What do you get when you see England’s Defender of the (Christian) Faith promote Muslim holidays while “mum’s the word” regarding Easter, and the President of a nation which claims to be “one nation under God” says, “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make Heaven”? (Those are the topics of our first two Decency Minutes this week.)
You get a much-needed reminder that is found in our third Decency Minute: “We need Jesus” (wherever we are). You also get the realization that Christ’s words of warning are coming true before our very eyes – “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:11-12)
Long before the title “Defender of the Faith” was conferred upon the monarch of England by Pope Leo X in 1521, who at that time was Henry VIII, Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, urged that believers “should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” John Wesley pointed out that to contend earnestly was to be done “humbly, meekly, and lovingly; otherwise your contention will only hurt your cause, if not destroy your soul.” Nonetheless, we ARE to contend; we are contending for truth and for souls, lest our faith be seen as inconsequential and souls are tossed into hellfire at the end of life, as though we didn’t even care.
As I wrote in our latest newsletter (pgs. 1, 4): Jude verse three urges us to “earnestly contend for the faith;” it’s a strong term that originally referred to a contest in a battle or a public game. It’s root word means “to stand over and fight in defense of something.” Remember, Paul urges us to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). Throughout the Scriptures we are called to battle, being reminded that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:3-6).
It is only real love for our Master, for Truth, and by God’s grace that soldiers of the cross will be strong enough to contend for the faith, sanctified by the Spirit to obedience to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them who use us wrongly and persecute us. (Matt. 5:44) But to do so, we must take the faith seriously. It’s not just a lifestyle of “Churchianity;” our culture has moved on, pressing us to be faithful or feckless. True Christianity tells us that we are no longer our own – it is Christ living in us and through us. That means something: We have died to self, are risen in Him, and are meant to be – by God’s grace and to our Lord’s glory – holy overcomers. (End of newsletter excerpt)
To “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” is to speak the truths and tenets of the faith boldly and to steadfastly live them out that others might see Christ in us and know of His love working through us. Let me cite just a few of the many verses that give us ground to contend for:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5-6) The verses following command to teach God’s commands to our children in every walk of life. God’s Word is a practical word for every aspect of our living. Obedient living shows our love for God.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) There is a balance of justice and mercy which is to be lived out in the life of a believer, even in forgiveness. Even as Jesus is full of truth and grace, our aim, by God’s grace, is to exemplify our Example; it is certainly a sanctifying process, trusting in Him.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jn. 14:6) Jesus pulled no punches and neither should we; Jesus is exclusively – absolutely the ONLY way – to heaven. With so many false doctrines and false hopes out there, we must be bold in proclaiming the exclusivity of Jesus – doing so from a motive of love and with inviting words of grace.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Belief is an action word; it calls us to do something. This is contending; this is what keeps darkness, evil, and apathy at bay – not by our own strength, but by the will of God. To hide our light under a bushel is to invite darkness to overtake the space where you are.
As you listen to these Decency Minutes (or read them), may the Spirit move us to an urgency of contending for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints.
After the Bible Society reported a “quiet revival” occurring in the United Kingdom, the pollsters retracted their study in short order, saying that a number of the responses were fraudulent.
A secular group instead insists the data says the nation has turned away from Christianity. Only 2.6% of young respondents identified as Anglican, once the official religion of England. It is the Anglican church which grants the King of England the title, “Defender of the Faith.” Yet, this year, King Charles the third made proclamations honoring Muslim holidays, while staying silent about Easter.
This year, our President made an Easter proclamation honoring Christ’s sacrifice. Our astronaut on the Artemis II did as well, and our downed pilot’s first words upon being rescued from Iran were “God is good.”
May God grant that the US does not reject our religious heritage, but turns back to the faith of our fathers.
Some of you may remember this statement made by President Trump in October of 2025: “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make Heaven.”
Soon after, Evangelist Franklin Graham wrote a letter to the President which the President shared on Palm Sunday. If any of you have similar concerns, please take the truth of this letter to heart:
It stated: “The only One who can save us from hell is Jesus Christ. You cannot save yourself… The only way to Heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. God requires of us to turn from our sins, and by faith, believe in our heart, that Jesus came to Earth, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day.” (End quote)
I urge you to trust in Jesus for salvation, today.
Since time began, mankind has echoed Psalm 8: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?”
Last week astronaut Victor Glover looked down from those heavens to Earth, and answered that question: “I read the Bible, and I look at all the amazing things that were done for us,” – as he then marveled at the oasis which our loving God created for man in the vast emptiness of space.
Psalm 8 goes on to make clear that we’re not meaningless specks, but are created for a purpose. As did Victor Glover, who reminded us that we’re commanded to love God with all that we are.
As Glover said before launching into space, “We need Jesus, whether on Earth or circling the moon.”
To view this article in your browser, Click Here
For more information, articles and newsletters, please check out our website at https://americandecency.org/
You can support ADA financially by visiting: https://give.cornerstone.cc/americandecency
Call us:
231-924-4050Email us:
info@americandecency.orgWrite us:
American Decency AssociationCopyright 2026 American Decency
