THE godly sometimes have a sense of helplessness as they view the swelling tide of national sin and the ebbing of true religion. They observe the growing power of ungodly people in positions of influence in society and recollect that the ungodly have always resolved, “With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us,” (Psalm 12:4). It seems that the ungodly now prevail and that their words are the words which carry weight with our leaders and legislators.
Not only so, but no heed is paid to the voices of those who protest against proposed legislation which is contrary to the law of God, even when their protests and representations are backed by opinion polls, social surveys and research findings. Their valid and informed objections against the liberalising of legislation which protected the Christian Sabbath, for instance, were largely ignored by parliament and were branded by sections of the media as obscurantist and bigoted.
It is little wonder that the godly conclude that they are seeing the fulfilment of the Scripture prediction: “…the enemy shall come in like a flood…” It appears to them, as iniquity abounds, that Christianity in our country is in danger of being submerged by the mounting waves. It seems that those who triumphantly declare that we are entering a post-Christian era in the Western World may have a point.
This view of the religious and moral situation is regarded by many in the professing church as unduly pessimistic. They see no flood. But surely there is a flood of iniquity when liberal ideologies and permissive practices are regarded as the norm; when unmentionable sins are condoned and defended; when Biblical Christianity is marginalised in the life of the nation and dismissed as irrelevant, and when false religions are being peddled as perfectly acceptable options. In fact, Christianity is being attacked as never before by being presented by the media, the arts and literature as irrational and ridiculous, as cold and uncaring, as repressive and soul-destroying.
The receding of protestant, reformed Christianity is to be further gauged by how much Roman Catholicism is being favoured and feted in the land. This process will be given further impetus in November when, sad to say, the Queen will attend the centenary service of Westminster Cathedral, the prime Roman Catholic building in the country.
The rapid growth and increasing assertiveness of the cults and eastern religions, especially Islam, also demonstrate the decline of Christianity. There are now 1,500,000 Muslims in Britain, that is, 2.7% of the total population. In August, 5,000 Muslims attended an International Islamic Conference in London entitled “Islam — The Only Way Forward”. The conference was seen by its organisers as one step towards “disseminating the true message of Islam in the Western hemisphere.”
It is evident that Christianity is at a low ebb when sodomite and lesbian activists can threaten and harass Christian organisations with impunity. London’s new Christian radio station (we take nothing to do with its brand of Christianity at present) is having the anger and threats of one homosexual organisation vented against it because its chief executive has stated that homosexual acts are wrong. Another instance of such aggression and intimidation was seen recently in a London church when a Christian group, which helps those who are seeking deliverance from this sin, had one of its meetings violently disrupted by a group of homosexuals. To criticise or condemn their abominably sinful practices is to be branded as homophobic. A recent article in a Scottish newspaper which dared to say that “the homosexual life is unnatural, dangerous and evil” was responded to with appalling vituperation by readers’ letters.
As the godly man ponders these advancing waves of rebellion and rage against God and His law, he finds himself echoing the words of the Psalmist: “The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves,” (Psalm 93:3). On the other hand it is certain that however great is the power of secularism, false religion and abounding iniquity, there is One who has more power by far, as the next verse shows: “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
This precious truth of the omnipotency of God allays the fears of the church of Christ when she is surrounded by the gathering storms. The church of long ago could say, “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” The disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee feared they would be overwhelmed by the stormy sea, but Jesus commanded the wind and the sea to be still, and at the same time asked His disciples, “Why are ye so fearful?” Is He not the same today as yesterday?
This precious truth that God is almighty and exercises His power on behalf of His church also encourages the godly to continue waiting on Him in prayer that He would fulfil His promise: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” He will yet arise and have mercy upon His Zion.
Finally, when the Lord is mightier than the floods His people may go forth in His strength to do what they can to stem the tide. King Canute rebuked the flattery of his courtiers, who were saying he was all-powerful, by demonstrating that he could not hold back the flowing tide, but in the history of the church the Lord has raised up a standard against the enemy by using men for turning back the flood. Truly, we ourselves are weak, but let us seek grace to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
The Editor