Michael Bresciani
The high cost of free speech - - When honesty is outlawed
By Michael Bresciani
We are fast approaching the time the Bible refers to as "the last days" and the warnings of those who have not become victims of the satanically driven PC movement is resounding and uniform. Some people could care less and others could not be more concerned.
Words that reference the last days, the end times, the latter days or, times of the end, number well over thirty. Details of these events take up nearly a quarter of the entire Bible. For most people it is easier to refer themselves to the lettered experts of the day, to politicians, experts in their fields or their own stumbling perceptions of the tumultuous barrage of daily information we call news and current events.
Even for preachers of the gospel, telling the truth about abortions, gays and America's rampant immorality has moved beyond a delicate balancing act up to a dangerous tightrope walk. Christianity has become the new whipping boy of the far left, the generally secularized and the blatantly disobedient. Some have concluded that it is the "turn the other cheek" religion and that is what makes it so susceptible to the onslaughts, but that is far from the whole story.
Christianity is slammed not just because it is a soft target but, conversely because it holds a hard line. It will not give an inch from what God has said about the great moral issues of the day. Even with a President who proclaims that the scriptural references against the gay life are found in an obscure passage of the Bible the true believer doesn't see anything obscure about it.
The true believer knows that God's word, his warnings and all of his laws come not from an ancient code of the past, nor are they elastic moral platitudes that can be stretched to fit the morality of the present. They are indeed from a realm that is neither ancient nor modern; it is a realm or a reality known as "the eternal." Christ declared that when all of our moral wrangling has ceased, all that he said will still be the criterion by which every creature on earth will be judged. (Mt 5:18) This is what the modern world holds in contempt more than the meekness of the Christian.
The Christian must tilt and teeter in a great high wire balancing act between the constitution, the love of his fellow citizens, patriotism and the Bible. Just going along with the compulsory PC declarations and trends of the day is easy by comparison.
One example that best illustrates the high wire act is homosexuality. The Old Testament is replete with warnings about this choice. It is un-relenting and clear as a bell. It may be a choice but, according to the Bible it is the worst choice anyone could make for their life in God's economy.
History steps in with facts that while mostly ignored are nevertheless stunningly consistent. Almost without exception every major civilization or nation that reached the peak of its power was rampant with homosexuality. When all the stops were pulled for any kind of immorality that civilization could begin numbering their days. It is amazing to think that some Americans actually believe America could be the exception to this rule created by and borne out by the rest of history. Dream on!
The next wobbly part of the high wire act for the believer is the constitution and the bill of rights of the United States. For genuine Christians it isn't that hard because it provides a means to deal with the homosexual that protects both the gay person and the Christian at the same time. Religious freedoms still allow the believer to proclaim the word of God as it pertains to homosexuality and it simultaneously protects the gays from any harm or discrimination; at least for now.
The scariest part of the high wire act is saved for last. The very passage that President Obama declared as "obscure" (Romans 1:1f) turns out to be anything but. In fact it comes from a book of the Bible that is historically speaking one of the latest books in writ. Its authorship and derivation are indisputable and its warning includes all nations especially as we approach the end. It is the Apostle Paul's clear warning of what men will see as normal in "the last days" just before final judgments ensue. Homosexuality not only will be present before the last days but, it is one of the key elements in the demise of the whole earth.
At a time when we are urged to see this lifestyle as normal as apple pie the believer is tasked with the call to proclaim it as one of the chief causes for impending judgment. That's the tightrope. Want to mount up with your balancing pole in hand and give it a try? Will the winds of change pelt you and the shaking of the earth give you a good scare? For those committed or surrendered to the will and word of God there is no choice, we are already treading in careful metered steps across the great heights of hazard.
Other forms of immorality are debuting in our nation and the world that when coupled to the 150 million worldwide abortions already performed are bringing the hands of the clock to almost midnight.
While the mercy of God extends to the very last moment of time the scriptures predict a time at the very end when we almost have to throw our hands in the air and let the chips fall where they may. That does not mean that on the personal level we are not required to make a decision to believe God and repent.
John the Revelator said it clearly in Revelation 22:11, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."
In the mean time the world will try every other way but God's way to no avail. Trying to stop the twisted politics of the new socialism, the filth gushing out on the cinema's, video games and the internet is like trying to hold back the ocean by holding a finger in the dam. Of late, the most powerful government in the world coupled with one of the most technically advanced corporations on earth has not been able in some forty days to plug up a little hole in the Gulf of Mexico. Who can stop the equally black moral sludge that is flowing into the once clear waters of this nation's moral oceans now for more than an entire generation? Should we wonder why John said "let it go" but make up your own mind not to go with the flow?
We look for answers in politics, leaders, messiah figures and science. None of these will be seen as enough as the troubles mount. The simplicity of the gospel message will continue to be over looked by most of the world but, even that was predicted.
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2Cor 4: 3, 4)
Fortunately America has not reached mass effect or the place of no return just yet. Freedom of speech tacitly still exists here to provide full latitude where the warnings can still go out. After that it is anybody's game. The call to repent and return to the faith of our fathers can still be proclaimed. The only question remaining is as it always has been: who is listening? The simple imperative posed by Christ is still "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt 13:9)
© Michael Bresciani
May 31, 2010
We are fast approaching the time the Bible refers to as "the last days" and the warnings of those who have not become victims of the satanically driven PC movement is resounding and uniform. Some people could care less and others could not be more concerned.
