Be not loving the world, neither that which is in the world. If ever anyone is loving the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for everything that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of living, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2: 15-16, Concordant New Testament
I have a friend who for the most part lives off the grid when it comes to television and news. He busies himself with projects around his cabin in the woods and is happy just doing that. I realize, however, that any conversation with him concerning the state of the world we are living in is sort of fruitless as he is usually uninformed about such issues. I don't blame him for tuning out most things, for these days most things are more than worth tuning out. We have a powder keg once again in the middle east, a dysfunctional congress and a president who can barely put two words together most days. Who wants to watch that on the news? We also have the ever growing list of which words are acceptable and which are deemed much too offensive to speak any longer. The culture which has become known as "woke" has seemingly turned the country on its head. This got me thinking this week, in the midst of all which many now find offensive, how long will it be before the bible itself is deemed too offensive to read? How long before there becomes a woke translation of the scriptures which adheres to the doctrine of being soft and cuddly to all? I believe that it's just a matter of time before such a translation exists. Already we have seen a number of different bible translations pandering to different dialects and ways of living. Some years ago we saw the introduction of the Pidgeon bible, relating to the dialect of those native to the region of Hawaii. Now, I'm not against the EXACT translation of the scriptures into the native languages of the different regions of the earth, as I believe that the Father desires His children to hear and read of Him. However, I also have a mistrust of those who would participate in the translation of said scripture. What is their agenda? For unless the word is transcribed as closely as possible to the original text, I believe that a lot is being left out. I certainly would not be one to advocate for the scripture being watered down to be less offensive to people. In my opinion, if you find the bible offensive, then perhaps you need to be reading it that much more. There is certainly scripture which speaks to not adding or taking away from the original word {Proverbs 30:5-6, Galatians 1:6-9, Revelation 22:18-19}. However, I believe that we have already crossed that Rubicon when it comes to adding to scripture.
Wherein there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all and in all is Christ.
Colossians 3: 11, Concordant New Testament
There is one very important thing to remember when we speak about the Father and the culture in which we live. That is, in this ever changing world, the one constant has always been God. It is the Father who never changes {Hebrews 13:8}. The whims of man may change often, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the rock which we count on. Not only that, but He will never leave us a swell {Deuteronomy 3:16}. Too many well meaning Christians live under the idea that there is a separation between themselves and the Father. That somehow God is not involved in our day to day lives. The apostle Paul speaks against this notion as he claims that it is Christ Jesus who lives in him {Galatians 2:20}. God is indeed intimately involved in all we do. Not only that, all of this woke culture and chaos we see around us...was pre ordained. Indeed, the Father proclaimed what the ages would bring long before He created man. There is nothing which ever occurs in this world which God is not a part of. So, our first question should be, "What are You accomplishing here, God?" God never does anything by happenstance, there is always a purpose. He has a purpose for the chaos in the middle east. He indeed has a purpose for the state of the culture we are living in. What is that purpose? What is it that the Father has been working to accomplish through the passage of time? The author J Preston Eby makes a strong case that God has been working to ensure the salvation of all of His children. That the Father was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world we live in unto Himself {2 Corinthians 5:19}. For Jesus came not to judge, but that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved {John 3:16-17}. I believe that this has been the work which the Father has been engaged in from the begining. Chaos and discontent may roil all around us, but we can rest assured that the ultimate desire of the Father will come to pass.
How that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 19, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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