"I WAS FIRED from my part-time job at Examiner.com for services no longer needed. Yesterday they had promoted me as a reliable news-source. My hits were going up the last few days. Bing cycled two of my articles on their news-feed. I have been a faithful writer for six years with not one complaint. Now, after five articles on gay marriage, written in an irenic or newsy tone, my last one, on harassment of Christians, is a fitting note for a new age of conformity. All my articles are purged even as other writers with defunct accounts still have theirs up. Diversity is dead. Long live Uniformity. [This is not a substantial source of income, praise God.]"
Thus I wrote on my Facebook page this Wednesday afternoon. Below is the last article I wrote, 30 minutes before I was terminated for no specific reason:
The increasing marginalization of Christianity and why it is a good thing
Christians in America are becoming increasingly marginalized. They are not persecuted in the traditional sense of the word. Rather they are legally harassed by the homosexual lobby. A lobby that has now legalized gay marriage, promising greater marginalization.
Marginalization and harassment, intimidation and bullying, these are the words to describe the church's future. And that will be a good thing.
Why?
Consider: many Christians in American are still confused about Jesus. And with a nation claiming over 70% of its population as adherents to Christianity, biblical ignorance is a given.
With these sad statistics, it is unremarkable that the church in America will see dark days. For God is not pleased with ignorant Christians:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 6:7).
Another sin that needs purging is the sin of indifference. Indifference to God's Word, to be sure, and indifference to God's people. Barna has shown what many pastors in the thick of it know: Christians are attending worship less consistently. Public prayer, preaching and the sacraments are vital for Christian growth.
But it is not only biblical ignorance and lazy practices that God purges. He also purges the false doctrines that are a cancer in the body of Christ.
The natural response for some may be: "Well, that is the liberal churches for you"—is it? The acceptance of homosexuality among Evangelicals has only risen over the years.
Different church traditions will certainly have different sins. But, thus far, the numbers have shown for decades widespread ignorance, sinfulness and theological error.
This is not a finger-pointing exercise but a clarion warning. We ought to look to ourselves, our families and our churches with the penetrating light of God's Word and Spirit. We ought to cry out to the Lord for purity and protection.
God uses persecution and marginalization for the good of the church, to purge her from sin, to redirect her eyes back to her Savior. And she needs it. And I need it too.
The Presbytery of the Mid-West of the Orthodox Presbyterian Churchis hosting a talk on the family integrated church movement by localPastor Shawn Mathis . The seminar will be March 20, at 7PM, at New Covenant Community Church in New Lenox,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Billy Graham is known world-wide as a preacher. So it is quite the change to see him in his new movie,The Cross, sitting in a comfortable chair, talking with his audience. It was his same old come-to-Jesus message but packaged in the new internet...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
With Mr. Phillip's recent public admission of an "inappropriate relationship" with another woman, there has been much speculation on internet websites and blogs. Not all the speculation is coming from those who disagree with his approach...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
There will be a public discussion about all issues germane to the crisis in the families, including family integrated churches and the like. The building in Denver is small but the event will be recorded. The hosting church has made the formal...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Colorado is host to twenty churches that claim to be "family-integrated." What exactly are they claiming with such a name? The claim is that age-segregation in education (Sunday school, vacation bible school, etc.) is not warranted by the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
This week many Christian articles will focus upon the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This is a favorite theme of Calvinists.Although Calvinism is popularly known (if at all) for the doctrine of predestination. It is slightly less known...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Dear Christian reader,Harold Camping has done it again. He has made another prediction about the return of Christ. This time in 2011. (contintued here)
A recent poll of Evangelical leaders lists their top moral concerns. The National Association of Evangelicals conducts monthly polls among many denominational, university, publishing and missionary leaders.This month revealed these leaders' top...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. Amos 8:11 These words speak of today. They speak of America. And they...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