Words that reference the last days, the end times, the latter days or, times of the end, number well over thirty. Details of these events take up nearly a quarter of the entire Bible. For most people it is easier to refer themselves to the lettered experts of the day, to politicians, experts in their fields or their own stumbling perceptions of the tumultuous barrage of daily information we call news and current events.
Even for preachers of the gospel, telling the truth about abortions, gays and America's rampant immorality has moved beyond a delicate balancing act up to a dangerous tightrope walk. Christianity has become the new whipping boy of the far left, the generally secularized and the blatantly disobedient. Some have concluded that it is the "turn the other cheek" religion and that is what makes it so susceptible to the onslaughts, but that is far from the whole story.
Christianity is slammed not just because it is a soft target but, conversely because it holds a hard line. It will not give an inch from what God has said about the great moral issues of the day. Even with a President who proclaims that the scriptural references against the gay life are found in an obscure passage of the Bible the true believer doesn't see anything obscure about it.
The true believer knows that God's word, his warnings and all of his laws come not from an ancient code of the past, nor are they elastic moral platitudes that can be stretched to fit the morality of the present. They are indeed from a realm that is neither ancient nor modern; it is a realm or a reality known as "the eternal." Christ declared that when all of our moral wrangling has ceased, all that he said will still be the criterion by which every creature on earth will be judged. (Mt 5:18) This is what the modern world holds in contempt more than the meekness of the Christian.
The Christian must tilt and teeter in a great high wire balancing act between the constitution, the love of his fellow citizens, patriotism and the Bible. Just going along with the compulsory PC declarations and trends of the day is easy by comparison.
One example that best illustrates the high wire act is homosexuality. The Old Testament is replete with warnings about this choice. It is un-relenting and clear as a bell. It may be a choice but, according to the Bible it is the worst choice anyone could make for their life in God's economy.
History steps in with facts that while mostly ignored are nevertheless stunningly consistent. Almost without exception every major civilization or nation that reached the peak of its power was rampant with homosexuality. When all the stops were pulled for any kind of immorality that civilization could begin numbering their days. It is amazing to think that some Americans actually believe America could be the exception to this rule created by and borne out by the rest of history. Dream on!
The next wobbly part of the high wire act for the believer is the constitution and the bill of rights of the United States. For genuine Christians it isn't that hard because it provides a means to deal with the homosexual that protects both the gay person and the Christian at the same time. Religious freedoms still allow the believer to proclaim the word of God as it pertains to homosexuality and it simultaneously protects the gays from any harm or discrimination; at least for now.
The scariest part of the high wire act is saved for last. The very passage that President Obama declared as "obscure" (Romans 1:1f) turns out to be anything but. In fact it comes from a book of the Bible that is historically speaking one of the latest books in writ. Its authorship and derivation are indisputable and its warning includes all nations especially as we approach the end. It is the Apostle Paul's clear warning of what men will see as normal in "the last days" just before final judgments ensue. Homosexuality not only will be present before the last days but, it is one of the key elements in the demise of the whole earth.
At a time when we are urged to see this lifestyle as normal as apple pie the believer is tasked with the call to proclaim it as one of the chief causes for impending judgment. That's the tightrope. Want to mount up with your balancing pole in hand and give it a try? Will the winds of change pelt you and the shaking of the earth give you a good scare? For those committed or surrendered to the will and word of God there is no choice, we are already treading in careful metered steps across the great heights of hazard.
Other forms of immorality are debuting in our nation and the world that when coupled to the 150 million worldwide abortions already performed are bringing the hands of the clock to almost midnight.
While the mercy of God extends to the very last moment of time the scriptures predict a time at the very end when we almost have to throw our hands in the air and let the chips fall where they may. That does not mean that on the personal level we are not required to make a decision to believe God and repent.
John the Revelator said it clearly in Revelation 22:11, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."
In the mean time the world will try every other way but God's way to no avail. Trying to stop the twisted politics of the new socialism, the filth gushing out on the cinema's, video games and the internet is like trying to hold back the ocean by holding a finger in the dam. Of late, the most powerful government in the world coupled with one of the most technically advanced corporations on earth has not been able in some forty days to plug up a little hole in the Gulf of Mexico. Who can stop the equally black moral sludge that is flowing into the once clear waters of this nation's moral oceans now for more than an entire generation? Should we wonder why John said "let it go" but make up your own mind not to go with the flow?
We look for answers in politics, leaders, messiah figures and science. None of these will be seen as enough as the troubles mount. The simplicity of the gospel message will continue to be over looked by most of the world but, even that was predicted.
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2Cor 4: 3, 4)
Fortunately America has not reached mass effect or the place of no return just yet. Freedom of speech tacitly still exists here to provide full latitude where the warnings can still go out. After that it is anybody's game. The call to repent and return to the faith of our fathers can still be proclaimed. The only question remaining is as it always has been: who is listening? The simple imperative posed by Christ is still "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt 13:9)
© Michael Bresciani
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