Vantage point
The Church must rise
The economy is shot. Marriage as an institution is
threatened. Abortion continues to cruelly take the lives of unborn children.
Morals seem to be at an all-time low. Television and movies spew filth. Subcultures
glorify sin.
What is a Christian to do? Is there an answer to the
overwhelming challenges our society faces today?
Yes, there is: The Church must rise.
When our nation has been challenged by such circumstances in
the past, the Church has risen to reverse the course.
Such was the case in the early 1800s, when the revival known
as the Second Great Awakening closed taverns and houses of ill repute,
introducing multitudes to a genuine relationship with Christ. New converts
launched benevolent causes, both official and unofficial; Christians addressed
the sin of slavery by fortifying the Underground Railroad, the system that
served as an escape route for slaves prior to the Civil War. Today’s “slavery”
issue is abortion.
The Prayer Meeting Revival shook the U.S. in 1857-58. Of
this revival, George E. Morgan wrote in 1908, “The visitation of the Spirit
first taught afresh the lesson of the New Birth; then, living faith was
translated into good works, multiplying on every hand and producing world-wide
results. A host of zealous converts carried the message of Divine love and
practical sympathy into the darkest abodes of human woe.” Converts cleaned up
slums, founded hospitals, exposed the plight of those in sweat shops, improved
the lot of prisoners and founded scores of other philanthropic organizations.
Whenever sin has abounded, the Church has risen and grace
has abounded much more (Romans 5:20).
The answer to today’s sin and misery is not “a church must
rise.” It is “the Church” must rise. The Church Universal, composed of all
believers, all who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, must rise, get hold of
God, put on the whole armor of God, and batter the gates of hell.
Our nation needs us. The Church must rise.
Ken Horn
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
