The cultural shift which is taking place in America seems drastic and sudden. Attempts to explain this appear to defy reason. Democratic lawmakers in Virginia put more effort into “transgendered restrooms” in high schools than fixing the dysfunctional DMV. The President cheers gay athletes and then hails Bruce Jenner’s supposed sex-change as heroic. Now the Supreme Court has ditched the Constitution in favor of same-sex marriage. The list is endless. How can these things be?
I once heard Bill McLeod say, “The favorite indoor sport of Christians is judging and criticizing.” But evil speaking is strictly forbidden by Scripture. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law” (James 4:11). The crux of God’s law is loving the Lord and loving people. When you speak evil of your neighbor, you are breaking the law of God which is the law of love. Evil speaking in this context is paramount to slander.
Some ignore sin while others emphasize confessing sin. Some are big on confessing Christ as Savior, but weak on our position “in Christ.” Confessing sin and confessing Christ are both necessary and important, but confessing the truth of Scripture is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
Life is all about seasons. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us there is a “season” (appointed occasion) for everything—“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…A time to get, and a time to lose…A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
After my conversion I heard many speak about their "quiet time." They were referring to their practice of withdrawing to a peaceful setting where they could read the Bible and pray. But the phrase "quiet time" always struck me as an odd way to describe devotions.
How is it that many of us Christians are so incredibly slow when it comes to transforming our minds and actions? Why do we tend to stay “hung-up” instead of moving on? What is missing? I believe we have overlooked an essential ingredient in lasting change—HOLY ANGER. Not unrighteous anger, but holy indignation which is an essential element for lasting transformation.