Danger Ahead!
It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available. We are not to see that they like it, but that they get it.
—Vance Havner—
Key point: Generally speaking, as conservative evangelicals, we believe Jesus was who He claimed to be, and we revere the Bible as God’s holy and inerrant Word. Moreover, we tend to trust our denominational and church leaders to lead us down the right and true path, theologically and otherwise. Things aren’t always as they seem. This post issues a warning! A movement is afoot within otherwise conservative evangelical circles to alter bedrock truth, and consequently, the message of the gospel. The activities of those trying to make these changes must be recognized, and their efforts must be stopped, lest once trustworthy denominations and churches cave completely to the onslaught of wickedness in our culture. Today, God’s people must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
The captain of a battleship had been out with his crew for an extended period of time as his ship had been engaged in routine military exercises. The weather, which had not been friendly to them, appeared to be getting worse. The night was dark, and the alert captain stood on the bridge to stay informed of current conditions.
Suddenly a lookout noticed a light in the distance, directly ahead. He reported the news to the captain, who immediately asked if the light was fixed or moving astern.
“It’s stationary, sir!” the lookout replied.
The captain knew that without changing course, the ship ahead would collide with his vessel. He ordered his signalman to send a message to the other ship: “Our ships are on a collision course. Recommend you immediately turn 20 degrees west.”
The other ship signaled back a simple reply. “Change your course 20 degrees east.”
Irked at the cockiness that clearly was apparent in the other ship’s response, the captain ordered his signalman to send another message: “I am a captain, and I order you to adjust your course 20 degrees west.”
Moments later, the second reply came from the other vessel: “I am a first-class seaman. You still must make the adjustment. Change your course 20 degrees east.”
Now the captain was incensed. How dare a mere sailor give orders to him! He had his signalman send one more message. “I am a battleship. Immediately modify your course. Move 20 degrees west.”
A simple, four-word reply came back that put things in perspective for the captain, who wasted no time in changing the direction of his ship: “I am a lighthouse.”
Quite probably you have heard some version of this story before. Whether or not the events actually occurred, they are true-to-life and grounded in reality. They highlight bedrock truth.
It’s likely that in most instances, people apply this illustration from the perspective of the captain and his battleship. We have to change course, because lighthouses are stationary. They don’t move. Here I want to make another point, however—one filled with just as much warning. This observation comes from the perspective of the lighthouse. Certain evangelical leaders currently are trying desperately to change the location of the lighthouse, and the church will pay a steep price if it doesn’t recognize the danger and put a stop to their efforts! We’re talking here about a course change that always will lead to disaster.
Certain evangelical leaders currently are trying desperately to change the location of the lighthouse, and the church will pay a steep price if it doesn’t recognize the danger and put a stop to their efforts!
These words from Jesus’ sermon on the mount come to mind at this point. We need to see them not only as words of encouragement, but also warning.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Attempts to Move the Lighthouse
In this series I want to highlight several areas where attempts to “move the lighthouse” are evident. However, before honing in on specifics, let’s examine a “snapshot” of the evangelical landscape. The situation within conservative evangelical circles is changing rapidly. Thomas Littleton, a Southern Baptist evangelist and journalist, describes it this way (several editorial adjustments have been made for smoothness and clarity).
A redefining of the role of Christians in the culture, including in politics and policy, is underway. Motives and goals of the very people who condemn evangelicals for supporting the election of Donald Trump in 2016 or GOP candidates going forward have become glaringly progressive and more left-leaning than ever. These leaders are promoting a perversion of the gospel by emphasizing social justice, contracting with grant funding and big business, strongly emphasizing inclusive and affirming themes, advocating open borders, and weakening pro-life and family values. All of these emphases, which have increased noticeably over the last few years, are doing great harm to religious freedom, domestic and foreign missions, and the worldview convictions that are taking hold among our Christian youth. The self-righteous efforts of these evangelical leaders are masked as a theological movement, and they therefore pose some of the greatest threats to the future of our churches and our children’s faith that we have known in our lifetimes. These leaders are agents of of BETRAYAL, and they must be exposed and stopped.
What?!? someone might object. Rev. Littleton must be overreacting! I’m sorry to say he is not. In the next few posts, we’ll consider several specific areas where evangelicals have generally agreed in the past, but now, where pastors and other leaders within once-trusted conservative entities now are lurching leftward, and doing their best to bring conservative evangelicalism along with them.
Within a few days, I’ll release part 2 of this series. It will highlight efforts to move the lighthouse with regard to the paramount issue of the sanctity of human life.
Stay tuned!
Part 2 is available here.
To access additional Word Foundations articles on social justice, go here.
Copyright © 2019 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.
top image: photo by Maximilian Weisbecker on Unsplash
photo credit: stained glass depiction of the sermon on the mount
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages have been taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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