G.K. Chesterton was right when he responded to the London Times question: “What’s wrong with the world today?” Here is what Chesterton responded with:
“Dear Sir,
I am.
Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”
What’s wrong with the world today? I am. I don’t mean that in false humility but rather I really am seeing it more and more. This is why my subtitle to this is “An Open Letter To Myself & Anyone Else” because I need this. I write this for myself and anyone else who would spend time to read it (even if it is only 10-15 of us).
How Long Will The World Burn?
As I struggle with my own addiction to technology, I find myself waking up each morning to destruction and disaster. Riots, beatings, injustice, shootings, death, robbery, promotion of ungodly ideas, suicide, opioid addictions, pandemics, kidnapping, divorce, pastoral failure, affairs, financial scandals, political failures, and much more. It is interesting, and not surprising, to see how many articles are coming out about how all this bad news is leading to more despair. We are seeing humanity destroy itself. We are watching the world burn.
There might be a bunch of hypocrisy on my end to use a quote from a movie to interpret some of the events going on. But, in my youthfulness, indulge me. In the Batman movie The Dark Knight, we see an interesting moment between Alfred and Bruce Wayne. In discussing what’s happening in the fictional city of Gotham, Alfred mentions what might be behind all the chaos.
“Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
In describing the tactics of The Joker, Alfred is spot on in assessing The Joker’s mentality. Is it too much of a stretch to say that this might be much of the posture today?
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
Satan Is At Work
God is unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). This poses a problem for Satan. He cannot change God. He cannot destroy Him, alter Him, hurt Him, hinder Him. There is only One Sovereign and Satan is not Him.
But, here is his plan: Knowing that he cannot affect God, he goes after those made in the Image of God. He makes war on humanity. And this is what we see happening today. Iain Duguid has said, “Satan has been a liar from the beginning. His constant goal is to get believers to turn their backs on the promises of God and pursue apparently rosier dreams.” The problem is that when we turn our backs on the God of Life we receive the “god of death”.
As heinous sin is now being positively promoted in our society on a mass scale we are seeing humanity destroy itself. Sin is destruction. It cannot but go about destroying. And this is what we see happening in the Western World in particular today. All around us, sin is promoted as the new ethic and godly ethics are portrayed as oppressive. This is no surprise for the Bible shows us this principle working itself out in this cursed world:
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Satan is constantly tempting us to sin. Sin is constantly committing treason against God. And the world is constantly adopting this stance. The worst part about sin is not that it destroys ourselves but that it is an attack against God. Matter of fact, it is because sin is an attack against God that it destroys us. That is why Satan tempts us to sin. His biggest hatred is placed on God.
And when we harden ourselves against God, He gives us the due penalty that the Last Day will ultimately reveal. As salvation is the end-time gift of God given to us in the present, so the wrath of God is the end-time judgment that works upon us in the present. In this moment, this is not in the fullest sense (for either salvation or wrath) but it is in the sense of the “already but not yet”. Already, we see either salvation or wrath at work but the Last Day will reveal the fullness of it.
This is what Romans 1 is all about:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
Romans 1:18-19
When we suppress the truth long enough we receive the due penalty of sin in itself (Rom. 1:27). The wrath of God is seen in the present time by Him lifting in part His restraining grace. God, in His mercy, has not allowed our hearts to be as sinful as they could be (Lk. 11:13). But, when we harden our hearts against Him, He will often reveal to us more of what sin can do. Sin is a punishment in itself and sin is something that will be punished.
How is this relevant? Do you not see what’s happening in our world today? Do you not see what our own hearts are producing in society? Do you not see how we are destroying ourselves and each other? As we have hardened our hearts against God, God has in turn allowed us to sink deeper in the destruction of sin. Sin gives birth to sin.
Just go on any news website and see the destruction. I don’t care if you go to CNN or Fox. Just take a look at what’s happening. Don’t just do that. Take a look at your own city or town. See what’s happening. See what’s being promoted. See what destruction is occurring. And don’t just stop there, see your own heart. See what you have allowed into your own heart. See what entertainment we have delighted in. See what we allow to come into our ears through music every day. See how we treat each other. See how we define ourselves. See how we hate others. See how we neglect giving our entire lives to the glorifying and enjoying of God. We are committing treason against God and destroying ourselves.
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
Getting Distracted
We have to stop getting distracted by other theories. We have gotten sidetracked from the gospel of grace. How foolish is it for the Church at the moment to try to adopt woke ideologies and critical theories as an “analytical tool” or as some way to “help” the gospel! Is the Bible not sufficient? Is the gospel no longer God’s “power for salvation” (Rom. 1:16-17)?
As the world is burning, we appear to be sitting around acting like things are fine and that we have time to test out other theories and ideologies. Where is the burden of men and women who feel the reality of the afterlife? Where are those who are heartbroken over what sin is doing to ourselves and others? Where are those who long to see the glory of Christ redeem sinners? Where is the desire in my own heart to love others in truth and grace?
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
This is not an “Us vs. Them” moment. Yes, there are competing ideologies and worldviews. There are even competing worldviews from supposed “Christians” and what real biblical Christianity is. That is very clear. And, in order to preach the gospel we must call things as they really are. I’m amazed at how Christians are telling pastors who rightly expound the Bible to stop saying what they’re saying. Do we still believe Jesus when he says, “the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32)?
Satan is very much at work in this way. But, we all used to be in his kingdom: “in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:2-3).
