eChurch Blog

Guest Post by Jack Lewis

Dear Brothers in Christ,

Since this is a lengthy letter, to get your attention, I’m starting with the final word. A detailed explanation then follows.

Final word.

1   Christians cannot absolve themselves from their part in allowing this country’s slide into immorality through the actions of a Godless Government.

2   Christians need to repent and ask God’s forgiveness with prayer and fasting and to ask God to raise-up God fearing people to stand for election at the next General Election.

3   The Christian media and organized churches need to play their part and allow themselves to be God’s instrument in uniting and speaking out to all His people in the UK.

If you think this is not really your concern then read no further.

This letter is addressed  to you as a leader within your Christian organization as well as to many other leaders of the Christian media. All these organizations are listed at the end of this letter. The subject is the total breakdown of trust in our elected authorities and the moral decline brought about by the raft of anti-Christian rules and regulations over the last 50 years or so. The scandal of the MP’s expenses has brought our whole governing system into disrepute in the eyes of most people regardless of their belief system or world view.

I believe that this country now stands at a spiritual crossroads. I do not believe that we have had such a crisis of confidence in government as we are having today. We have witnessed a Government driven moral decline resulting in reducing family values, political correctness and its obsession with homosexuality. I believe this slide into ‘official’ immorality started in 1967 when abortion was legalized. The ‘safety net’ clauses were soon discarded and abortion became nothing less than selfish child sacrifice for social reasons. At the other end of life we are now witnessing the spectre of cries for euthanasia to be legalized. With this loss of respect for our leaders and a General Election less than 12 months away, it is time for a moral backlash such as never seen before in this country. I have a vision that it is now time for Christians to act in unity and to act decisively in reversing this trend.

First of all Christians have a great deal to answer for their part in allowing, through silence and poor leadership, for this decline. In fact I would go so far as to say that the ‘Church’ in the UK/West has long lost its direction and has almost liberalised itself out of existence. The western church fits the description given to the lukewarm Laodicean church in Rev 3:15-18 and warned:

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

There is no longer any loud Christian voice left especially from the Church of England. I have seen mentioned several times recently in this connection the wise words of Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797) ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’. Surely it is time for Christians to stop tut-tutting at the downward moral spiral whilst at the same time agreeing with Edmund Burke and start to DO something about it! I think the electorate, of whatever philosophical persuasion, is ready for some radical changes in this country’s leadership but they don’t know how to achieve it. To them the choices are still the same and as for Christians these choices are no choice at all. Anti-Christian legislation will continue to increase regardless of which of the current mainstream parties are elected.

The Bible tells us that we are to submit to the governing authorities:

Romans 13:1-4

1  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

2  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.

3  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

4  for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

At the time Paul spoke these words the only governing authorities were unelected Godless dictatorships. Paul seemed to be saying that the God appointed authorities were for good administration and justice and not to be feared. What about authorities that forbid what God commands and commands what God forbids? On this Paul is silent. However we could take a leaf out of Peter and John’s book in Acts 4:19-20 when they were hauled before the Saducees for disobeying their command not to proclaim Jesus in the Temple:

Acts 4:19-20

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Where we have no control over our governing authorities then perhaps civil disobedience would be the only course of action. However if God has given us the intellect to elect our own leaders then we can hardly complain when we allow them to abuse us through our inaction. We are reaping exactly what we have sown. Below is a litany of immoral anti-Christian legislation that has been enacted by successive Governments since 1967. The irony is that it is we who elected them and then stood back and watched in silence while they gradually undermined this country’s Christian way of life.

1967: The Abortion Act. Abortion became legalized clearing the way for general moral decline and anti-Christian legislation over the next 42 years.

1993: The National Lottery Act.

1994: The lowering of the homosexual age of consent to 18.

1994: The Sunday Trading Act.

1996: Family Law Act: No Fault divorce, however due to failed pilot schemes it was dropped by the present Government in 2001.

2000: Sexual Offences Act: Homosexual age of consent lowered again to 16.

2000: Repeal of Section 28 (Scotland). Section 28 prevented homosexuality being promoted in schools.

2000: Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment Order 2000. This order allowed school nurses to hand out morning-after pills to school children of any age.

2000: Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 3) Order

2000. This allows the morning -after pill to be given out in chemists legally to those over 16.

2001:  Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations

2001: Legalisation of the cloning of humans for medical experimentation.

2002: Adoption and Children Act: Allowing homosexual and cohabiting couples to jointly adopt children (in England and Wales).

2003: Local Government Act: Defeat of “conscience clause” amendment which would have protected council employees from being forced to participate in same-sex adoption.

2003: Local Government Act: Repeal of Section 28 (England and Wales). Section 28 prevented homosexuality being promoted in schools

2003: EU Employment Directive Implementation. This banned work-place discrimination on grounds of religion, belief or sexual orientation. It could force churches and religious organisations to employ non-believers and practising homosexuals. Christian employers would have to prove their case for employing fellow believers before an employment tribunal.

2003: Communications Act. This continues to bar Christians from holding main broadcasting licences.

2003: Criminal Justice Act: Creates ‘aggravated offences’ meaning that racial, religious, sexual orientation or disability groups will have more protection than other citizens.

2003: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) (No.2) Order: Reclassifies cannabis from Class B down to Class C. (This change has now been reversed.)

2004: Gender Recognition Act: Allows people who have had, or who want to have, a ‘sex change’ operation to be given a new (and therefore fake) birth certificate. This would allow them to marry someone of the same biological sex.

