During the 1960s, a counterculture movement emerged that popularized the phrase, “If it feels good, do it.” Many of those involved advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD. Most of these groups originated at expensive liberal universities. The birth of the kind of “protests” we see today occurred back then. The purpose of each protest could vary from week to week until the “Vietnam” protests became the dominant cause.
The term “hippie” was coined to describe those involved, and it was more about how they dressed. The LGBTQ+ movement is a rebirth of the “hippie” movement. Those of us born in the 1940s or 1950s have seen this movie and know how it ends. Today, some counterculture ideas are now embraced by certain churches and politicians. While some in Congress have a history of being involved with the hippie movement, their support had been more concealed in the past. The open endorsement in some churches today had not occurred during my lifetime; however, it is not new.
Throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, we see those problems written about and the impact on those societies. We see great nations destroyed because of those cultural changes. Some leaders in Congress, people in the media, and leaders of the protest movements will use parts of biblical scriptures to make arguments that if Jesus were here today, He would do or say certain things.
John MacArthur passed away this week at the age of eighty-six. He was not the Jesus of our day, but he was perhaps the Apostle Paul of our day. He held close to the teachings of Jesus and would clearly explain the “truth” that never changes due to popular opinions or counterculture movements. Justice Clarence Thomas has spoken on “truth” and how it is not changed based on the weather or time of the day. Truth remains the truth regardless of how other things change.
Opinions are the expression of one’s feelings on a subject. The same set of “facts” feeds into developing opinions; however, individuals choose to filter the facts based on their prejudices or preferred conclusions. When someone uses the phrase “my truth”, they are presenting “their opinion” on whatever follows. If a husband tells his wife that he wants to get drunk and have sex with other women, because it is ok – it is in the Bible, David did it. Most wives would tell him; he did not get that from Jesus.
Every one of us is influenced by both Satan and God. The amount of control we give to either affects how we react to situations we face. The Old Testament covers thousands of years and shows that when people strayed from God’s teachings, negative events followed. Jesus’ Ministry was to bring clarity to the teachings to focus on God’s values and not the laws created by man.
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:12-14 NIV
Before this statement, Jesus was telling them how they were hypocrites for judging others while they had sins in their lives. To treat others as they want to be treated. Those who choose the wide gate (choosing values of Earth) and not the narrow gate (God’s values) will not enter Heaven.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
Jesus is telling them, just because others see them as God’s chosen and they say all the right things, He knows their hearts and their destiny will not be Heaven.
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:1-11 NIV
There are two important messages within Jesus’ statements that are “truth”. While Jesus made it clear that they were judging the woman while having sin in their own lives, He does not tell them that adultery should be legal or accepted as normal. Second, He tells the woman to go and no longer commit adultery. Anyone who says Jesus would accept lifestyles of today is getting that message from Satan and not from Jesus.
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:1-8 NIV
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:32-39 NIV
What would Jesus say to those who say He would be supportive of their efforts to change accepted normal behavior to include their feelings and desires? What would Jesus do in those churches that present their “truth” as acceptable to God?
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