly suggest that if you have a candidate in a constituency who is a Born Again Christian and will stand up for the principles in God's word then vote for that candidate no matter which party they represent. At the end of the day whichever government comes out of tomorrows election it will have been a Sovereign God that has permitted them to takes the levers of power.
However, having asked me to advise people what they should do it is this. Prepare for Eternity! That is more important than who wins the election. Some advice of mine on this subject can be found on www.EternityWhere.com go to the media section of the site and you will find there a message about the Great White Throne Judgement.
God Bless you Tom.
Maurice
Firstly, I agree with you Mr Lowry, Church and State should be kept separate and I do not suggest that government hold an evangelical crusade. That is supposed to be the job of the Church. 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel' was said to the disciples not to the politicians.
Secondly, I do not leave the entire blame for our nations spiritual condition at the feet of the government. Each individual born into this nation or yours has a responsibility for their own actions. I was merely pointing out that some government policy in areas of morality have been unbiblical and some of their policies of social engineering have left many with a selfish irresponsible mindset.
Thirdly, I am certainly not suggesting the disbandment of government. Government has been ordained by God and God's people are encouraged to support them with prayer and obey them, even if we do not particularly like their agenda. Paul speaking of government in his Roman Epistle said:-
'For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans 13 v3-5
Finally, it is not for me to advise people on how to vote. I would certainly suggest that if you have a candidate in a constituency who is a Born Again Christian and will stand up for the principles in God's word then vote for that candidate no matter which party they represent. At the end of the day whichever government comes out of tomorrows election it will have been a Sovereign God that has permitted them to takes the levers of power.
However, having asked me to advise people what they should do it is this. Prepare for Eternity! That is more important than who wins the election. Some advice of mine on this subject can be found on www.EternityWhere.com go to the media section of the site and you will find there a message about the Great White Throne Judgement.
God Bless you Tom.
Maurice
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
A Broken Society
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has been talking a lot during the election campaign about mending Britain’s broken society. I would certainly agree with Mr Cameron that our society is badly in need of repair but I somehow doubt that we would have the same opinion as to how we got here or indeed how we fix the problem.
The Causes
A number of things have happened over the past few decades and successive governments whether Conservative and Labour have to bear some of the responsibility. The Thatcher government that arrived in office in 1979 certainly had its’ work cut out to restore our nations economy, the previous labour administration had destroyed the economy as Labour governments are want to do. Marxist lead unions were holding the government to ransom and we had just been through the winter of discontent. Margaret Thatcher rightly tackled Union domination and greatly improved our economic standing. However, there was a culture of self-improvement spawned, which meant people wanted to succeed in life no matter what the cost. This created a selfish materialist mindset in the minds of many which meant that people didn’t care whom they trampled on as they made their way up the ladder of success.
Then came the Blairite ‘New Labour’ administration in 1997. Certainly there were things that this government did that are to be commended. It increased investment in areas like health and social care that were perhaps a little neglected by the previous Tory administration. However, Labour made the mistake that all left leaning governments make. They think that we need the state to do everything for us and even think for us. They tell us how to eat, they tell us what opinions we must have on moral issues and generally invade every aspect of our lives. Pursuing this type of policy generates a mindset of dependence on the state which is self perpetuating and the state just has to get bigger and bigger costing more and more to run. This leaves a society where citizens have no sense of personal responsibility and expect the state to do everything for them. A good example of this is the recent flight chaos due to the ash cloud; stranded British citizens across the world seemed to think it was the governments job to get them home. What a joke! Did the government ask them to leave the country?
Not only have recent administrations created a nation of selfish irresponsible citizens but all of the major parties have lost their moral compass. There has been an erosion of the family where government considers two men together or two women together to be a family. Singles parents are encouraged to continue in their lifestyle while married couples are hammered by the tax system. The family should be the basic building block of society but the policies of both parties have done little to encourage it. The Liberal Democrats have not been in power for many years and that is good because their policies in these moral areas are even more ‘progressive’ than the two bigger parties.
Government has also been keen to push the teaching of evolution through our education system. This has succeeded in raising an army of citizens with no real thought of God or His word and in fact deny his very existence. When there is no God there is no absolute, where do we get right and wrong from if it does not come from an over arching authority, are we to decide our own morality? Is right and wrong to be decided by prevailing public opinion.
This Society is broken all right!
