This past week SCOTUS made an historic vote that I believe will affect the church in a powerful way. Although we are told that a church or pastor will not have to ignore its religious convictions when it comes to this ruling, but I feel that it is just a matter of time before someone will "test the waters" to see if a church or minister can be held in error for not adhering to the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act. It amazes me how the Bible is no longer the center of so many people's life and more painful to me is the people in the church who are unwilling to stand up for the Word of God over and above their own social convictions or their own political affiliations that are of the world. Satan has dimmed so many eyes. As I reflected on this event in history I was led to the tiny minor book of the Prophet Zephaniah. In chapter 1 we read these words, "The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth — this is the LORD’s declaration. I will sweep away man and animal; I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth. This is the LORD’s declaration. I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the residents of Jerusalem. I will cut off every vestige of Baal from this place, the names of the pagan priests along with the priests; those who bow in worship on the rooftops to the heavenly host; those who bow and pledge loyalty to the LORD but also pledge loyalty to Milcom; and those who turn back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of Him. Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing. On that day I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit. On that day— this is the LORD’s declaration— there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills. Wail, you residents of the Hollow, for all the merchants will be silenced; all those loaded with silver will be cut off. And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The LORD will not do good or evil. Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine. The great Day of the LORD is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of the LORD— then the warrior’s cry is bitter. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. I will bring distress on mankind, and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy. For He will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth."1 The last verse of this passage came to haunt me as I read this chapter when it it says, "For He will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth." We tend to think this is completely about Judea and Jerusalem and the olden times of the Old Testament, but this is Bible Prophecy of our future. When we turn from God there are great consequences. However, God gave us Jesus so that we could be reconciled with Him. Listen to the beginning of chapter 2 of Zephaniah, "Gather yourselves together; gather together, undesirable nation, before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning of the LORD’s anger overtakes you, before the day of the LORD’s anger overtakes you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who carry out what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LORD’s anger."2 We need to turn back to the Lord and humble ourselves to Him and we will be concealed from the day of the Lord's anger. We need to be in prayer for the Church, for the Nation, and for the world in which we live. I also feel we need to be in prayer for the people of the church to wake up to and come alive in the Word of God!
1 The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Zep 1:1–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
2 The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Zep 2:1–3). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
