Member News

July 2, 2015 Member Letter

Dear Brethren,

God’s creation of this universe is one of the greatest of all miracles, but He did not stop there. After creating the earth, God created the first man, Adam, from the dust of the ground and the first woman from his rib. And through a simple, but magnificent plan, He offers each one of their billions of descendants an opportunity to receive eternal life. I always appreciated the conclusion of Herbert Armstrong’s book Mystery of the Ages, where he wrote, “… and … we come finally to THE BEGINNING.”

When we look at the chaos in the world around us, it is very difficult to understand that everything that has taken place in man’s history is really a prelude to something much better. The real beginning is yet ahead. It is a time that lies beyond the biblical narrative, a future that Paul referred to as seeing “in a mirror, dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

I remember speaking with a member in Ghana more than a decade ago, when he explained to me his belief as to the cause of all the difficulties in West Africa. Wherever you look, there are serious problems of poverty, disease and even starvation, yet so many countries in West Africa and, for that matter, the entire continent of Africa have incredible natural resources—gold, oil, diamonds and rich soil capable of growing any crop. The cause, according to this member, was corruption in government.

Wherever you look across the continent of Africa one sees a story repeated over and over again—leaders coming to power, making extraordinary promises, but causing more abuse while enriching themselves and their families. People suffer; some starve; and most have no hope of an education or gainful employment. And, if a leader feels threatened, he often responds with horrendous violence toward his fellow citizens. Throughout Africa, millions of people live under the constant threat of torture and death from their own governments.

But this scene isn’t limited to Africa. Sadly, the whole world is seeing a dramatic increase in violence, corruption in government, and the rejection of a true and stable moral code. History and Bible prophecy teach us that when we reach the tipping point where violence, immorality and rejection of biblical values become the norm, the society will collapse from the weight of its own internal problems.

In the past couple weeks we have seen a glimpse of this in the United States. Nine people were gunned down in a church in South Carolina. This wasn’t the first time a delusional person killed numerous people while at church. Many of us remember a similar event a decade ago in the Living Church of God congregation in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area.

Then, on June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling decreeing homosexual marriage legal in all 50 states. What is lost in the uproar is that even if the Supreme Court had not ruled to legalize it, our democratic society had already approved it. According to the Pew Research Center (pewforum.org/2015/06/08/graphics-slideshow-changing-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/), in 2001 57 percent of Americans opposed same-sex marriage. But within little more than a decade those numbers were reversed. Today the polls tell us that 57 percent support same-sex marriage while 39 percent oppose it. Government of the people, by the people and for the people is a noble desire, but when the majority abandons godly morality, there is nothing to prevent that society’s alienation from God.

How sad it is for America that we have reached this moral tipping point. And how clear it is to see why Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Our first allegiance must be to the Kingdom of God. There is no government on earth today—democracy, republic or monarchy—that upholds the true values from God’s Word.

As Christians, what can we do? We must stand firm and strong for the truth of God. We must not hate or attack anyone, but there should be no confusion as to where we stand on moral issues. The Word of God makes clear that the truth has not changed and never will.

In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul wrote about Satan’s deception of Eve, and warned that in like manner our minds must not be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” We live in a world that has been deceived and corrupted by the craftiness of the devil. With clever arguments, intimidation and accusations, sin has been made acceptable to society. Of course, this isn’t the first time. Over the years, other forms of sinful behavior have gradually been accepted and are no big deal any more. But the truth is very simple. Sin is sin; and wrong is wrong. This has not changed since the time of creation. To legalize sin will never make it acceptable before God, even if a majority may want it so.

I found a quote recently from Mohandas Gandhi: “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth.” We do not believe the truth is determined by a democratic vote or by a majority vote of nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. It isn’t how many people agree among themselves; it is what God’s Word says that really matters.

I believe my Ghanaian friend had it right as far as he went. Corruption in government isn’t an African problem, an Asian problem or a South American problem. It exists wherever you look in today’s world. Without God, we humans have shown our inability to govern ourselves. For those Christians living in a democratic society, we cannot allow ourselves to be duped into thinking that if we can just get so-and-so elected things will be okay. While some candidates may be able to slow down the moral decline, none is able to stop it.

But we do have something that most of the world doesn’t have! We have an important mission, a vital goal and a bright future. This is the gospel or good news of the Kingdom of God. We must shout it from the housetops as Christ instructed the disciples (Matthew 10:27). We can’t change this world or its governmental structures, but we can prepare ourselves and help others prepare, for a new government in the world to come. At the age of 12, Christ told His parents that He had to be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). That was about 2,000 years ago. How much more urgent is it today that we should be about our Father’s business and not get entangled in the pollutions of this world (2 Peter 2:20)?

It is understandable to be grieved for America and for the world, but we must not be discouraged. We are part of something bigger and better, and we will see the happiest of happy endings. Creation was such a great miracle, but there are greater things to come. We will witness the greatest miracle when God’s Kingdom is established on earth and human beings become members of God’s own family!

The events of the past week should cause all of us to look to the future with clarity and pray more fervently “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Jim Franks