If we are in the kingdom of heaven that means that we were once in the kingdom of darkness. We, of all people, should have most compassion for those still in the kingdom of darkness. True compassion is a deep soul yearning for the truth to go forth in love. We can’t settle for either/or. There is no such thing as truth without love (which is brutality) nor love without truth (which is hypocrisy). God is truth and love and because God is simple it means truth and love cannot be separated. God’s truth and God’s love cannot be separated because He cannot be separated.
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
O Church Arise!
Especially in self-proclaimed “Reformed” churches we must get back to the 5 Solas. Do we really believe in Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)? Now, that is not, Scripture only. But, it is Scripture as sufficient and our highest authority. Why spend more time with trinkets when we have the Treasure of God’s Word? How long will we point people more to other sources than Scripture? Have we forgotten how Augustine was converted? Have we forgotten why Satan fear William Tyndale? Have we forgotten where the message of salvation is revealed?
In my ignorance, it seems to me as if we still have churches, pastors, officers, and laypeople who can act like we have time to kill. As if we’re in a period in time when it’s peaceful.
No, I am not denying common grace. That is a doctrine that the Reformers promoted. But, common grace never replaces special grace! Natural revelation cannot do what Special Revelation can! Honest questions: Are we (myself included) content with common grace while neglecting the proclamation of the gospel? Are we neglecting the whole person in body and soul? Are OK with general promotion of the common good while forsaking the desperate need for sinners to be saved from the wrath to come?
For myself, I have fallen into this trap because I care more about people liking me than them adoring Jesus.
How long will we keep putting our hope in politics (right or left)? How long will we keep putting our hope in the revision of history? How long will we keep putting our hope in celebrities to spread “truth” for us on social media? How long will we keep putting our hope in the next psychological theory to really awaken us? How long will we keep putting our hope in the next trending church program? How long will we keep putting our hope in the next government program?
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
When will we just take God at His Word and trust that the faithful administration of Word & Sacrament in the Covenant Community will be sufficient? The Book of Acts, our most missional book of the Bible, describes churches as embracing this model (Acts 2:42). As they sought to grow deep with each other they grew wide in their influence. You cannot put the cart before the horse. Yes, we can become a “holy huddle” if we’re not careful. But, we can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. We must emphasize and prioritize the simple means of grace ministry. That is how we will be truly missional, kingdom spreaders, evangelistic, promoting justice, and loving others. As the whole gospel is preached from the whole Bible to the whole person then we can faithful expect God to be at work.
Here is what is so sad: When Christians hear the Bible proclaimed, they often will respond by saying something like, “You must be a die-hard Republican.” Or, “You must be one of those closet Democrats.” This betrays our the honest truth that we put most of our identity in politics today. What’s amazing is that we complain about a world that is divisive when we promote division ourselves.
What’s wrong with the world today? I am.
The real question is: Did the LORD say this? Is this truly “Thus says the LORD”? I don’t care what I might be labeled as. The only thing that matters is if we are taking God at His Word.
The Gospel of Grace
Unfortunately, due to the length of the blog, you might have stopped reading. I probably would too. After all, I have social media videos I want to get back to indulging in. But, we also might stop reading because we think that is enough to say about the issue. Oh, how we fail our people when we stop at “Law”.
The only thing I have said thus far has been “do” rather than what’s been “done”. It is not enough to just say the above. We must proclaim the fullness of the gospel.
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
Romans, one of the clearest explanations of the gospel in all the Bible, gives us the honest truth about sin and grace. We must remember that as bleak of a picture it is in Romans 1:18-3:20 that the grace that follows calls those people to embrace Jesus Christ. Yes, we must promote a biblical worldview and show how other worldviews go against a biblical one. But, as we do so we must plead with those people to embrace the gospel of grace. It is not either sin or grace. It is both! There is no such thing as grace that doesn’t presuppose sin!
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
Paul is not talking about one group of people in 1:18-3:20 and another group of people in 3:21-16:27. At least, not in the sense that the people in the former group cannot be part of the people in the latter. Rather, the only people who believe the gospel of grace are sinners! That means that even when we speak to people who promote woke ideologies, LGBTQ, critical theories, abortion, racism, Christian nationalism, and whatever else — It means we call them to come to Jesus! Jesus’ grace is big enough for them! They are the exact types of people Jesus came to die for! They are the ones who are eligible to embrace the grace of the gospel. This Easter should remind us that if Jesus could rise from the dead then He can save anyone! He can redeem any situation.
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
If you were able to have one conversation with [pick the person who you think the biggest problem is] then what would you talk about? If you had only 30 minutes where they couldn’t speak, would you berate them? Or would you point them to the only Savior of sinners?
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
Jesus came to proclaim the same gospel of grace to the Roman oppressors and the Jewish oppressed. He proclaimed the same conditions to both: Repent and believe! He proclaimed grace to both! Grace was His message. His gospel was not a social gospel. He came to point people to His grace rather than their works.
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
There is no other good news than the gospel of grace in Jesus. To get Jesus is to get His grace. Oh how welcoming He is to all types of sinners! Oh how gentle He is as He washes us white as snow! Oh how faithful He is to us who constantly deny Him!
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!
What we need most is true revival and reformation. We need to re-form ourselves to prioritizing the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. We need to immerse ourselves in the good news rather than our pitiful efforts. We need to hold out to sinners to open arms of Jesus who took the wrath of God. Only Jesus can do the work! We must adopt Paul’s philosophy of ministry when he said his main message was Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:1-2). We must be a church known as the motto of: Him we proclaim (Col. 1:28). Only Jesus can do the work. Only Jesus can transform sinners.
What’s the solution to the problem of the world? Jesus!