Unless one’s been living under a rock, one can’t help but notice how polarized and divided the United States has become. Our nation is divided politically for sure, but we’re also divided socially, ideologically, and spiritually. Why? I think it’s because our nation is in the grip of a great deception, a technological revolution, and an ever-increasing drift from God’s ways. A deadly cocktail for increasing disaster. Conditions that will result in difficult times for the nation. Factors that could lead to great upheaval, mass conflict, political dissolution, and, even perhaps, national collapse. We are experiencing a cultural tipping point that shouldn’t be ignored. An identity crisis that may soon be felt by everyone. So, what must a Christian do in preparation and response to these times and days? We must be sober, alert, sensitive to the Spirit, alive to the Scriptures, aware of the seasons and times, and ready. But, before we look at the what, let’s examine the why. Why are we here? Why is America so divided and what are we being deceived by?
America is divided over many things, but two primary things are abortion and gender norms or gender fluidity. There is a clash in America between Christian moral tradition and secular progressive trends. A fair portion of Americans are in support of abortion rights and gender fluidity, including many Christians. Two modern concepts and practices that fly in the face of biblical revelation and established scientific observation. Two ideas that find themselves far afield from common-sense and reason. When Christians are grounded in Scripture, objective, and unbiased, they can only conclude that the promotion and proliferation of abortion and gender fluidity are the result of a great deception. These pursuits, of course, are not the only areas of contention and disagreement among Americans. Nor are they the only places where deception has taken root. But they are critical, emblematic, and, potentially, devastating to the United States and humanity at large. How can well-supported ideas that are contrary to the Word of God, scientific discovery, and intellectual rigor be described as anything other than deception? Our nation is being duped and coerced into complicity with these notions and practices. Americans have been deceived and compliant with abortion for fifty years now. And, more recently, tempted to believe that gender is not bestowed upon us, but, rather, chosen by us. Like all classic deceptions, abortion and gender fluidity cannot be validated or proven true. In fact, the mass of the verifiable evidence is weighed against them. They are clearly false. Abortion proponents deny and avoid the totality of the Scriptural teachings against it, and the clear biblical doctrine espousing the sanctity of human life (Jeremiah 7:30-32; Job 31:13-15; Psalm 139:13-16). Additionally, they refuse to logically address our knowledge of a baby’s development in the womb (zygote, embryo, fetus), sonogram evidence, fetal surgery, pre-term birth, fetal pain, after abortion trauma (physical and mental), abortion’s inherent prejudice and discrimination, etc. Similarly, gender fluidity proponents deny or avoid the biblical doctrine that we are all created of God into one human race, male and female (Genesis1:27-28). Refuting the revelation that we are made intentionally by a living God who knows us intimately and who has chosen for us our times, our gender, our place of birth, our form, and the dwelling of our habitation (Acts 17:24-33). Proponents of gender fluidity deny the obvious biological realities of masculinity and femininity and instead prefer the nebulous psychological preferences of one’s mind. They seek to alter reality through assertion and surgery. One cannot biologically become what one is not, no matter how many procedures are pursued to give the illusion. These two great deceptions are destroying us. Abortion and gender fluidity cause irreparable harm to humanity, create a sea of victims, and significantly diminish the population. They are divisive and contentious--always agitating a rift among the American public. Clearly, fracturing societal identification and unity. And most dangerous of all, if fully adopted, these two deceptions could lower the population below replacement level or eradicate the human race altogether. Both, by their very nature, violating the first commandment of God, “to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth...” Lastly, given the length of time these falsehoods have assailed the nation and the increasing proliferation and promotion of them, it is clear to me that a deep deception is at work in the land.
Still, why so rapid a spread of these deceptions? It seems, at times, as if they’ve arrived overnight. How did we get here? Complicity meets technology. Like all deceptions these are not new, they’ve just been repackaged for today. They’ve been dressed up for the hour with new terms and justifications. Abortion is tantamount to ancient child sacrifice and gender fluidity is just one of the many manifestations of sexual deviance. Nonetheless, these two ills have swept up the nation through involvement and innovation. As to involvement, over 60 million American abortions have been performed in the last half-century. Further, statistics suggest that for every one abortion five people are affected, which means you can hardly find and American today who isn’t associated directly with abortion in some way. We’ve obtained them, provided them, paid for them, encouraged them, championed them, defended them, remained silent about them, voted for them, celebrated them, and so on. Abortion is our great collective, national sin. We are all involved and we are all complicit! And as anyone knows, it’s not easy or comfortable to admit personal wrongdoing and repent. Our collaboration with abortion has left the nation cold and indifferent. And while gender fluidity cannot boast so broad a reach as abortion, it’s on the rise. It seems that everywhere one looks, lives, or engages gender norms are being challenged and changed. Public restrooms are being renamed, colleges are changing their policies, businesses are catering to new gender groups and expectations, advertising campaigns are catching the fluidity wave, politicians are introducing new legislation, and Hollywood, Disney, television, and social media are beating the drum. In fact, the gender train is a bullet train. Why? The demonic fallout of abortion and the technological revolution of the last century, and in particular the last twenty years, are why. We are living in a time of amazing availability of knowledge, media, and connectivity. The inventions and advancements of radio, television, computers, wireless phones, the internet, social media platforms, and the like, have allowed for mass distribution, connection, and promotion of any idea or product. The world is no longer quiet or slow, but loud and fast. We are living through the information age, the greatest opportunity for deception in the history of the world.
Paul, once asked, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” And then immediately answered, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Our hope, our answer, our return to sanity is JESUS. But will we turn to Him? Today in this critical hour it seems that many are abandoning the faith, the teachings of Christ. His ways seem old and antiquated compared to the new enlightenment. He sent a book; the devil responds with a tweet. Jesus taught us to love our neighbor and sacrifice for them; the devil says indulge yourself, even if it means sacrificing another. God says I made you and everything about you is good; the devil says God made a mistake, you can do better than He did. God said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die;” the devil said, “You will not surely die...you will be like God!” Perhaps, it’s time to wise up, America. Perhaps, it’s time to wise up, Christians, and stop trying to be like God?
So then, what is a Christian to do in these deceptive times? We are to look not to the new, but to the old. Look to the Ancient of Days, look to the One who made heaven and earth, and all they contain. All people need, like Paul, to make a sober estimation of themselves--to realize they need a Savior, that they can’t make it on their own. Christians need to be alert to the things of God and apply them to the times and seasons in which they find themselves. We need to say yes to God and no to those people and things that oppose Him. We need to be sensitive to the leading, prompting, and correction of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk of faith. We need to be alive to the reliable teachings of Scripture, and agree with them. My father is fond of saying, “I found out a long time ago that if the Scriptures and I disagree, I’m wrong.” Christians let us align with God’s Holy Word in all matters, especially in the important matters of the sanctity of life and gender. And, finally, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s be ready to love. Jesus said, “His followers would be known by their love for one another.” Love is not agreement with that which is wrong, but promotion of that which is true and right. Love is compassion, dignity, and sacrifice. We are not called to respond to the abortionist, the couple who has committed abortion, the person struggling with gender identity, homosexuality, transgender manifestation, fornication, adultery, murder, covetousness, lying, or any other sin with malice, hate, condemnation, or ostracism, but love. Christians are called to grace and truth. Let’s do both in our lives and toward our neighbors, male and female, preborn and elderly, saved and unsaved. Let’s love the way Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 13:
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
