December 15, 2023 -- Matthew 2:7-12 -- Do not be distracted by climate change but stand guard against cultural climate change
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7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Matthew 2:7-12 ESV
Worship wars. Generally this term is used to describe musical selections and preferences among Christian denominations. It is bigger and more insidious that than. Worship wars, as seen here in Matthew, is a tactic of the Devil to keep Christians from focusing on what really matters.
The wise men desire to worship Jesus. They know Him to be the legitimate King of the Jews and Lord of History. King Herod, the place holder king appointed by the Roman Empire is seeking to hold power. He proclaims to the Magi his desire to find Jesus and worship him. This is nefarious. He desires to kill Jesus. Herod actually worships power.
Believers in Christ, we must see Christmas and the Christmas war as it is portrayed in Matthew as part of the great cultural wars that surround us. Climate change is a distraction. Os Guinness noted that Christians must be more concerned about the cultural climate change. What follows is a lengthy quotation from his discussion with Al Mohler.
You even take religious freedom, that was ’88, the high watermark
of religious freedom was probably the Religious Freedom Restor-
ation Act in ‘93. Only three, as you know, voted against it in the
entire Congress. And since then 20 years, particularly the 8 years
under President Obama, I would put it down to three R’s: the
Reducers, who have reduced religious freedom to freedom of worship;
the Removers, who particularly in the light of 9/11 saw religion as a
messy, dangerous thing and now freedom of religion is freedom from
religion for many of these people; but the really insidious one is the
third one, the so-called Rebranders, who now paint religious freedom
as a code word for bigotry and hatred and so on. And that’s a deliberate
tactic, as you know, the LGBT people. I’m not an American, I’m an
outsider. But religious freedom is part of the genius of this country.
Now we as followers of Jesus, we’re the pioneers of this. Go back to
Tertullian and Lactantius, then since the Reformation, Thomas Howell
and Roger Williams, your great Baptists and so on. We’re the pioneers.
And it is the genius of America. And in one generation we’re throwing
this away.
“Thinking in Public”
Evangelicalism in One Lifetime: A Conversation with Os Guinness - AlbertMohler.com
What Os Guinness is seeing in the United States of America is certainly true for us here in Canada. There is a cultural climate change taking place that requires a strong response. The Christian response requires clarity. Knowing the culture and preaching with Biblical vigor pointing out what is really going on. Second, raising children who can discern right from wrong. Jesus is the only Truth. Third, understand the family is the strongest and most important building block of society. The government seeks to undermine families in order to exercise greater control over the mind and attitudes of people. The public school system is in the grip of unbelief and promoting the government's twisted agenda. Do not be blind to this. Ultimately the question is: who will you worship? Knowing there will be huge implications, will you still worship Jesus Christ, and Him alone?
Our Father in heaven great and glorious is Your Name and holy are all Your ways. Thank You for the reconciling blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You, Spirit of the Living God for guiding the people of God throughout history, in times of upheaval and government tyranny that is wickedly clothed as compassion designed to help the people. Continue, O King Jesus, to shepherd Your people through the cultural climate change that we experience. With the saints in glory and the angels we declare: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15b) Amen.
https://youtu.be/usfiAsWR4qU?si=rsnWEqmT4dO3Z_1W Hallelujah Chorus (listen for the quotation of Revelations 11:15)
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