Wednesday Bible Study, February 18, 2009
Heritage & Hope
Introduction: Winston Churchill stated, “The courage to look hard realities in the face is essential to effective leadership.” He also stated, “A leader must see himself as the guardian of a heritage for future generations.” Karl Marx stated, “A people without a heritage are easily persuaded.”
Over the next few months we will explore our Christian heritage through a two hour DVD from the Wall Builders entitled “The Spiritual Heritage of the United States of America”. Additionally, we will look at several Old Testament revivals. I believe there is hope for our nation because I believe in II Chronicles 7:14. However, as Churchill said, we must have “the courage to look hard realities in the face…”
I. Nature abhors a vacuum
A. Some things in the recent stimulus package:
1. 246 million to stimulate the Hollywood economy
2. 142 billion to the Department of Education. Do you want Nancy Pelosi or parents making decisions about education?
3. 87 billion to bail out states that overrun Medicaid payments. In this there is a possible back door for federal funding of abortion. Billions go to family planning groups including Planned Parenthood thanks to Cong. Henry Waxman (D – California)
4. 400 million for STD Prevention (CDC states that about 19 million new STD infections occur annually in the US)
5. 50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
B. President John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion… Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (Separation… pg.9).
C. The Netherlands was the home of the Pilgrims before they set sail for America. How “far” have we moved from our Christian heritage? Take a look at some recent laws:
1. 2000 – Prostitution was legalized
2. 2001 – Homosexual marriage adopted
3. 2002 – Euthanasia legalized
D. A secular journalist explained how these laws came about: “It is not a coincidence that several of these laws have been passed in recent years. For the first time in a century the Christian Democrats are not in the coalition government” (Israel My Glory, Jan/Feb 2009, pg.25).
E. The Christian Democrats are a party populated by Christians from the Dutch Reformed Church. What happened to the church in the Netherlands?
1. Rather than focusing on preaching God’s Word they became embroiled in controversies.
2. The controversies were about:
a. worship styles
b. songs to sing in Sunday services
F. A sobering thought for Americans: Both the US House and the US Senate passed hate-crime laws in 2007. Conservatives were able to pull them during conference committee meetings. “I was extensively involved in the issue on Capitol Hill, and it was clear to me the proponents of that radical legislation were targeting conservative Christians. Their aim was to throttle free speech regarding homosexuals and Islam, specifically” (Craig L. Parshall, attorney, in Israel My Glory). Please note: Psalm 9:15-17.
II. Our hope:
A. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Psalm 33:12)
B. “When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?” (Ps.11:3)
1. Daniel 8:12 “Truth was thrown to the ground”
2. Daniel 11:32 “With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”
3. A resistance against Antiochus Epiphanes was led by Judas Maccabeus. Judas retook the desecrated temple, restored it and dedicated it. The dedication was Dec.14, 165 B.C. and it is called Hanukkah, meaning “to dedicate.” It is also known as “The Feast of Lights.”
C. In 1939 A.C. Gabelein said, in reference to the question of Psalm 11:3. it is “the burning question of our day”.
1. Some would say “There is nothing we can do, therefore flee!” (1b)
2. King David said, “No, take refuge in the Lord!” (1a)
a. David looked to heaven for help (4).
b. God hates those who love violence and are wicked (5).
c. God loves justice (7).
D. Pres. Lincoln said, “I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side” (Character & Destiny, Kennedy, pg.91).
E. When the foundations are being destroyed we need to be sure that we are on the Lord’s side! That is why we must study closely the revivals of the Old Testament!
III. How do you view the world?
A. The Biblical worldview
1. God exists as Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
2. God gave divine revelation to mankind.
a. God’s revelation is true (Psalm 19:9, 119:160; John 17:17)
b. God is truthful (John 14:6; Is.65:16)
c. God is the source of wisdom (Ps.136:5; Prov.3:19, 8:22)
3. God has established certain unchanging laws:
a. the laws of nature
b. the laws of morality (Prov.1:2-9:18) [AIDS has claimed 20 million lives since 1980 and will claim an additional 70 million by 2025.]
B. Humanistic worldview
1. challenges God’s truth (Gen.3:1)
2. challenges God’s truthfulness (Gen.3:4)
3. challenges God’s wisdom (Rom.1:18-25)
4. Jesus told us that there is “no truth” in Satan (John 8:44) and Paul refers to him as “the god of this age…” (II Cor.4:3).
C. In our study of the OT revivals I really desire that we discover what course of action was required when the foundations of their nation were being destroyed and what signs indicated the nation was experiencing the judgment of God.
*Did you know that Pepsi gave $500,000 to the Human Rights Campaign, the most powerful gay lobbying group in America? Pepsi also gave $500,000 to PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I phoned Pepsi at 1-800-433-2652 and told them I will no longer purchase Pepsi products.