What Time is it in America?

Yesterday “Gay Pride” day was celebrated all across America.  And last week’s Supreme Court decision to advance gay rights gave way to boundless laughing and dancing in the streets. The words of Solomon come to mind: there is a time for laughing and dancing. But there is also a time for mourning and weeping  (Eccles. 3). Which time is it!?

What lover of God’s Word is not presently mourning the loss of the age-old foundations (Is. 58:12) of Judeo-Christian moral standards? Is this not a time to heed the words of James: “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9)?  

But this is not just political theater; it’s personal.  This is decision time for the many struggling Christian men and women all across America who believe acquiescing to their same-sex orientation will make them happy: “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains” (Prov. 14:12-12). Solomon says there is a time to be silent and a time to speak.  What time is it in America?  It is time to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15).

“Good Grief!”

Every “Peanuts” comic strip fan knows of Charlie Brown's signature exclamation: “good grief.” While the term is used humorously to exaggerate the severity of a situation, it begs the question: is there any such thing as ‘good’ grief.  Isn't grief about loss? What’s good about that?!

Though Peter said Christ’s followers would be “grieved by various trials,” he also said, “In this you greatly rejoice with joy unspeakable” (1 Peter 1:6). Then Peter goes on to explain that this joy comes from knowing that grief tests us to prove that our faith is genuine.  Moreover, it assures the salvation of our souls and promises to bring praise, glory, and honor to Jesus on the day when He is revealed to the whole world. Wow! Good Grief!

Where is the Weeping?

My Belizean friend wrote to me recently: “I guess that the Good Lord has come to hear the crying of the few, and now He is moving.” I thought about his words 'the crying of the few.' "Yes," I thought, "but how few are crying these days." Immediately the story of Nehemiah came to mind: When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days (1:4a). What caused Nehemiah’s sorrow? Learning that the Jews who had returned to Judah were disgraced by the condition of Jerusalem—its outer walls broken. The same word “broken” is used in Psalm 51:17 for a "broken” heart.

Nehemiah’s heart was broken over the condition of God’s people. And when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem some months later, not only did he rebuild the broken walls, he ‘restored’ the broken people. The Bible says as he read the Law, the people recognized their sinful condition and wept (Neh. 8:9).

Where is the weeping of God’s people today? Why is my own heart not more broken over the condition of God’s people in our age? Why are we not more grieved over the way this disparages the Lord’s reputation? Perhaps it is time to regard the words of James: Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Then, James immediately provides us with this promise of hope: When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor (James 4:9-10 NLT). But let me end with an even more positive note. After the Jews had wept, confessed, and repented, Nehemiah said: Do not be grieved [anymore], for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10).