A time for courage

By: American Decency Staff

July 11, 2012

 

“In the later day, there will be perilous times.”  Most of you have read this powerful text from II Timothy 3.

Paul was writing his last Epistle and making it ever so clear that things are going to get worse.  He listed nineteen different characteristics of  sin  that are arising.

Check them out for yourself in II Timothy 3:2-9.  They are all in full display right before our very eyes, some of them in the highest places.

 

Paul’s words are addressed to his young disciple Timothy (and to the body of Christ)

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom^[a] you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God^[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:10-17.

 

Godly and bold leadership are needed by those capable of hearing His voice and following.  This email is just a reminder to be continually preparing as He leads us day by day.

For further consideration  —

 

A time for Courage:

Last weekend, Michelle Obama encouraged churches to be bold in taking a political stand. The wife of the President of the United States told the congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville Tennessee, “To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better—no place better,.”

The First Lady defended her position by saying, “Because ultimately, these are not just political issues – they are moral issues. “They’re issues that have to do with human dignity and human potential, and the future we want for our kids and our grandkids.”

I agree with her. If Jesus Christ is Lord of all, He should be Lord of our stand on political issues. Too many preachers are afraid to speak up, not just because they fear their church might lose its tax-exempt status but because some church members will protest, “You shouldn’t mix politics and religion,”, and threaten to leave.  …

But as the Roman Catholic Church has recently demonstrated, when the government infringes on moral and spiritual issues we have an obligation to speak up. Religious freedom is not just a political issue. Gay marriage is not just a political issue. The right of the unborn to live is not just a political issue. Preachers who fail to speak out on these topics are lacking in moral courage.

I’ve just read the book Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. I’ve often wondered where the German church was during the 1930’s when Hitler and the Nazi’s rapidly ascended to power. This excellent book explains what happened.
http://www.bobrussell.org/

Listen to our daily radio broadcast: “A Decency Minute”

On Sirius XM Family Talk today: Both men and women are responsible for moral purity. Click here

Further on this subject: Dressing to Attract – Click here

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