Monday 29 May 2017

Where are the Lord's Mordecai's?

"And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him" (Esther 4:12–17).

I almost gave this blog post the title, "what happens when good men remain silent?". Mordecai is one supreme example of a man who would not be silent in the midst of compromise and the threat against God's people. It seems that at one stage, that Esther was keeping her head down hoping for a quiet ride, but Mordecai gave this vital warning to her, one which we Christians need to hear today:> "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place ...".

Therefore, it is possible to keep silent for the sake of man pleasing and for a life of comfort and ease. Now I am not exhorting divisiveness. Some people are plain divisive and they seek to work for Satan in causing chaos in the church. Note the warning in Romans 16:17-18: "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive".

If you associate with people who do not follow due process, those who seek their own agenda in the church rather than the cause of truth, you need to separate yourself from such people. However, there is the need for men especially to stand up for the truth. What are some the issues today that require men to stand up for the sake of truth?

1. The truth of 1 Timothy 2:12 "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man". Worldliness and compromise has entered into parts of the church, one which is promoting women to teach men and also for them to exercise authority over men. This is not permitted by Scripture. Paul writes as an apostle, something representing the whole counsel of God; "I do not permit". The answer according to Paul is that in the church, that women are to "remain quiet". Now this will confront the feminist spirit of the age. The question is, will we bow before the truth of Scripture or not?

2. The matter of a silent genocide called abortion requires the church to "break the silence". The 6th Commandment plainly states that "you shall not murder", yet over 200,000 abortions continue every year in the UK alone and the church remains virtually silent on this matter.

3. The introducing of worldly methods into public worship. The Lord is to be approached with 'reverence and awe' and our hearts are to be filled with gratitude (Hebrews 12:28-29). I suggest reading "Seven Leaders" by Iain Murray, a new book which is published by the Banner of Truth.

May we join in prayer for the Lord to raise men like Mordecai in our generation. They can provoke and exhort us all, including exhorting women like Esther who are in positions of prominence to do the right thing.

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