2004: Civil Partnership Act: Creating ‘gay marriage’ in law in all but name (UK-wide).

2004: Children Act: The parental right to smack in England and Wales is partially restricted – the defence of reasonable chastisement removed in some cases.

2005: Gambling Act: The deregulation of gambling including new mega casinos, unlimited slot machine prizes, removing bar on advertising and giving free rein to internet gambling.

2005: Mental Capacity Act: Allows euthanasia by omission (e.g. by withdrawing food and water) in England and Wales.

2005: Family Law (Scotland) Act: Makes divorce easier and quicker in Scotland. Also introduces rights for cohabiting couples which mimic those of marriage.

2007: Equality Act Sexual Orientation Regulations: Outlaws discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. Religious exemptions do not cover organizations receiving public funding like adoption agencies.

2008: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: This attacks the sanctity of life, allowing creation of animal-human embryos and ‘saviour siblings’. Doctors no longer need to consider a child’s need for a father when deciding to give a woman IVF treatment.

2008: Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order: Lowers the age of consent for sexual activity from 17 to 16 in Northern Ireland.

2009: Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act: Creates stronger penalties for crimes committed on grounds of sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability, meaning these groups have more protection than other citizens.

Of the 26 regulations listed, 12 help promote homosexual and sexual orientation lifestyles, 4 attack marriage, 5 attack the sanctity of life, 3 relax gambling rules, 1 relaxes Sunday trading laws and 1 reclassified cannabis from a Class B down to a Class C (although this has now been reversed).

I believe it is now time for Christians to swallow their pride, sink their denominational differences and start to get really humble before God. Our denominational and theological differences must not be allowed to prevent the kind of unity that is needed at this time. I would go as far as to say that even some of those with no theology would throw in their lot with Christians to see a moral change take place. In respect of encouraging Christian media action Amos 3:3 says:

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

This should apply to the Christian media uniting in, what could be called, a Christian led moral campaign for political change. This action, I believe, should firstly be a need to seriously repent for our slothful silence and secondly to ask God’s forgiveness. We need to do what we once did during the war and have days of national prayer and throw ourselves on God’s mercy. John Piper, in his book ‘A Hunger For God’ quoted from John Wesley’s journal in which he tells of a ‘Biblical’ deliverance in 1756. In that year George III called for a day of solemn prayer and fasting because of a threatened invasion by the French. Wesley wrote,

The fast day was a glorious day, such as London has scarce seen since the Restoration. Every church in the city was more than full, and a solemn seriousness sat on every face. Surely God heareth prayer, and there will yet be a lengthening of our tranquillity.

In a footnote Wesley added later,

Humility was turned into national rejoicing for the threatened invasion by the French was averted.

Since our elected authorities do not acknowledge the sovereignty of God, it is up to us, who elected them, to call upon God and to show a deep sense of remorse and repentance with fasting for our years of inactivity and ask God to help us choose and elect Godly representatives. We need to use the intelligence God gave us and use whatever resources we have available to us. In my view our best resource is the Christian media i.e. the Christian press, Christian TV and Radio, Christian alliance groups and e-mails. Churches need to talk to their congregations. It would appear also that much political campaigning is now conducted through social networking websites like ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’ and ought to be used to spread the word. If I may take some of the words of Paul in Rom 10:14-15, although out of context, could equally apply to this situation:

‘And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?’

The Christian media could draw people’s attention to Christian political parties like the Christian Peoples Alliance or The Christian Party or some other worthy party. These parties are very small, but then so was Gideon. They will need a lot of help, some of it from us but mostly from God. We need to find a ‘Gideon’ or ‘Jehoshaphat’ who will speak out via the Christian media with a call to pray and fast and bring about a change in the way this country should be governed. I believe that representatives of the Christian media needs to meet together to pray, fast and seek God’s guidance in how and what to communicate to the people.

In the Old Testament God handled this kind of crisis by using His prophets speaking  blessings and curses to His people as needed. However you don’t need to be a prophet to see what has happened, why it happened and what it needs to reverse it. A strong voice from the Christian media could be God’s instrument to work a miracle for those who would stand for election when the time comes, just as He did for Gideon and his 300 men! Think what 300 Christian MPs could do in Parliament! The message that this would convey to the Labourites, the Conservatites and the Liberalites would be the same as was for the Midianites.

Therefore I urge the Christian media to unite and help bring about a spiritual and political change that maybe will be like a full blown revival. Time is running out fast! If the media are able to call Christians to action but Christians still do nothing then I believe it will be all up for us. We would do well to heed the words written to the Church in Ephesus in Rev 2:4-5 for I believe they may well apply to us in this country.

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

However it is entirely possible that we are too late and that God has already removed the lampstand!

Yours sincerely in Christ

Jack Lewis

List of recipients of this letter.

Cross Rhythms, Jesus Fellowship Church, GOD TV UK & Ireland, Christian Party, Christian Peoples Alliance, United Christian Broadcasters, Genesis – Revelation TV,  KICC TV Premier Christian Media, Evangelical Alliance, FIEC, Affinity,  The Christian Police Association, Soul Survivor, The Church of England Newspaper, Woman Alive Magazine, The Baptist Union, Christianity Today Magazine,  Premier Media Group, Methodist Church House, The Salvation Army,  The Christian Institute, the Archbishop of York, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Creation Ministries International, New Wine Church, The Church Times,  The Church of Scotland, Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Churches’ Media Council, Christian Broadcasting Council, eChurchWebsites Blog.

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Tags: Christian Life, Politics

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 11:18 am and is filed under Webmaster's Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.