The Watchman's Diary

Many evils persist in our world, and have so persisted for thousands of years. Scripture tells us that sin will increase on the earth, and many will fall away from the faith (Matthew 24:10).  There have long been those who profess righteousness but whose hearts and motivations were anything but directed toward God. God, through Zechariah, rebuked the people who asked if they should continue to fast.

“When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?” 

Zechariah 6:5-6

Two evils persist in our time, both using the name of God to justify their positions, but which are deceptive at the root. Nations today are marked by division, often intertwined with political ideology which takes on extreme views. Those on the far extremes often believe they are justified in their actions and that those they oppose are evil. The two cannot be true, still they use religious ideology to argue their case. These two evils flow from carnality and are marked by hatred and immorality.

Humanity is plagued by self-righteousness. The people of Zechariah’s day pretended to fast out of a sense of righteousness, but God knew they true motivations. We see the same things at work in our time. Society, technology, and knowledge have improved but human nature has remained the same. We are often quick to point out and condemn the actions of others while ignoring our own unrighteousness. We desecrate the word of God when we justify our behavior through selective application, while ignoring the whole of scripture. This does not mean that we should ignore sin, but we deceive ourselves if we think we are immune to deception. The devil is crafty and uses deception to desecrate the word of God.  

These evils are creeping into the church and causing further divisions where none should exist. They are extreme political ideologies that are dominating cultures around the world. We are to be united in Christ, sharing all things in common and set apart from the things of the world. Instead, we too often carry the things of the world into the church to be a snare and tool of the devil in his efforts to destroy believers. Instead of justice, we cast judgement. Hate and bias often replace compassion and mercy. We also turn a blind eye to the needs of widows and orphans. Too often we join the world in demonizing the immigrant community and ignore the plight of the poor among us. Many hold to a perverse view of justice—one that only cater to those with whom we agree, regardless of their actions.

“For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 2:13

The church must remove politics from its midst if we are to make any progress toward unity in Messiah. It is time to stop uniting around socio-economic issues, and all other worldly matters that currently dominate pulpits and pews. There should not be left or right in the Body of Messiah, only Messiah. There should be no place for arguments about matters that are clearly written in the word of God, only yes and amen. It is time we “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).