Responding to and Preparing for Cultural Changes and Persecution
Transcript
Benjamin Kreps:
Hey everyone. And welcome back to the Mark Prater podcast, where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director. Hey Mark.
Mark Prater:
Hey Ben. You're back. How was vacation?
Benjamin Kreps:
It was great. Went to the Jersey shore. Wonderful time.
Mark Prater:
Oh, I'm so glad you got away. You should know that Eric Turbedsky, who hosted last week, is now angling to get back into the host role.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yeah. Yeah. I noticed that. And you know, it is a highly coveted and prestigious role with a very high paying salary.
Mark Prater:
Exactly.
Benjamin Kreps:
Who could blame him? On a serious note, over the past couple of weeks, because now the Supreme Court is in session, trying cases, there's been a number of decisions that affect our perspective on the biblical values in our culture and religious liberty. Do you have some thoughts about that?
Mark Prater:
Well, I'm sure our guys are tracking recent Supreme Court decisions a couple of weeks ago where Gorsuch joined sort of the liberal judges and ruled on the civil rights law of 1964 that said there should be no discrimination based on sex is what they keyed in on. They expanded really that definition to include sexual identity, gender preference. And that was a disappointing decision because it's not a biblical worldview.
The other one that just occurred this week is where they ruled, where Roberts joined the liberals, and rule to overturn a Louisiana law that restricted abortion. They had some high levels of laws that needed to be kept like doctors having privileges and local hospitals. And so they overruled that. And so that was disappointing. So in both of those, those get biblical issues that we care a lot about.
Benjamin Kreps:
What would be some thoughts or suggestions for our thinking as pastors, as we navigate through a culture that increasingly is moving away from what we hold when it comes to different views of morality and a biblical worldview?
Mark Prater:
Yeah. Obviously we're, you know guys here in the States, I think throughout the world, are seeing the cultural trend as it relates to sexual identity and sexual ethics. The abortion issue has been an issue for some time, not only in this nation, but, but many nations.
And now you're seeing the Supreme Court rule on those issues in a way, at least for Christians is, disappointing. So I think, you know, the way I'm thinking about it is that I think pastors have to begin to think about how to prepare their members for persecution. I don't think that's an overreaction because of the cultural trends and even biblically speaking, if we're going to live a godly life, we're going to be persecuted. It says that in 2 Timothy3: 12, so persecution should be expected. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10 that he is content with persecution. He uses the plural form. So just begin thinking about how you can equip your members for persecution that I think is going to come.
I'm more concerned, not about my generation as much, although I think we'll face it. I'm more thinking about my grandkids and pastors preparing my grandkids for persecution I think will come.
Benjamin Kreps:
That's great. Mark, do you have any practical suggestions, one or two, for how we might go about preparing our church for persecution?
Mark Prater:
Obviously preaching. You can consider the beatitudes in Matthew 5:10-12, in particular. Blessed are those who are persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He goes on to say, blessed are those when you are reviled. That section of Scripture, I think, is a good one to preach from and to consider. You could spring from 2 Timothy 3:12. In teaching it, I would want to emphasize this persecution actually should be more of a normal aspect of the Christian life. It's not necessarily abnormal and just preparing our folks to respond in a godly way.
It's one thing to be aware of persecution, experiencing it and how to respond to it is a different thing. So you and I were talking before we hit the record button about that, that wonderful picture in Acts 4, where they're being persecuted for preaching the gospel. And they respond by rejoicing. That's a great way to respond.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yeah, I think it's a good thing to help our people know that as we increasingly face hostility from the culture, there are tears, there is sadness connected with that, but there's also joy there, in Christ, waiting for us. And also to know that the Bible, much of it, is written by people who are facing persecution and to people in persecution. So I think there are treasures for us in the Word that we are not as acquainted with as we should be, that we will become more acquainted with that will comfort us in these days ahead.
Mark Prater:
And may the effect be that the church thrives and the gospel advances. You see that not only in Acts 4, for example, or throughout the rest of the book of Acts, you see that in church history, right? The church drives in your persecution. So even though things may be more difficult culturally, as worldviews clash, may our churches thrive in gospel ministry as we face more persecution.
Benjamin Kreps:
Yes. Amen. Well, thanks, Mark, for your thoughts and thank you everyone for watching and we'll be back here next week. Lord willing, see you then.
