Since we look around in our country and do not face an enemy army in our midst, we need to understand just why this is. Seldom is one killed in America for his being a Christian. But this protection is not to be always. We know by the news, and even by the political stance of the candidates, that there is an enemy of America. It has become a political advantage to one party to claim that this war is evil, and a mistake, and should not be going on. Those who think it was brought on by the president, also claim that the president has divided the country. They admit that there is a division, but for purposes of gaining votes it is made to appear that there would be no division if the war had not been promoted.

Not all of us are equally astute as some others. We believe others, and seldom believe or claim that the emphasis may be misplaced. My purpose is to point out that there is a great change in this country which has come about in the last generation, less than fifty years. It is biblically necessary for us to get the facts here, for we need the facts to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. I am not here taking the side of either candidate. I simply want all Christians, but particularly Baptists, to learn what is happening in our society today and why.

First, we must understand that Jesus was giving the answers to His disciples, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:3, 4).

Discrepancies show up when we do not rightly divide the word of truth. We know that there was much war instigated by the Romans in the times early in the life of Jesus. The "you" thus may be applicable to Jews in that time (Matthew 23:37, 38), but Jesus' prophecy of the times extended to His return to the earth (Matthew 23:39). This raised questions then, and it should have. A number of words in his answering "when shall these things be?" may be noted by the fact that not every stone of the temple wall would be thrown down then (Matthew 24:2).

A fair number of those stones are still there. The temple itself was destroyed, and as completely as necessary to wean the Jews away from worshiping there. They went into the dispersion, and are still mostly in captivity. There is an Israel in the Middle East, but they are persecuted extensively and opposed strongly. They attempt to conform to the international rules for peace, but cannot get other nations to stop contending for their demise. Very little land is allowed for them. We who read the Bible cannot agree that God brought them back to the land. Even most preachers are saying that God has restored them to their own land, but the peace they were assured would be theirs is not there. America is unable to continually support them so they can maintain their government (Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 46:27, 28). God actually warns that those who concern themselves with her welfare will do so at great expense (Zechariah 12:3, 4).

My memory of the Scriptures reaching back over many years brought the words of Zechariah 12 to my mind, but not the chapter and verse, nor even the name of the book. So I used my concordance and searched for words which would bring this passage before me. "Concern" did not work. "Burden" did. Zechariah describes a time which tells us of the kingdom which God has desired among men. This is evident from Genesis on forward through the history of His chosen people.

Remembering that Jesus is answering questions as to "when these things shall be," we are sure that it is in the end of the age, just before and then after the Lord has returned and assumed His position as covenanted to David (2 Samuel 7:13). Daniel had that time in view (Daniel 12:10, 11; Matthew 24:15). It is not easy to associate the words of prophecy with explanations which pertain to the history of the world, but Bible readers are privileged to bring these things into an understandable picture.

We are not greatly puzzled when we are told that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). We can understand (Matthew 24:38) passages which tell us that life will be going on in a more or less ordinary fashion. "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). But we are not prepared to believe there will be a violent time of tribulation, when Christians will be persecuted, even killed, in many places. Most of us can accept that such may occur, but we are not prepared to believe that it will happen while we are still alive here in the world. Jesus said it would, and often told us to be prepared.

Maybe it is time we begin to understand why such could happen. We are already observing that the spirit of warmth and joy in the services of sound churches is not as it was when we were younger. I have lived long enough to see shouting and rejoicing in the services. People were praying and the lost were moved to repentance and faith often. We did not depend on a large, expensive meeting place to get outsiders interested. We did not build gymnasiums and install air conditioning to induce visitors to attend regular services. We often had more visitors than were willing to come inside and listen to the preaching, but many were interested and did attend. Today we use mechanical inducements to get them to be present, but does this not suggest that we lack the power of the gospel in our midst? What is hindering the power? God is not different. We have schools and prepared preachers, but they often do not draw a crowd.

Where Have We Failed?
Men have always failed to be the attraction or to allow it, as God intended. Even in Israel the covenant people were not as missionary minded as God meant for them to be. This situation will be changed in the Millennium (Isaiah 66:19-21).

The Lord's churches in the early days were very effective in reaching men in all directions over the world. The book of Acts shows this to be true. Paul confirmed this truth (Colossians 1:6, 23). Baptisms were frequent, even in a world where this truth was comparatively new.

