CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – NO NEUTRALITY
DURING World War II, a few European nations remained neutral. Although they were not directly involved in hostilities, nevertheless, they were affected in a number of ways. Sometimes even their ships were sunk although their neutral flags were flying.
Life is such that what happens in one corner of the globe has repercussions elsewhere. We are all accountable to others in one way or another. In the spiritual realm the same principle applies. Jesus made the point clear in one of His many skirmishes with the Pharisees:
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30)
Yet another time He said:
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16: 13)
The question arises from these texts, what is meant by being a Christian? It is the fact today that very few have the least idea. The nearest they come to an answer is the notion that as long as one is a ‘good’ person, that is all that is required. (See Luke 18:19)
Many of the churches must bear a burden of responsibility for this state of affairs. Sad to relate, this is not a new thing in the church, for Paul was plagued with ‘so called’ teachers who didn’t have the least idea of what the Scriptures were about:
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5: 12-14)
The lack of sound teaching and strong meat in the churches is part of the subject matter of Revelation, so this is not merely a twenty first century problem.
The danger of remaining neutral was also expressed by James in chapter one, verse eight,
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
In the chapter four he took it a stage further:
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (v8)
The average person is quite convinced he is a Christian because he has never done anyone any harm and he is sure that there is ‘something up there’. He seldom attends a place of worship, or does anything to enhance the Christian faith. His loyalties are more with the world camp, and the other in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84:10)
Nine hundred years before Christ, Elijah issued a challenge to Israel:
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. (I Kings 18:21)
Stubbornness has been a trait of Israel throughout her history:
So they feared the Lord and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (II Kings 17:32-33)
Many churches today are no more than places of entertainment, with clergy dressed as clowns, (a Brighton church) and a fire eating vicar. Chrislam, which is an amalgam of Christianity and Islam, is a growing cult. Some churches have Bibles and the Koran side by side in the pews. How has this come about, and where does the finger of blame point? There is no doubt that the archbishops and bishops must bear the burden of responsibility.
In a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, a vicar who is a true Bible believing Christian, reminded the readers about a Lent booklet authorised by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. These glossy booklets feature Mr Men style cartoons representing the general public. The whole production is, as one would expect, politically correct, and urges its readers do fun things together.’ Create a space in your home; make prayer den using furniture and blankets. Gather some objects that are fun to touch, feel and smell; a piece of velvet, feathers, a tray of sand, lavender bags or pine cones.’ What, we may well ask, does this childish play acting have to do with being a Christian? We don’t need to be patronised by clerics who are bankrupt of spiritual knowledge. Christians in these last days need to be fed with the strong meat of God’s Holy word.
The responsibility of mature Christians is to the walking dead around us. In the event that you feel that your chaplain has gone too far with that remark, you should know that it was Christ Himself, who said something very similar:
And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Matthew 8: 21-22)
Many times during our Lord’s ministry He made some very hard hitting statements to His hearers. He was never politically correct. In fact, nearly everything He said was in defiance of the ruling authorities. We have now arrived at that time when we must be prepared to show our true colours. The time for neutrality has gone forever. Jesus made that point perfectly plain when He said:
No man, having put his hands to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)
