The adage that "hindsight is 2020" is understandable in that anyone (almost anyone) can look backwards, see what happened and learn something from it.
At the same time, it is almost prophetic regarding the state of the Western World. I believe that the year 2020 will be a watershed moment for not only for nations, but for the Christian Church. Let me explain what I mean by that.
A watershed moment is defined as a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. It is often a dividing point from which things will never be the same. Though it is often considered momentous, a watershed moment is often only recognized in hindsight.
Having lived long enough, I can look back at what used to be acceptable or recognized as a cultural standard. Many years later, through political choices, court decisions and civil movements, those standards have changed.
But there comes a time when one steps across the line; and once that happens, there's no going back. It's the literal version of opening Pandora's Box.
This week, something on that scale has happened in the UK. This moment has the potential to impact far beyond its shores that could change the Christian Church and Western democracy for years to come.
The history of Western culture in the nations of Europe and North America were shaped by the strong influence of Christianity. However, over the past several decades, the erosion of the standards that those nations were founded upon is finally taking its toll. And hindsight will eventually show that without a divine intervention, will ultimately be there downfall.
I believe that we witnessed one of those major shifts this past week in the United Kingdom. Yes, the news reported that they finally left the EU; but I'm referring to the less reported headlines that Evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, was first banned from the Liverpool ACC, then Sheffield and then like the icing on a cake, from the Glasgow SEC.
How and why did this happen? Did the government forbid him to come? Did anti-Christian activists protest his tour to hold outdoor meetings to preach the Gospel? No. The Rev Bryan Kerr, a Church of Scotland minister in Lanark, said "Graham's views...and many more like them, are not shared by all Christians as Mr. Graham would have people believe. Franklin Graham isn't the voice of Christianity." He then went on to organize a petition seeking to get Graham banned.
The London Times also just reported that Larry Stockstill, a Louisiana evangelist, has been banned from speaking at the Usher hall in Edinburgh this June. Why? Because he described same-sex relationships as "deeply grievous" and abortion as "demonic".
And lest anyone thinks that only American preachers are being targeted, The Times reported that Edinburgh banned Gavin Calver, the chief executive of the UK Evangelical Alliance. He was barred because he refused to preach at a same-sex wedding.
A.W. Tozer wrote 65 years ago: "The church goes along with everything and stands against nothing - until she is convinced that it is the safe and popular thing to do..."
The implications for Bible believing Christians are profound. If you profess that you actually believe the Bible and follows Jesus Christ, you now have a target on your back.
'Soft' persecution of the Church is now the UK State's position--now. And how long before it finds a foothold in North America? What will the Church do then?
The time to decide is now--not in hindsight!
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