Dear Concerned Christian Americans,
A new year has arrived, and we sure have our work cut out for us. Throughout the Christmas season, there are so many who oppose nativity scenes and saying “Merry Christmas”. However, there are so many who think if they say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” they are “okay”. I am all for saying Merry Christmas and having nativity sets, but unfortunately there are too many that do only that. We have the most important calling in the world. Philippians 1:27 says “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Wouldn’t it be great if our lifestyle and witness was so great that people across the nation would hear it and want to know the reason of the hope that is in us. It takes more than saying “Merry Christmas” to do this.
Romans 1:16-17
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” When we don’t witness like we should we fall into the category of being ashamed; not doing what we know to do, which is sin. This happens when we are not living by faith. Because we have not been the salt and light that we are supposed to be this has happened. Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Too often we think that we are okay as long as we are not doing the terrible things talked about in this passage, but it is this kind of thinking that has allowed this lifestyle to become the new culture of America. Instead we need to realize this: Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” The word pleasure can mean allow. If we do, assent to, or allow any of the things in the previous verses we are guilty. Some things we have no control over, but we had better be doing what we can. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” If we stop at avoiding the sins of the world, we have only gone halfway. We must also reprove them.
One of the tragedies in the world is the hijacking of the word “love”. The world has confused love and hate, and too many believers have stopped speaking the truth because it will be called hate. We must get our definition of love from the Bible. Romans 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” The only way to have a love that is not hypocritical is to begin with detesting evil and gluing yourself to good. Of course, the only way to know what is good and evil is to study the Bible. If we love people, we will warn them about sin regardless of the consequences. If we love people, we will tell them about the good, and there is no better thing then the Gospel.
We should not be surprised that this country has become as wicked as it has. The vast majority of our young people are going to schools that teach evolution and don’t allow prayer or the Bible. They also live in homes that do no different. Fisher Ames, author of the final wording for the First Amendment said, “… we have a dangerous trend beginning to take place in our education. We’re starting to put more and more textbooks into our schools. … We’ve become accustomed of late to putting little books in the hands of children containing fables with moral lessons. We are spending less time in the classroom on the Bible, which should be the principle text in our schools. The Bible states these great moral lessons better than any other man made book.” Unless we allow God to use us to be salt and light to this lost and dying world, we have no hope of seeing a revival. We must do what we can to make a difference in every institution that God made whether it is the family, the government, or the church.
If you live in Iowa, don’t forget to make a difference at the caucus on Tuesday, January 21.
God Bless and Happy New Year,
Pastor Matt Floyd
Psalm 16:8-9 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.