It is amazing to have the reedings today, 3rd Sun of Coptic month Paoni, talks about condemnation, giving Sodom and Gomora as an example, right after devil's victory of forcibly legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide last Friday (Jun 26. 2015) & the - used to be - white house lighted up in rainbow colors.
How shall we react to this? Is it time to flee Sodom? Or is it time to fight back against evil?
My first reaction was: it is time to flee Sodom, since - reading through the history - nations rise-up, become great and "lead" the world, then they decay. Biblical-ly, God raises nations, or allow it to rise - even un-Godly ones - to achieve His Holy purposes (condemnation, chance to repent, blessing or protection to righteous, etc.). Then when the nation relates its success to its own power, and turns away from God, or refuses God, it collapses. Examples from the Bible include Babel, Persia, Greece, and Roma. One would spend an article to write about these nations, how they fulfilled God's purposes and how they decayed. But we know that this rule continues until today, and we know from the book of revelation that this will happen at end-of-days.
America, which I love a lot and owe her a lot, was founded based on Christian values and rules, especially religious freedom. Recently, America is denying that, denying God and even trespassing God. The religious freedom has turned into No-Christianity, and even Anti-Christianity. So is USA about to collapse? Economically it started, almost nothing you buy today that is 'made in USA'. Politically, thanks to Obama, USA stepped down from being the world leader, or even a party to worry about. Socially, at least in California, it is not that safe organized society any longer. Naturally, we suffer serious drought in the west. But what is more important, and what really matters is that Spiritually, USA is turning its back to God.
America, which I love a lot and owe her a lot, was founded based on Christian values and rules, especially religious freedom. Recently, America is denying that, denying God and even trespassing God. The religious freedom has turned into No-Christianity, and even Anti-Christianity. So is USA about to collapse? Economically it started, almost nothing you buy today that is 'made in USA'. Politically, thanks to Obama, USA stepped down from being the world leader, or even a party to worry about. Socially, at least in California, it is not that safe organized society any longer. Naturally, we suffer serious drought in the west. But what is more important, and what really matters is that Spiritually, USA is turning its back to God.
Reacting to evil societies is more sensitive when you have children to raise. Many of us immigrated to USA for religious freedom and for a better quality of life. But if our stay in USA means our loss of eternal life, or putting our children in front of a stumbling rock, then what is the point of staying here? We came seeking better life, but we end up losing life!
However, today's readings, gives another dimension to the perspective. It does not necessarily change my mind of fleeing Sodom, but it definitely gives me assurance that God is in charge. The Catholic Epistle reading today was from 2nd Epistle of St. Peter, it reads:
However, today's readings, gives another dimension to the perspective. It does not necessarily change my mind of fleeing Sodom, but it definitely gives me assurance that God is in charge. The Catholic Epistle reading today was from 2nd Epistle of St. Peter, it reads:
"For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord." (2Peter 2:4-11)
So may be we should stay in Sodom to be their "warning prophets", their Jeremiah... or may be we should flee... that does not matter. What matters is whether we end up staying in Sodom until its turns into ashes, or if we flee for our life, we should abide in Christ, and He knows how to save us, perfectly and timely!
Blessed Week!
