Local churches have a lot
of influence. Let me prove my point in making that statement.
In the parable that follows, I borrow the "open by
permission..." concept from the late Dr. Francis A.
Schaeffer.
Recently, while visiting
a building where abortions were performed, I saw a sign
on the front door which read: "Open by permission of
the local churches in this community."
I walked down the street
and passed an "adult" theater, then I passed by
a local video outlet where porn movies were rented. On the
front door of both stores was a sign which read: "Open
by permission of the local churches in this community."
On down the road I came upon
one of the favorite hangouts of the youth. There they could
get their beer, alcohol and drugs. I was amazed when I looked
on the door of that hangout and saw the sign: "Open
by permission of the local churches in this community."
When I walked into a store
and saw all the pornographic magazines being sold in that
store, I noticed a sign on the magazine rack which read:
"These magazines are sold by the permission of the
local churches in this community."
I turned on my television
and was amazed at the violence, the vulgarity, the profanity,
the sheer filth flowing into the room via that television
set. Then a message trailed across the screen: "Open
by permission of the local churches in this community."
One of my children brought
home this notice from the school system: "This is to
inform you that effective immediately the school system
will begin distributing condoms to students. We will not
notify parents when we do this as that would violate the
rights of the students. We also are instituting a program
to introduce our students to homosexuality. We feel that
we must not be judgmental toward the life-style of others.
Your child will not have the choice of opting out of the
classes in which we present a non-judgmental view of homosexuality.
To allow the child to miss these classes would only perpetuate
bigotry by those who do not accept the homosexual life-style."
Printed in small letters at the bottom of the notice were
these words: "These programs made possible by permission
of the local churches in this community."
I picked up my newspaper
one morning and read that my city council had passed a law
making it illegal for anyone to refuse to rent an apartment
to homosexuals and unmarried individuals who live together,
to refuse to hire or fire anyone because he is homosexual,
or to discriminate against anyone because of his "sexual
preference" life-style. One of the members of the council
said the new law was passed "by permission of the local
churches in this community."
When I asked my pastor how
the churches got all of this influence, he said it was really
quite simple. "We gained our influence by withdrawing.
Because we give our permission, those who would oppose us
have agreed to ignore us. We give our permission to the
situations you mentioned so that the church can deal with
more important matters," my pastor told me.
"What are these more
important matters the local churches now deal with?"
I asked.
"Oh, matters such as
when to have fellowship supper at the church, who will bring
which dishes of food. Matters such as the color of carpet
in the sanctuary, the kind of lock which needs to go on
the back door, who will serve as ushers next month, where
and when the women's group will meet, organizing a softball
team for our youth, how to raise the money our denomination
expects us to give to keep their programs going," the
pastor said. "By dealing with these more important
matters and avoiding the issues where some in the community
might disagree with us, we are able to keep our influence.
Those around us have given us permission to exist if we
keep our activities confined to the church building or denominational
structure," my pastor said.
"We have an unspoken
agreement with abortionists, the pornographers, those who
provide filth and violence on television, the rap music
which calls for the killing of police and white people,
and the promotion of homosexuality. The agreement is with
all those who seek to remove the Christian influence from
our society. Very simply it is this - you don't bother us
and we won't bother you," my pastor said.
I asked my pastor about such
things as racism, poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and gambling.
He said that those were "social" problems which
government should deal with, and nearly everyone agreed.
Plus, he said, from time to time the very top levels of
the various denominations will issue a statement concerning
those matters - usually calling on government to do more.
That, also, leaves the church free to work on those more
important matters, he said.
So you see, the local church
really does have a lot of influence. The next time you see
any of the situations I mentioned in your community, just
remember that they exist "by permission of the local
churches" which refuse to get involved.
Perhaps this is what Jesus
foresaw when He said: "If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow
me."
Reprinted from the Traditional
Values Coalition of Contra Costa County newspaper: P.O.
box 21325, Concord, CA 94521, (510) 939-6556
Dr. Wildmon is president
of the American Family Association (AFA). For more information
contact AFA, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803, (601) 844-5036
(Click
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“The highest glory of the American Revolution was
this: It connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles
of civil government with the principles of Christianity”
~ John Qunicy Adams ~