The Bible student will recognize that the Christ was to be made known in every disciple. Every life was to reflect that the man trusting Jesus was dead to his old life and walking with Christ in a resurrection life (Romans 6:3-6).

It seems that we are blinded in two matters:
1. Is one who trusted Jesus as Savior now above sin, living a holy life?
2. Was he baptized merely as a form which has no present testimony?

The answer is No in both cases. The believer still sins, but is invited to repent and act like a believer. The baptized are saints, declared dead to sin and alive unto God.

Correcting This Error
The world today is not the same as it was when I was a boy. Would I go back to enjoy the old world? This mixes the discussion with changes in technology, learning in science, and easier living outwardly. Why were things so different then?

The home, the family, and the influence of the church have changed. We have seen enough to know that people do not have the same respect for homes and families. Why not? The culture does not reflect what it did when these two Divine institutions were nearer what they ought to be. It has become right to vote that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. A vicious counter culture has introduced much which God did not plant in the first family, or the first church.

What is culture? It may be defined simply as "the accumulation of beliefs and customs which society accepts as the standard for the time."

My dictionary gives six distinct definitions. The sense which I am now dealing with is "that life style based on one's rearing, his schooling, and his association with others." This will vary from one part of the country to another. This explains why there are more churches in the Southland than in the North, why it is more difficult to get a large response in other areas than here in the Southland. Our homes at one time reflected the faith of the parents. It still does. A brother who said he was reared in a home which was not Christian found it difficult until he became acquainted with a Christian girl whom he eventually married.

Marriage is Based on Christian Standards
It should be observed that the very word "Christian" does not mean the same thing to all people. A Bible based faith does things for one's habits, his choices, his standard of living. As that standard is changed, slackened, or dimmed, it has less effect on one's life. It can be easily seen why some people do not know much Bible knowledge. It was not taught in the home as he was young, or it was not as clear. When one has seen or felt the restraint of parents who are living by the Bible standard these standards will become a part of their lifestyle.

God Hates Divorce

"The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. 13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, Insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously." Malachi 2:12-16

The passage is rebuking the Jews for their sin of mistreating their wives through heathen customs of taking foreign women. They were violating the marriage covenant in doing so. God hated it, and required them to repent of such. Why? God requires one. One wife, one covenant people.

Today half the marriages in the land are dissolved by divorce. Even the Baptists, generally, are accepting this situation. If we go down through the list of those restrictions which parents in my boyhood taught we would find many things are now accepted which they did not accept. By accepting the lifting of these restrictions which reflected a standard found in the Bible, we do not feel or see how far afield we have gone.

Our society today is divided almost in half by those who feel a Bible standard is right for everyone and a standard held by the others who feel the Bible is a myth, old strange notions which, they feel, have been disproved by science. God is ruled out of our lives, at home, in education, in our work, and almost in our churches.

There has been a shift in our culture. This is promoted even among so-called scholars, asking language which is clear to those of us who have let it say what it originally said, to mean what they desire. The standard is not that taught by Christian parents to their children, but by those who reject God. Why would people reject Him? If He lives then we must answer to him. Judgment is one of the real facts about our God.

The coming of the Christ at the last trump is described: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9:27-28).

Also: Acts 17:31 --

"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Men may not know these passages, but they know that if there is a God like the believers speak of and follow, then they must stand before Him in judgment. We do not question that these men are sincere, but it is evident that they have not heeded, and do not believe the Bible is the Word of God. They reject the idea of a God who stands for absolute Truth. They prefer to accept their own beliefs as the standard. In fact, even Christians do not accept Scripture which sets forth any idea which they have decided is unreasonable. They will not allow a standard which is not to their liking. Is only that truth which you like, understand, and accept? So they become their own standard.

With this standard we rapidly exclude anything not to our liking, even if God set it forth, our parents and grandparents believed it, and even gave their lives for it at times.

When any people fail to accept the Bible, they are under another influence, though they may not know it. Satan is the God of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4): "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

The God of the Bible gives us every reason to know He is the true and living God. Satan, whom God says is a liar, persuades men to the contrary, reasoning logically, and they feel they have used their own judgment, and it is best. Men so blinded do not realize that they are blinded. They do not know that Satan has power to influence their minds and their hearts. Satan is very wise, or "smart," as we would say, but he is not all-wise nor all-powerful. He is ubiquitous. The fact that he is a spiritual being explains how he can be everywhere at all times, or omnipresent. I remember having this thought when I was a small boy. It did not then seem unreasonable. It is the Truth. One gets an idea, thinks it is his own, but it may have come from this spiritual deceiver. We can and must forestall his error by learning the Bible Truth. Only so are we safe from such deception. How often have we heard someone argue and prove his position by starting with the statement, "This is what I think." He thinks he knows his own mind and does not remember how many times in life, or maybe today, he has changed his mind. We must have a more stable basis for thinking than our ability to form an opinion.

