Go Back to Step #1

February 8, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Matthew 5:14-16

Have you ever wondered if there is a method to the madness of our culture? What I want to know is if there is any evidence of a systematic evolution and/or dissolution to our “American Way”? I came across an article that was published in a newsletter from another local church back in February 2016. It seems the pastor then was concerned about this very issue and was doing a series of sermons and teachings on “Christian America”. What follows is a part of the article that contains a quote from Alexander Tyler back in 1787 and I find it striking at the heart of my question: “The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence –

1) From bondage to spiritual faith;
2) From spiritual faith to great courage;
3) From courage to liberty;
4) From liberty to abundance;
5) From abundance to complacency;
6) From complacency to apathy;
7) From apathy to dependence; 😎

From dependence back into bondage” The pastor closed his article with this statement, which I find compelling; “Most scholars and people would place our nation somewhere between step 6 and 7 in that life-cycle, which is pretty scary when you think about it. The trouble is that even with the knowledge of where we are and where we are headed, most don’t realize what to do about it. It’s really very simple: If you want to break the cycle, you have to go back to step one.” So, what do you think? For me, I find the recent teachings I’ve shared with you very timely in helping to direct us.

The Lord allowed me to study and share with you the importance of going back to the basics of God’s call on his people. We’ve recently looked at Jesus’s encounter with one of the teachers of the law who asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important”? To which Jesus simply replied; “The most important one” . I love the way Jesus puts the ball back in the teachers court, and gives him the opportunity to take responsibility to answer such a question for himself. Never the less, Jesus quickly jumps in during what must have been a very uncomfortable quiet pause and quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 about loving God with everything, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Today, in considering the above article, I want to encourage you faithful readers of this post to read the scripture text for today; Matthew 5:14-16 and ask yourself, “am I letting my little light shine for God’s glory with the sole purpose of drawing people to Him”? Do I stay close to God in his word, prayer, and worship so as to have a brighter light to shine?

It’s a good challenge, and it might just be the light at the end of the tunnel that will give you hope that we all can go back to step #1 and lead the way for others to find true faith in God.