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As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, the backdrop of our current political condition looms dark---Franklin Graham and Eric Metaxas are calling it what it is: "Demonic and bizarre."
Yet we have every reason to be thankful. The darkness stands in stark contrast to the Truth, for which we give thanks to God.
Be informed.
Franklin Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham, said this week that the political divide in America, including the impeachment proceedings against President Trump, "may be demonic."
Graham was talking with author and radio host Eric Metaxas---they were talking about the current conditions in our politics and our culture.
Graham said, "Well, I believe it's almost a demonic power that is trying....." Metaxas interrupted saying, "I would disagree. It's not almost demonic. You and I know, at heart, it's a spiritual battle."
Metaxas said our political condition is "bizarre" where people "exist to undermine the president of the United States."
Existing to undermine the president.
The two talked about the successes of the Trump Administration: The economy is booming, unemployment is at a 70-year low, more African Americans are working, more Latinos are working, more Asians are working than ever before in US history. Generally, everybody who wants to work is working, they concluded.
Franklin pointed out that
"More people are working so more people are tithing and giving to churches. There's more money for missions and for building programs. All of this because Donald Trump said he would turn things around and make America great again."
What about Trump's faith?
Metaxas expressed frustration at many who have "vilified" both Graham and himself for supporting the President. "It's just a fascinating thing because people seem to devolve to a sort of moralistic 'Pharisaism'..."
Then Metaxas says,
"They go on to cite how he's the least Christian, and they go on and on and on. And I think these people don't even have a biblical worldview when it comes to that. If somebody doesn't hold to our theology, that doesn't mean they can't be a great pilot, or great doctor or a dentist."
It has been documented that Trump has done more for the evangelical community, and for religious freedom than any previous president in recent history.
He has been attentive and responsive to the evangelical community and biblical Christians everywhere.
He has kept his promises to us, where other, more "spiritually qualified" presidents have not.
Is this why they exist to undermine him?
I think it is to a degree. But there's more.
They hate biblical Christianity.
There's hatred toward biblical Christianity. I write about it all the time in this "Faith and Freedom Daily" column and talk about all the time on the radio.
It's not a political matter. It's ideological. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, the Bible says.
Rebellion toward God exists on both sides of the political aisle.
When people became aware of this conversation between Graham and Metaxas, some responded as we are responding---however, others exploded---and made my point.
This was posted on Twitter:
Barry Goldwater warned everyone. pic.twitter.com/dwIJvX10Nr— Scott Norris (@SNTheRock) November 23, 2019
Keep in mind that Barry Goldwater shaped, to a great extent, the conservative positions of the Republican Party, but lost the 1964 election by a record 61.1% to Democrat Lyndon Johnson.
Goldwater embraced politics, but stiffed the Christians.
There's much more---some of which I would not publish, but you get the point.
From, the time of Satan's rebellion there has been a contest for moral authority. The serpent claimed that authority in talking with Eve---explaining to her "that God doesn't really mean what He says."
Yes, we are living in "bizarre" times. And yes the contest in the culture is spiritual, not political.
Be thankful in all things. Here's why.
As we approach Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, having been in the ministry my entire adult life, I am well aware that some face the day, wanting to be thankful, but struggling to do so. Not for all the reasons above, but because circumstances seem to have turned against us. Tough times. Reverses.
God is God in the darkness as well as in the Light. God, most often, works out His plan just out of our sight.
Sarah Josepha Hale had been trying to get Thanksgiving adopted as a national holiday for 40 years. She had contacted every president---every one thought it was a good idea, but did nothing about it.
Finally during the darkest days of the Civil War, President Lincoln responded in 1863. He issued a proclamation, passed by an act of Congress, that set aside the last Thursday of November as the first annual "National Day of Thanksgiving and Praise."
But there's more.
Three months earlier, the battle of Gettysburg had occurred, resulting in the loss of approximately 60,000 American lives.
While President Lincoln walked among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg, Lincoln later testified that he, there in that place of loss and sorrow, committed his life to Jesus Christ.
He said,
"When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me , but I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ." (Source. Matt Staver.)
In Lincoln's proclamation, he said,
"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, Who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy..."
It is often in the darkest, most demonic, oppressive, bizarre times of our lives that God does the greatest things.
Be Thankful. Be Prayerful. Be Grateful. Be Blessed.