Modernism
When I was a boy preacher the spiritual ideas which contradicted the Bible were described as modernism. We have advanced beyond that error today. I thought at the time that Missionary Baptists had all the information they could have by which to defeat the enemy; Bible knowledge and love of the brethren were our defense. Modernism along with carnality were enemies. In later years, as I came to understand the Bible's teaching about the Kingdom, about the covenants (which I did not get in school) and tried to point out some of these things it was not called modernism. It was called "new light." These names no longer discourage me, but it is discouraging to realize that even Baptists are sometimes unwilling to consider what the Bible says about many things. It appears that they know the New Testament better than the Old, so they just ignore or skip much of the early revelation which God gave us, as to Moses and Abraham. The school made me more careful. Much of their advice was good. A lot of time is wasted, for example, going to book stores and buying everything there. Sermon Outline books are often sought but these are simply makeshift means of finding something to preach. The Bible is full of history, theology, Devotion, and love which are often missed. God's love, and the Truth for devotional thinking and acting are just the same as when Jacob, Joseph, or the prophets in the Old Testament faced error. I thought the place to start studying the Bible as a new, uninformed student was the Gospel of John . John also wrote Revelation, but that is not the place to start. Where should one start? The beginning book, Genesis, is the best place. The stories are simpler, the doctrine is wrapped in living examples of men of faith. I wish I had started there much sooner.

A believer with a Bible can find all that he needs in that Book. He should read it prayerfully, believing that its author meant for it to be understood, all of it, and will assist the humble student seeking Truth and desiring to honor its Author. This is the attitude I want to find in every Christian. That man will be protected against the inroads of modernism and postmodernism, which is a good name for culture. Society, both in the church and out, has accumulated a measure of Truth but it is corrupted more and more by the "god of this world."

Every man who has not learned to direct his heart toward the God of heaven becomes an emissary of Satan's falsehood unless he has been surrounded and completely shielded by Bible Truth, the kind on the written page, and the kind flowing from loving lives of those who live close to God. That is the true spirit of missions. When one is instructed to use mechanical means, as knocking on doors, inviting people to church, and on and on, he becomes a witness for some local religion, but not necessarily of the Gospel.

"Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" John 14:22, 23

This short passage reveals the essence of the relationship which Jesus used to comfort His disciples who were broken hearted over his announcement that he was going away, back to the Father. That group was the original church, not publicly so called at the time, but which he promised to be with all the days to the finish of the age (Matthew 28:20). No individual could be around to claim that promise, but his church has been here "all the days until the finish of the age." That is the way the Greek says it. A church can claim that promise every time they meet. It is conducive to genuine worship. Study the passage with me a minute.

Judas, not Iscariot asked how He would manifest Himself to the church and not to the world. You must love Him so much that you obey Him by teaching all who hear your words, teaching them to observe, not just quote or learn, those words, but teaching all that He had commanded the church, and (then the promise), "lo I am with you all the days until the finish of the age." Note: Not only His presence, but if we love the Christ, Jesus said that His Father would love him, and then, do not miss it. He said, "We will come unto him and make our abode with him." Jesus moves in to live with one. The Father comes to live there also. The "we" certainly includes those two, but I feel it includes the Holy Spirit also.

We can claim his presence, we can enjoy the message, day after day, as we observe and teach it to others. Best of all we can enjoy the presence of the Trinity in a fellowship which increases our devotion and rejoices in Him most intensely. Dare we ask for more?

This picture describes the gracious provision by which a believer can maintain his position and inherit the promise of the kingdom when Jesus returns. Satan strikes with the deception of the culture to turn one away, cause him to neglect, or forget the promise. It has been said that the culture presents the greatest threat to a believer's steadfastness since the first century. An average church member becomes involved with job, with family needs where work provides the means, and then often sports claim the time which he needs for devotion and fellowship with Christ.

