Is this 1776 or 1789? By Dr. Jim Denison

The Colson Center’s “BreakPoint” recently asked several Christian leaders to define “challenges facing the church in 2018.” Os Guinness, one of this generation’s most insightful evangelical theologians, offered a response that was so compelling I will reproduce it today in full:

“If we fight the battle at any point except where the battle is really being fought, we might as well not fight. Luther’s famous maxim is urgent for Christians today. The U.S. is experiencing its gravest crisis since the Civil War, but there is no agreement as to what the crux of the battle is. The division in this country is not just between Progressives and Conservatives, ‘coastals’ and ‘heart-landers,’ and ‘globalists’ and ‘nationalists.’ It is between ‘1776,’ and the heirs and allies of the American revolution, where faith and freedom went hand in hand; and ‘1789,’ and the heirs and allies of the thinking of the French revolution, where faith and freedom were mortal enemies.

“The current crisis is a tale of these two revolutions. Both cry ‘freedom,’ but their views of freedom are diametrically opposed. They have different roots (the Bible versus the Enlightenment), different views of human nature (realism versus utopianism), different views of change (incremental versus radical), different views of freedom (the power to do what you ought versus the permission to what you like), different views of government (protective versus Progressive), different views of accountability (‘under God’ versus without God), and different views of righting wrongs (repentance and reconciliation versus reparation and revenge).

“If this is correct, the challenges are plain. The question before America: Is the ‘constitutional Republic’ to be restored or replaced? The question before us as Christians: How do we live and speak so faithfully that we honor our Lord and his ways in response to one of the greatest apologetic challenges and one of the greatest cultural challenges in all history? Now is a time for what Rabbi Heschel called ‘moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.’ All who are Evangelical and unashamed can be confident that the good news is more than sufficient for the gravity of the hour.”

When Jesus is on trial

I am convinced that Guinness is right: there is a massive cultural divide today between Americans who see Christianity as foundational to our past and essential for our future, and Americans who see Christianity as irrelevant, if not dangerous.

You and I are alive “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). It is by divine providence that you were not living in 1818 and that you will not be on this planet in 2218 (if the Lord tarries).

Your Father intended you to follow and serve Jesus in this cultural moment. You have all you need to be faithful to his call. As the saying goes, God equips the called and anoints all he appoints.

One vital aspect of successful witnessing today is doing what Case Keenum did: be ready when your moment comes.

Jesus warned his disciples that they would face persecuting authorities. However, this was to be their posture: “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19–20).

When we have an opportunity to make public our faith in Jesus, we can feel as though we are a defendant on trial, with the other person as the prosecutor looking for ways to defeat our testimony.

In fact, Jesus is on trial. The Holy Spirit is the defense attorney, while Satan is the prosecutor. The person with whom you are speaking is the jury.

Your job is to go to the stand when the defense attorney calls you and tell what you know as he leads you. You may be the first witness called to the stand, so that you never hear how the jury decides. You may be the last, and thus present when the jury renders a verdict, hopefully for the Defendant. You will probably be somewhere in the middle.

The point: your job is to be ready. Tell what you know when given the opportunity and trust the results to God.

However, our witness is effective only if it is credible. Case Keenum’s priorities are clear: faith, family, football. Are they yours?

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Jim Denison’s Daily Article
Jim Denison, Ph.D., speaks and writes on cultural and contemporary issues. He produces a daily column which is distributed to more than 113,000 subscribers in 203 countries. He also writes for The Dallas Morning NewsThe Christian PostCommon Call, and other publications.
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I posted this yesterday:

Yes, it was an amazing Vikings win yesterday, but what made it such a glorious time in our LORD was the boldness that QB Case Keenum and receiver Stefon Diggs showed on the platform of national TV for Jesus Christ.

Vikings QB Keenum was asked if this win was the biggest thing ever to happen to him and he said number 1 was accepting Jesus.

My Dear friend Jane Polz reminded me that Keenum said after Jesus, was his wife and the Vikes.

Vikings receiver Diggs who scored the winning TD thanked God First.

The challenge for us all is to have the boldness to share with others, our faith in Jesus like  Case Keenum and Stefon Diggs.

We all have platforms on different levels, our families, neighbors, co-workers, people we meet in ther store and on airplanes..etc…

Most of you have a platform on Facebook to show the love of JESUS, we here at FGGAM have our website and radio programming and the circuit preaching and counseling I do for our LORD!

To do it in the grace that Keenum and Diggs did, is a great example for all of us, me included, for all Preachers.

We, as the Body of Christ need to go beyond the walls of our Churches and share the love of Jesus and how He changed our lives.

In the heat of the battle and coming off their biggest win ever, Keenum and Diggs remembered JESUS comes first.

I got this note awhile back from Brenda, she has what Keenum and Diggs has…..FAITH

From Brenda in Albuquerque…

I sure did need to read what you posted today, “When you hear from God what HE wants you to do for HIM, there is no stopping you, because HE is truly in the drivers seat, giving you the map, the power, the protection, the wisdom, etc. all things that are good”.
I am looking to make some major changes in 2018 and seeking the Lord in my decisions.  I plan to start CNM on January 16th, and go full time.  Please keep me in prayer, because except for a class here and there, I have been out of school for a VEEEERY long time. My goal “God willing” is to be a certified bookkeeper.
Brenda has the faith to move with her faith in JESUS! Just like Keenum and Diggs, JESUS game them the faith to pursue their dream of being pro football players, now they tell the world about JESUS!
Brenda, Keenum and Diggs certainly have heard from God.
Are you moving in your faith in JESUS? Are you telling other about JESUS?
I pray for more Brenda’s, Keenum’s and Diggs. People who live it, write about it and talk about JESUS! Sharing JESUS in LOVE!
What is your testimony to the world?
Is your day to day testimony, one that makes God smile?
Do you leave it to others for the world to be told about JESUS?
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
Here is the game story

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