When someone spends $40 billion of their own money so the truth can be revealed, that’s a miracle. The Twitter Files have made it abundantly apparent that censorship—discarding free speech and betraying the First Amendment—is an undeniable part of our current circumstances. Our government, our intelligence apparatus, and even federal law enforcement have all engaged in fundamental violations of our Constitution. The documents reveal a pattern of behavior to control ideas, thought, and the exchange of information on a scale we have never seen before. Even more troubling is the fact that these revelations have largely been met with a shrug of indifference from the media and our leadership. Instead, in most cases, the responses have been arrogant, brash, and dismissive. The only logical conclusion is that, in many ways, gaining, maintaining, or expanding power have triumphed over the rule of law.
The reality is we’ve enjoyed a lengthy season of light, where our goals have been respect, dignity, upholding the rule of law, equality before the law, opportunity, faith, the pursuit of justice, the belief in personal property, and tolerance. That collection of ideas, derived from a biblical worldview, has resulted in a lengthy season of stability. I believe that season has concluded.
That’s awkward and uncomfortable to write—I would rather look away. But our faith isn’t lived in the context of academia—it’s not just theological or theoretical. Our faith has to be expressed in very practical ways in the midst of our world, and being aware of what’s happening will help us pray in an informed way.
There’s a battle raging for our hearts and minds, unlike any I’ve experienced in my lifetime. The challenges we currently face are more elemental and foundational in nature than what we’ve previously known. There’s a great horde of ungodly ideas flooding our lives, and it seems every possible format is being utilized to challenge the knowledge of God. The majority of the information flowing over and through us has been sourced by people apart from the Kingdom of God. That means it’s highly probable we’re carrying residue from that, which impacts our values, how we resolve issues, how we interact with people, and how we sort out life.
It’s time to give detailed attention, on a regular basis, to our thought life. Long before our behaviors capitulate to darkness, our thoughts and emotions do. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” It’s imperative we choose to see ourselves and our circumstances through God’s perspective and allow Him to renew our minds.
We have often understood “renewing our minds” in the context of attitude, perseverance, or not yielding. Our language is frequently around the battlefield of the mind, or the struggle of forgiveness. Those are all legitimate ideas that are grounded in Scripture, but I believe we’re in a different time. In the midst of our current set of challenges, “renewing our minds” means pursuing the knowledge of God, implementing it in our lives, and treasuring it in a new way. The knowledge of God will do more to secure our future than any single thing I know.
How do we gain this knowledge? Proverbs 2:1-5 offers this advice: “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
Having a knowledge of God is more than just knowing about God. It’s about being in a relationship with Him and seeking Him consistently so you might know His thoughts, His opinions, and His perspectives. Afterall, God said through Isaiah: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) Welcoming biblical truth and purposely embracing God’s ideas for ourselves and our families will become increasingly important in the days to come.
God’s people are called to be salt and light, and we’ve been entrusted with the assignment to proclaim the truth in our generation. The fulfillment of this divine trust demands us to be aware and willing to prioritize Kingdom initiatives, and that means being prepared to take the truth of God into the world in which we live. That doesn’t mean being angry or belligerent. It means being aware of the truth and understanding what’s happening. Your common sense, the Spirit of God within you, the counsel of Scripture, and your life experience are sufficient to guide you. With confidence in the Word of God, it’s time to be strong and courageous and use your voice wherever God leads, and if we do, we will see God’s Church overcome evil in ways we’ve never experienced before.
Let the change begin with us!
Pastor Allen Jackson