God's promise to be with us is there for us, but we must give Him the time to tender our hearts, open our eyes to Him, and fill us with His Spirit. Possibly the world would not always understand why his tenderness could appeal to a hardened sinner, but with God directing His life the believer is able to show "the spirit of Christ" to one who did not look for such. The sinner may be convicted and brought into such a mind as directs him to forsake the world and trust the Savior. The sweet spirit of Christ is the only effective counter witness to that of the culture after it has deteriorated or suffered the shift which removed God-thoughts and Spirit influence, leaving it with only the subtle condemning effects of human wisdom and misguided relationships.

The Spirit of Christ
This is that spirit which Bible believers need to counteract the influence of the culture which is a reflection of the spirit of the world: 1 Corinthians 2:12: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Observe that the translators of the KJV did not capitalize "spirit" here. "The spirit which is of God" does not capitalize spirit either, as it is not here a part of a title. Spirit of Christ is capitalized each time, because it is part of the title of the Christ (See: Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11). However, in these two passages the translators seemed to feel that a more direct reference is made to God in both these passages.

Look with me at each of these. I feel that in both cases the reference when it says Spirit of Christ is a use of "Spirit," not directly to the person but to the "spirit," that is the disposition of Christ as He is under the influence of the Holy Spirit, in the same way one of us can and should be. As the Person of the Spirit is allowed to deal with our hearts we have a changed disposition. Our attitude recognizes the spirit which was in the Christ. It may also be in us, but this comes only as we walk by faith, yielded to him in full commitment.

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:9:

The passage (Romans 8:9) does say that the Spirit of God must dwell in him for Him to have the "spirit of Christ." I believe that only as one is a part of the body of Christ does he have the indwelling Spirit. I know this produces a challenge of newlightism, but I leave the conclusion to my readers to seriously consider the facts relative to this relationship. Take into consideration just who it was that received the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. Remember that it pleased the Christ for all His own to be with Him where He is. He promised to be present with the church to the finish of the age. Keep in mind that the church is His body. Observe that the Spirit is given only to those who obey Him: "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32).

These things did not happen to Old Testament believers by virtue of their trusting God to save them. In fact it could not happen until Jesus was glorified (John 7:38, 39);

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

Take a careful look at 1 Peter 1:10-12 and observe that the Old Testament prophets searched but were not able to grasp the salvation of which they had been told, but which did not come until Jesus had paid for our sins and been resurrected and became our High Priest. They surely knew of a salvation, but they were not informed as to the salvation with eternal glory which had to wait for the glory of Christ, His resurrection. The glory comes with the return of Christ as King to sit on the throne of His father, David.

We are privileged in this age to enter into that glory while we yet live in natural bodies here on earth. That glory includes the witnessed presence of eternal life. It includes the filling with the Spirit for everyone who meets the condition of being buried with Christ in baptism. The picture teaches us that we are no longer a part of this age where Satan has full control of individuals. We belong to the next age. Our Lord has already entered in and we become one with Him, with His faith, resurrected with Him to walk in newness of life.

If what I am writing sounds like a fairy tale, or wishful thinking, you may be missing the meaning of being dead with Christ and alive with Him. Follow those two expressions in the New Testament and see how that at baptism we become one with Him. I am aware that believers in a universal church handle this differently. They assume that it happened when one first trusted the Lord in first faith. The Bible, however, is clear on its becoming reality when our faith is walking with Christ, into his death and out by His resurrection. Please, do not feel that our disciplined walk is a matter of keeping the law of righteousness as though under the law of Moses. We have been set free from that law. There is a law of righteousness which is by faith.

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." Another verse calls for attention: Romans 9:31: "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness." Romans 3:27

Israel sought for righteousness, supposing that observing the deeds of the law was it. Some even supposed they had gotten it. They did not know about its spiritual content. Jesus did and he alone can attain to such righteousness in his holiness and perfection. He then is able to impute the righteousness to those who are identified with Him. Galatians 6:2: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" Philippians 3:9

The righteousness which is "through the faith of Christ" is what we need and seek. It is not merely that Christ's faith was such as kept the law for us, nor that any obeying of commandments, even believing, appropriates that righteousness. It is thus:

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." Romans 3:27

This law of faith functions for Jews or Gentiles, not by its making it possible for either to be righteous through their keeping the law. It is that doctrine of the Gospel by which Christ is made unto us righteousness.

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30

There you have it. If only we could begin to see Jesus, the Christ, as our Savior, our hope, and every quality that God would have duplicated in us.