Biblical Ethics, Part 5 - The Future
19th May 2023
In the light of what we've seen regarding the willingness of much of the English church to embrace worldly ethics and reject Biblical ethics, what does the future hold for England and for the English church? I admit I have to speculate a little bit. The Bible doesn't talk explicitly about England in the 21st century, but I believe that a lot of our churches are going to close. In fact, a lot already have. Many church buildings have been converted into carpet showrooms and nightclubs. Any church which disregards the word of God will come to an end unless it repents. As Jesus wrote to the church in Ephesus:
Revelation 2v5
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If
you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its
place.
Which means "this church will close".
To the church in Sardis, He wrote:
Revelation 3v3
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.
But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what
time I will come to you.
Which means "this church will be judged".
To both these churches, Jesus said:
Revelation 2v7 and 3v6
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Will we hear what the Spirit is saying to our churches?
Some churches will split between those who love the Bible and those who love the world. Some denominations will disappear or be reduced to a tiny rump. That is actually happening. And a lot of new churches will be planted, and a lot of faithful churches will grow. God honours those who honour Him.
Also, as England turns further from God, we may experience a period of increased anti-Christian discrimination, because our ethics are different. I don't think we can properly describe our life in England as persecution, but there is certainly discrimination.
And at some point in the future known only to God, there will be another revival in England. There have been revivals here before and there will be again. According to such study as I've been able to do, revivals usually occur when a nation is in a particularly depraved moral state, so the next one might be quite soon. Also, so far as I've been able to discover, revivals come after a small number of faithful Christians devote themselves to prayer.
As we wait for revival, how should we live? Here are four ideas:
- Firstly, we should repent. That is, we should examine ourselves to see if there's any part of the Bible that we're ignoring, disobeying or perverting, and we should stop it. Remembering the words God spoke to Elijah, which we thought about last time, make sure you're one of the 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
- Secondly, we should pray. We're all familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." What better way to spend our time than to seek God's mercy for our churches and our nation.
- Thirdly, we should stand up for the truth of the gospel and of God's ethics, but we should do so as Peter told us in 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect".
- Fourthly, may I urge you to be faithful. Keep going. As God told His people in Deuteronomy 5:32-33, "be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
In the words of Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We've spent five weeks considering the importance of Christian ethics. That is, Biblical ethics. Next week, I'll talk more about what Christian ethics are.