hen men in Shinar arrogantly proposed to build a city with a PROUD TOWER crowned with a summit-temple that would keep them together, God “came down” to see. While Sodom and Gomorrah had for long years practiced sexual perversion and social injustice, Ezekiel 16:49-50, Genesis 18:20-33—assuring themselves that homosexuality and allied sins of promiscuous sex had become the “new normal” in sexual relationships, Genesis 19:4-5, Judges 19:22, God said, “I will go down and see”.
In both cases, “came down” and “go down” meant that God’s response depended on his will, not the opinion of people. On how the behavior offended his righteousness, not merely someone’s sense of morality. God determines the beliefs and behaviors he accepts. He honors both that build life and behavior on his word. He condemns any that deviate from his word. And calls any deviation a SIN that brings punishment. The men scattered where they wanted instead to congregate; Sodom and Gomorrah and their surrounding towns, Jude 7, buried under fire and brimstone where they wanted to be the acceptable alternative in sexuality. The protest could have come from the very soil being polluted by Abel’s innocent blood Genesis 4:10. (The next time we wonder why tornadoes twist their deadly swirl or hurricane blow their furious winds or earthquakes heave their behemoth fractures in the earth’s crust, consider that creation is taking its revenge on our sins for condemning it to frustration Romans 8:20-21.) Since scripture doesn’t identify the source of the protest against the cities on the Plain, we won’t. However, the point of the blog is relevant. That protests had been made means that judgments had been rendered against the sins. That judgment had been rendered means that God has at least a creation sensitive to him, his purpose and his nature, Luke 19:39-40, that will protest abuse by sinners. And God likely had even then unnamed people, I Kings 19:18, who knew his standards of belief and behavior and judged when they had been offended. And who knew that the deviation from God’s word was called sin or wickedness, not sickness. Christians, of all people, educated in God’s word, are expected to know the behavior God accepts; and expected to defend his demands and criticize any departure from them. If we refuse, no one else will. Then, the very stones of earth will cry out against our failure and in honor of the Creator it loves and obeys. Therefore, Christians, remember that having enough active, vocal witnesses in a city, a state, a nation brings a “herd immunity” against wickedness that protects all from its baleful presence. When not enough Christians verbally protest the wrongs that wrong has committed, everybody, even Christians, lose the protection of “herd immunity”. That is the present condition of America. So what should Christians do? Become a vocal advocate of Biblical values and behaviors. Express a lifestyle of obedience that surfaces questions why and gives an opportunity for a witness. Be bold enough to declare as a SIN the behavior that others call simply “alternative thinking”. King Josiah, learning that God’s punishment on Judah couldn’t be rescinded, began a personal commitment that led to a national reformation. He did all he could, despite the punishment coming II Kings 22-23. Let us be as committed to Christ; though punishment comes on America. Amen.
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