The October 31 sermon by Pastor Chuck Swindoll in Frisco, Texas, highlighted the life and work of Martin Luther, responsible in large part for the Protestant Reformation, of which all evangelicals are inheritors. Luther was convinced that the Roman church had drifted from the Scriptures—and thus into corruption—and that the common people desperately needed the Bible in their own language. His 95 Theses, nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517, put the Roman church authorities on notice and brought the issues of faith and Scripture to the forefront of religious life at a time when the world was very dark indeed. The point of Pastor Swindoll’s sermon: there are times when Christians need to stand for truth, counting and accepting the consequences, regardless of the opposition they may face, and doing so in the power and for the glory of God.
It was a refreshing reminder on a day that much of the Western world has turned into a glorification of Satan and his demonic forces. The influence of evil in our post-modern culture has saturated every facet of our lives—the definition of marriage and sexuality; the removal of absolute moral standards from education, from business, and from our courts of law; and the casual acceptance of atheistic naturalism in public discourses. More disturbing, as Luther found, is the drift of the Church away from Scripture.
Dr. Albert Mohler, the keynote speaker at ICR’s 40th anniversary banquet in Dallas, is a powerful voice in evangelicalism as he addresses the destructive influences of popular culture today upon the moorings of conservative Christianity. Along with ICR, leaders like Dr. Mohler, Dr. Mac Brunson, Dr. John MacArthur, and others are standing, unafraid of the masses, shepherding the Church through the unwavering communication of biblical truth. Throughout our 40 years of ministry, ICR has counted on the friendship of men like these who resist compromise and seek to honor the Creator and His Word.
As we think of the birth of Jesus this month, we must remember that the Son of God not only created the world with great purpose, but that He also came to us to fulfill one grand purpose—the salvation of our souls. It’s so clear in Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation.
So why do so many “Christians” and “churches” waver on the fundamental doctrines of the Bible? How can they deny God the power and might to create the world in six days? Why do they deny the detailed account of a flood that covered the entire world? When will they realize that they are treading on dangerous ground by turning God’s inerrant and inspired Word into a supposedly flawed book of myths mixed with history?
When “the reason for the season” is torn away from the pages of the Bible, why should we be surprised that Christian teachers—some calling themselves evangelicals—describe God as an evolutionist? May God have mercy on them!
And may God grant us all a renewed determination to take and maintain our stand for the Creator and His holy Word.
* Mr. Ford is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Ford, L. 2010. Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus! Acts & Facts. 39 (12): 3.
