FOLLOW GOD, NOT THE CULTURE!

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, a man who is known for leading the Union in freeing the slaves. What is less known about him is that he was not particularly against slavery. In a Senate debate in 1858 with Stephen Douglas, Lincoln stated that he had “no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races." What is instructive about this is that he was right in line with the culture at the time, in spite of the clear wrong of slavery.

As pastors we need to be men who stand for Gods Word regardless of what culture dictates. While we do not have slavery to deal with as an issue, there are other cultural pressures that we need to stand up to, not the least of which is the intimidation of Islam on society. Today we read that two journalists were arrested in India for reprinting an article that spoke the truth of Mohammad at 53 of having sexual relations with his 9 year old "wife" Aisha. It has become illegal in some places to speak this truth of Islam. The question for pastors will be what will they do? What will their instruction from pulpits be? Now some will say that it is not a biblical issue whether Mohammad had sex with a 9 year old or not. Or is it? Are we not obligated to speak the true gospel and call all who would propagate a false gospel to be accursed as Paul instructs in Galatians 1:8-9?

The life of the "prophet" is fair game as it relates to credibility and historical accuracy. We must be men with the courage to stand in the face of those who would seek to make us martyrs for our faith. And if the Lord would decree that we be martyrs, than let us be joyful martyrs who die for the sake of the truth of the gospel, and not men that are double minded and ruled by the fear of man. President Lincoln was a great President, but he clearly was a man who followed the culture into a very wrong and sinful position, may that not be said of those of us that God has called to lead, feed and shepherd His flock!