The Message of Minnesota

We’ve all witnessed the ongoing, and arguably, professionally funded protests (one woman was interviewed on camera and asked if she had a job she need to get to, for which she replied, this is my job, I get paid for this.) going on in Minnesota in recent days. But have we actually picked up on the message of Minnesota? By that I mean the real cultural and moral message being reflected in what is another event seized by left-leaning activists hoping to further undermine moral norms and constitutional law.

While cultural degradation and decline can be slowed, and thank God that He often does restrain evil, the current bent is to destroy everything that is rational, sane, scientific, and morally upright. Erwin Lutzer illustrated this when he wrote, “When I see deep divisions in this country, I am reminded of a sign I saw in a Muslim demonstration: ‘We will use the freedoms of the Constitution to destroy the Constitution.’”

In our woke and cancel culture age, we are seeing how the radical left cannot and will not tolerate disagreement. Their arguments are not rational, they are emotional. They are not based on critical thinking; they are purely irrational and argued by feelings rather than facts. As the old saying goes… “don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up” seems to be much of the current culture’s modus operandi. Adolf Hitler declared that with the right use of propaganda, or I might add, the left leaning media elite, heaven can be made to appear like hell and hell like heaven.

Consider New York’s recent election of a Muslim mayor who has unequivocally stated that he is a democratic socialist, which is just another term for a cultural Marxist. And cultural Marxism insists there must be equality of outcomes for every individual and nation that can only be accomplished by destroying personal freedoms which is the exact opposite of Judeo-Christian values that emphasize personal responsibility among other essential moral imperatives. If you haven’t forgotten, it was just a few short years ago when saying that a boy could become a girl and a girl could become a boy was laughably absurd and considered unscientific and a biologically dysfunctional fact. But saying that today regardless of the facts labels you as the problem in society and a bigot, all because, again, leftists cannot tolerate disagreement no matter what the facts are.

How does this kind of social revolution happen? One of my favorite theologians from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, Francis Schaeffer explained it when he said, “in one era the unthinkable becomes thinkable; and with time, a new unthinkable will become thinkable.” Lutzer writes, “Remember, when God is evicted out of the consciousness of a person or nation, demonic darkness rushes in—and this darkness has no boundaries, no limits, and no restraints.”

So, what does this mean for the Church? It means several things that I leave you with:

1. We must not lose heart… the church can actually grow stronger even while the culture declines. St. Augustine said, “the city of man can be in decline even as the city of God gains strength.” Our strength doesn’t come from the culture of man, but from the Kingdom and power of God.

2. We must not shrink back… the voice of the church is more important for our age than ever before. Let’s not be ashamed of the gospel and let our light shine bright.

3. We must understand the “darkness” will most likely get more intense… This is spiritual war. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:11 that prior to the coming of the Antichrist people will experience a “strong delusion.” It’s happening, so stay alert and awake.

4. We must remember that God rules above the culture and is available to give us divine power from on high… let’s not live in fear, but walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And remember, God is with us and always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!
For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash