Dear
Friend,
A
few months ago, I wrote to you about a massive transformation taking
place in America - the
same
which took place in ancient Israel in its last days - a nation
calling evil ‘good.’ But what
happens
when a nation calls evil ‘good’? It will begin to call good
‘evil’....
THE
WITCH HUNTS OF BAAL
Word
for the Month & for Wednesday, Oct. 1
Scripture:
Gen. 2:21-24
See
Messages: The Dark Trinity
In
the days of Elijah, the nation that had once known God metamorphosed. The people turned away from the God of their fathers
and turned to Baal. They promoted sexual immorality. They lifted up
their children as sacrifices. They called evil 'good,' -- and then
good 'evil.' The prophets of Baal, who had once been viewed with
disfavor, now were placed in positions of power. They turned their
fury and vengeance on those who had remained faithful to the God of
Israel, the prophets and the righteous. They persecuted, hunted, and
drove them into hiding.
America
had also once known God. And America is likewise undergoing a
metamorphosis. It is rapidly turning from the God of its founders. It
is likewise promoting sexual immorality. It is likewise spilling the
blood of its unborn children. And those who oppose God's Word are
increasingly lifted up as heroes, icons, leaders, and placed in
positions of power and influence. The result is a growing persecution
of those who remain faithful to the God of the Bible. What has been
called "tolerance" worked only in one direction --
tolerance for that which is against the Bible.
Not
long ago, most Americans believed in and upheld the standard and
definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. But at breakneck
speed, those who believe what has always been believed, and what the
majority believed until recently -- are now the targets of witch
hunts.
One
of the most public of these witch hunts involved the CEO of Mozilla,
developer of the Firefox browser, Brendan Eich. Shortly after
assuming his position in his company, a firestorm broke out over his
past. What had he done? A criminal act? An act of immorality? He had,
years before, contributed to a campaign to uphold the biblical
definition of marriage. Because of this contribution, because of
upholding the definition of marriage as in the Bible and as in the
thousands of years of human history, members of gay advocacy groups
demanded he be punished and lose his job.
His
company, the company he, himself had helped to create, apparently
promptly went along with the cries for retribution -- and announced
Eich's "resignation" soon after, offering profuse apologies
for not, in effect, firing him even faster.
How
did these groups know of Eich's private contribution? Members of the
United States government had leaked the names of those who had
contributed to the purpose of upholding marriage as it has always
been known.
And,
if you haven't been aware, these incidents are becoming increasingly
common. The head of Chick-fil-a, found his entire franchise
boycotted, blacklisted, and vilified for simply saying he was in
favor of traditional marriage. Recently, Phil Robertson of the
television show Duck Dynasty, was promptly suspended from his own
series for the crime of saying that he didn't believe in
homosexuality.
If
someone from America's past was told that one day people who believed
that marriage was between a man and a woman would be punished for
that belief -- they would find it unbelievable and apocalyptic. But
it's real.
How
will you respond in the time of your testing? Will you hide your
faith? Or hold back? That would be the true sin. If the dark is
growing darker, the lights must shine brighter. What did Elijah do?
He stood in boldness, in truth, in courage, in God. And God blessed
Him, anointed Him, and mightily used Him. You , my friend, do the
same. Be strong this month and live without compromise. And may God
greatly bless you as you do!
Your
brother and co-laborer in His love and service,
Jonathan
