J Gresham Machen published a book in the 1920s describing the challenge facing the church of his day. I’m finding that some of what he predicted as the result of cultural trends in his time is impressively applicable 100 years after his writing.

For example, consider this paragraph:

The whole development of modern society has tended mightily toward the limitation of the realm of freedom for the individual man. The tendency is most clearly seen in socialism; a socialistic state would mean the reduction to a minimum of the sphere of individual choice. Labor and recreation, under a socialistic government, would both be prescribed, and individual liberty would be gone. But the same tendency exhibits itself today even in those communities where the name of socialism is most abhorred. When once the majority has determined that a certain regime is beneficial, that regime without further hesitation is forced ruthlessly upon the individual man. It never seems to occur to modern legislatures that although “welfare” is good, forced welfare may be bad. In other words, utilitarianism is being carried out to its logical conclusions; in the interests of physical well-being the great principles of liberty are being thrown ruthlessly to the winds.

-J Gresham Machen – Christianity and Liberalism

These are chilling words, especially since we do not seem to have learned any lessons from the 20th Century as we move into the 21st. In my own country, I am noticing an alarming trend where some people in power attempt to silence those who disagree with their narrative of how society should be arranged.

We need to look no further back than the Covid-19 crisis to find evidence of this tendency. During the crisis, there was no room for debate, and in many locations, there was no freedom to operate outside of the stipulations of the elites who held the power.

Liberty was sacrificed by using fear to manipulate the people into compliance. What freedoms will be taken away during the next crisis? The freedom to proclaim our belief in Jesus? The freedom to assemble to worship?

Even so, I am encouraged that Jesus promised to build his church and the gates of Hell will not prevail over it.

Jesus cannot be stopped, no matter who attempts to do so.

The opening verses of Matthew 5 are commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. Each of the nine beatitudes begins with “Blessed are . . .” and then provides a condition for blessing. I wrote an introduction to the Beatitudes in a previous post which you might find helpful.

In the USA, we might think we are blessed if we have a loving family, a good church, a comfortable house, a reliable car, a rewarding job, and . . . Each of our lists would include things that most people, of every culture and time in history would think necessary for happiness or to feel blessed. We likely think of blessing in terms of physical comfort and pleasant distraction. But Jesus shows us that he thinks otherwise.

F. Hauck, in the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, refers to the beatitudes in Matthew 5 as “sacred paradoxes” where God affects a reversal of all human values. He goes on to say,

“True happiness is not for the rich and secure, but for the poor and oppressed who are rich only in pity, purity, and peace. Blessing is also for the persecuted, for those who hear the message of the kingdom (Mt. 13:16), for those who meet it with faith (Lk. 1:45), for those who make no false demands (Jn. 20:29), for those who watch (Lk. 12:37) and stand fast (of Jesus (Jn. 13:17),”

What hit me this morning is that none of the conditions listed by Jesus are tied to the current situation of the one to be blessed. The conditions for blessing are internal and not external. They are based on choices we can make, not circumstances forced upon us. More specifically, in those conditions for blessing, Jesus outlines the correct response to the things that trouble us.

I am writing this to remind myself and my readers to focus on allowing my thinking to be transformed (Romans 12:2) so that I can see things from God’s perspective and be obedient to what he has called me to do no matter what goes on around me.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:5, ESV

I read the opening verses of John this morning and the phrase quoted above grabbed my attention.

Later in the same Gospel, John records Jesus acknowledging that the world brings us plenty of tribulation and trouble (John 16:33) but also tells us we can be of good cheer despite that trouble.

How?

We have difficulties in relationships, health challenges, financial challenges, and sometimes life is just difficult. On top of that, we have a culture in the West that is increasingly hostile to Christian belief and practice.

In my country, we are months away from a Presidential election where one of the candidates is a reputed womanizer and certainly a bully and the other openly promotes abortion and policies that lead to the breakdown of the family. When I listen to the news or hear ads from the candidates, I want to put my hands over my ears and scream, “la, la, la, la.”

Darkness seems to be increasing.

But then there is Jesus, the Light of the World, shining in the darkness.

John reminds me that the only response to the darkness is to focus on and walk toward the light. If I keep my eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and remember that not only will he come again and set things right, he is now with me even in the hard things (Matthew 28:20), then I can maintain equilibrium and have some sense of peace.

The darkness cannot overcome the light.

That promise is like a life preserver that keeps me afloat when adrift on the water of this culture.

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.”

Jonah 4:1, ESV

Those of us who have been in the church for a while can read or hear Bible stories without allowing ourselves to be challenged by them. They can be so familiar that we encounter them without thinking about what we are to learn from them.

In listening to the story of Jonah this morning, I was struck by the phrase I quoted above. Jonah was angry that the Ninevites repented and that God showed them mercy. Jonah had contempt for those to which he was called to preach.

When I was young, the church I attended was a small Conservative Baptist congregation in a borough in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was a group of people who were like-minded and comfortable (for the most part) with each other. But the church was not experiencing any growth no matter what standard was used to measure it.

One Sunday a Christian ministry that performed puppet shows to share the gospel message was featured in the morning worship service. The local newspaper learned about it and sent a reporter to cover the event. This was a great opportunity for the church to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ.

What stands out from that event is that some (many?) in the congregation were angry that the reporter came into the church wearing blue jeans with his hair long enough to have a ponytail. This they considered improper attire for Sunday Worship. Not only did they disapprove, they did a good job communicating their contempt for the reporter’s appearance.

Jonah was angry rather than delighted about God’s acceptance of the Ninevites; the church members were angry that God had brought this young man into the church to hear the gospel.

Lest we begin to feel contempt for those people or Jonah, I am reminded that we all tend to see the worst in others while ignoring it in ourselves. This is why Jesus gave us this parable:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:3–5, ESV

Jesus used a humorous story to show us that we all tend to see the small defects in others while ignoring the large ones in ourselves. If you would like additional observations on this parable follow this link to a previous post.

The best way we can put ourselves in the proper frame of mind to spread the gospel is to keep in mind our own need for it.

It is hard to condemn others when we understand that flaws and rebellion are deeply seated in our own hearts and we all need God’s grace which has been extended to us through Jesus Christ.

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