Michael Mifsud

Hey I despair quite often doing this ministry! So I know what you are going through. And not everyone is called to take on all these issues, or to be so immersed in all this stuff. Indeed, we can only do what God calls us to do. But he always gives us grace for the job, whatever it may be.

Jesus was tempted to give up along the way but he did not. We must follow in his footsteps and persevere. The battles are many and the war is fierce. But as you say, we serve a triumphant Lord and victory is assured.

I am just now reading a book about Winston Churchill which someone kindly sent me. If there is one word that describes him, it is persistence. He is famous for one speech in which he said, “We must never, never, never surrender”. He also said, “Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altars.”

And of course the biblical admonitions to persevere are well known. So I encourage you to keep on keeping on. You are doing a great job, and it will certainly be rewarded in that day that we all look forward to.

Blessings
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Whilst I concur with the thrust (and indeed, the content) of your article, one thing at the end did trouble me. I am wrestling right now with the amount of time I can give to considering contemporary issues mainly because of how much I tend to veer towards a despairing frame of mind as a result.

But despair is sin, as a friend reminded me in the last few days, and I had to further remind myself that we definitely know “which view will triumph.” The possible (but if then, only temporary) triumph of secular values will reap their deadly consequences as millions continue to suffer and die at the hands of this wolf in sheep’s clothing. And Jesus did speak of birth pains. (Matthew 24)

So, whilst we fight a spiritual foe that is deceiving many and bringing pain, betrayal, persecution, hatred, selfishness and death with it, this was prophesied and it is not unexpected when technologies such as television and the internet reflecting and quickly multiplying what is already in the hearts of us humans. It used to be that sin had a more ‘individual’ voice. I submit it is now becoming more easily ‘collective’ and public, and therefore much worse. The anonymity of the internet and (to a lesser extent) the writers/producers of television is probably a major factor. People can reveal what’s in their hearts without having to pay full price for the social consequences. (I’m sure the reason your blog comments are generally civilized is because of your moderation policy!) And it’s no wonder that in human history the worst atrocities were committed by states, not individuals.

But God wins in the end. The Judeo-Christian values will find their ultimate and final victory over the counterfeits. I just struggle to find the balance between making a difference for the Kingdom of God – and therefore caring enough to speak up – but caring so much about the degeneration of good values to find myself in a very negative frame of mind. Which isn’t very joyful, so what do I have to share? Aaarrrgghh. Then I’m reminded to cast my cares onto Him…

We Christians certainly hold to some dichotomies in our lives – in the world but not of it, sinners but sanctified, joyful but sad about the state of the world, etc. Sigh. How I’m looking forward to heaven… But in the meantime, I’m still here, so I guess there’s work to do!

God Bless You!
Mark Rabich