The first
story is par for the course. I suppose we can be thankful for the reported
success in the second piece but to me it wasn't the 'success' that was of
interest but the report of just how bad things have gotten.
We had been
attending an Alliance Church in 2001 and occasionally making a very long drive (1hr
40min) to a PCA. When September 11 happened that sealed it. I knew that Sunday
would be a fiasco. We ended up at the PCA for a number of years until a move
placed us even farther away. By then I had pretty much washed my hands of the
Reformed world and its narratives. The particular congregation was less than
Reformed with regard to worship but miles ahead of the average Evangelical
body. We attended there for practical reasons.
This last
Sunday was one of those 'divider' days. These days the number of congregations
seeking to be Biblical and eschewing idolatry is to put it simply miniscule.
It's a day when if you have a church to attend that you don't have to walk out
of, be thankful. Because most people don't. It's a Sunday that most Christians
will end up having to stay home to avoid singing idolatrous songs and
participating in blasphemous adoration of the American pseudo-Zion.
What struck
me with these articles is that my wife and I have been wholly outside these
circles now for many years and it is apparently even worse than I remember or
realized.
God help us.
I know based
off the email circuit and social media most Christians I know seem to have
fallen into this apostasy, worshiping power and war and knowing nothing of the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
That said
there are some encouraging reports. Things have gotten so over the top that it
has startled a few folks. And even though they are likely supporters of the
American Empire and all its pseudo-Christian narratives, even though they
likely venerate the warfare state they have come to realize that these things
probably don't belong in the Church. We can be thankful for that.
Psalm 74
A Plea for Relief from Oppressors
A Contemplation of Asaph.
74 O God, why have You cast us
off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.
5 They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.
6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.
7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts,
“Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.
5 They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.
6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.
7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts,
“Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
12 For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers.
16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
12 For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers.
16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O
Lord,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
20 Have respect to the covenant;
For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.
21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name.
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
20 Have respect to the covenant;
For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.
21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name.
22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.