The Cure
What our nation needs more than anything else is a keen awareness of its state before God. Our people need to realise how far they are separated from God and the ultimate consequences of that. They need to turn in repentance towards an offended God and to put their faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope for Salvation. In short we need revival! Pray that the Lord would be pleased to move by His Spirit on our day and in our generation, we desperately need a Revival.
‘Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?’ Psalm 85 v6
The Causes
A number of things have happened over the past few decades and successive governments whether Conservative and Labour have to bear some of the responsibility. The Thatcher government that arrived in office in 1979 certainly had its’ work cut out to restore our nations economy, the previous labour administration had destroyed the economy as Labour governments are want to do. Marxist lead unions were holding the government to ransom and we had just been through the winter of discontent. Margaret Thatcher rightly tackled Union domination and greatly improved our economic standing. However, there was a culture of self-improvement spawned, which meant people wanted to succeed in life no matter what the cost. This created a selfish materialist mindset in the minds of many which meant that people didn’t care whom they trampled on as they made their way up the ladder of success.
Then came the Blairite ‘New Labour’ administration in 1997. Certainly there were things that this government did that are to be commended. It increased investment in areas like health and social care that were perhaps a little neglected by the previous Tory administration. However, Labour made the mistake that all left leaning governments make. They think that we need the state to do everything for us and even think for us. They tell us how to eat, they tell us what opinions we must have on moral issues and generally invade every aspect of our lives. Pursuing this type of policy generates a mindset of dependence on the state which is self perpetuating and the state just has to get bigger and bigger costing more and more to run. This leaves a society where citizens have no sense of personal responsibility and expect the state to do everything for them. A good example of this is the recent flight chaos due to the ash cloud; stranded British citizens across the world seemed to think it was the governments job to get them home. What a joke! Did the government ask them to leave the country?
Not only have recent administrations created a nation of selfish irresponsible citizens but all of the major parties have lost their moral compass. There has been an erosion of the family where government considers two men together or two women together to be a family. Singles parents are encouraged to continue in their lifestyle while married couples are hammered by the tax system. The family should be the basic building block of society but the policies of both parties have done little to encourage it. The Liberal Democrats have not been in power for many years and that is good because their policies in these moral areas are even more ‘progressive’ than the two bigger parties.
Government has also been keen to push the teaching of evolution through our education system. This has succeeded in raising an army of citizens with no real thought of God or His word and in fact deny his very existence. When there is no God there is no absolute, where do we get right and wrong from if it does not come from an over arching authority, are we to decide our own morality? Is right and wrong to be decided by prevailing public opinion.
This Society is broken all right!
The Cure
What our nation needs more than anything else is a keen awareness of its state before God. Our people need to realise how far they are separated from God and the ultimate consequences of that. They need to turn in repentance towards an offended God and to put their faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope for Salvation. In short we need revival! Pray that the Lord would be pleased to move by His Spirit on our day and in our generation, we desperately need a Revival.
‘Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?’ Psalm 85 v6
Monday, 3 May 2010
The Fear of the Lord
This time last week I blogged about how the activity of a vibrant church brought the fear of God upon society in general. We certainly need the fear of God to fall upon our nation, the wise man of the book of Proverbs said.
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:' Proverbs 1 v7
I was struck again by this truth last night as I listened to my friend James preach a gospel message about the Demonic of Gadara. The Lord Jesus Christ came into contact with a man possessed with possibly thousand of demons, in a demonstration of His omnipotent power he commanded that the unclean spirits depart which they did. The sight of this former mad demoniac now sitting at Christ's feet clothed and in his right mind made the people of that locality afraid.
'And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.' Mark 5 v15
When God works in power it causes people to fear, we just need to read the history of the revivals to see how communities were gripped with a Godly fear and reverence for Holy things when God moved by His Spirit in revival blessing.
Pray that the Lord would be pleased to move again in our day and generation. May we once again be a nation that fears God.
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:' Proverbs 1 v7
I was struck again by this truth last night as I listened to my friend James preach a gospel message about the Demonic of Gadara. The Lord Jesus Christ came into contact with a man possessed with possibly thousand of demons, in a demonstration of His omnipotent power he commanded that the unclean spirits depart which they did. The sight of this former mad demoniac now sitting at Christ's feet clothed and in his right mind made the people of that locality afraid.
'And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.' Mark 5 v15
When God works in power it causes people to fear, we just need to read the history of the revivals to see how communities were gripped with a Godly fear and reverence for Holy things when God moved by His Spirit in revival blessing.
Pray that the Lord would be pleased to move again in our day and generation. May we once again be a nation that fears God.
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