Christ

YES, I HAVE BEEN BLINDED

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment

It seems it is becoming more and more prevalent to read articles or find posts on social media which either insinuate or state in no uncertain terms that those who don’t embrace the agenda of secular humanism  and the progressive left, are blind to the prevailing times of tolerance and political correctness of all moral behavior and actions no matter how out of the norm, debased, perverted, or bizarre they may be. (I use the word “tolerance” as the compromise of moral and biblical convictions, a yielding of ground upon critical ethical, moral and biblical issues.) Those who don’t embrace the changing times of tolerance  have been labeled as “deplorables” and blinded by antiqued beliefs and old fashion doctrines that are fanciful to the reality of the way it ought to be and should be.

I must confess I am one of those who has been blinded. I count myself with the Apostle Paul who was blinded by the brilliant Light of Jesus Christ and as such viewed life differently from that day forward (Acts 9). Many moons ago as a college freshman, the Lord removed the scales from my eyes and shone His glorious Light into my eyes to see the brilliance of his face, blinding me to the way I used to think, live and behave. Being blinded by the Light of Christ, my “blindness” has led to embracing a biblical worldview.

Yes, I confess I have been blinded.

Having  been blinded by the Light of Christ, the eyes have been opened to behold the sacredness inherent in each human life. Since all life is sacred, I vehemently oppose the atrocious slaughter of babies through abortion, which is acceptable and even applaudable by those who see a baby as no more than a blob of cells. I unapologetically embrace the sanctity of life, that each life is created by God and bears His image. I will continue to remain blind to the agenda that thinks nothing of terminating a human life. The Light of Christ opens one’s eyes to see every life He created is of worth and value, and He gave His life that the sin-marred Image of God within us might be reestablished to communion with Him.

Having been blinded by the Light of Christ, as the stars are fixed in the heavens giving guidance to ancient travelers, the light of Genesis chapter 1-2 rests upon the brow of man and woman affirming God’s divine blueprint for the marriage relationship.  In the beginning God created Adam and Eve and joined them together. Marriage relationships which deviate from God’s original directive between a man and a woman are scripturally forbidden. Anything that is a perversion of biblical, traditional marriage weakness the home, society and the nation. The home, as ordained by God, is a bedrock of any stable society, and when that is destroyed society begins to sink into the quicksand of unrestrained immorality….which we are witnessing today in society.

Having been blinded by the Light of Christ, the divine rays of identity normalcy  shine exposing the deceptive delusion that one’s gender is fluid. God created male and female, and that can’t be altered. To mistakenly believe otherwise is to strike at the very core of one’s identity as to who God created one to be. One who accepts gender fluidity as normal is dismissing the truth that God created each person as either male or female for a distinct and definite purpose. To deny one’s biological identity is to deny God’s wisdom in His creation and abandon the creative purpose for which one was born.

Having  been blinded by the Light of Christ, His glorious light illuminates the false assumption that all religions are equal in their endeavors to obtain salvation and entrance into heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Christianity alone has the answer to the sin problem of man. The man-made religions of the world say, “Do this and do that, and you shall obtain salvation.” Christianity says, “Christ has already done all that is necessary for man’s salvation, believe and be saved.” Man is incapable of complying with God’s holy demands, Jesus on our behalf complied with those holy demands for us. Christ is the Door who gains us entrance into heaven, all other doors lead to eternal darkness.

Having been blinded by the Light of Christ, brings into focus  the truth that an orderly society is not possible without Christian principles of morality as the foundation of a society. History is littered with fallen nations which have proven the validity of this truth. Secular humanists can deny history all they want, this nation’s Forefathers, though they were not all Christians, recognized that any nation must have woven into its foundation biblical morality or chaos will result. John Adams, our nation’s second President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, on June 28, 1813, wrote in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, “The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity; in which all these Sects were United.” The Bible says it clear, “The nation that forgets God is tuned into hell” (Ps. 9:17). Our nation’s chaos can be traced back to the relentless eroding of biblical morality.

Having  been blinded by the Light of Christ,  He has enlightened the eyes to see all of humanity as broken and in need of a Savior. One truth is certain beyond argument, man is broken, a sinner, and alienated from God. All humanity is broken and each of us have adopted different ways, lifestyles, and actions by which that brokenness is manifested. Our brokenness can be manifested through the adoption of many lifestyles and behaviors that deviates from God’s moral directives in regard to addictions of all kinds, gender confusion, sexual immorality, destructive social interaction, a mindset bent toward dishonesty and deceptiveness, cruelty toward one’s fellowman, and the list goes on. Seeing all humanity as broken, helps one to see that all need the message of Christ’s loving redemptive power which can deliver, restore and redeem. The cross of Christ is God’s answer to sin and man’s brokenness. When one sees humanity as broken it instills in one, while disapproving of the sin, a love for  the sinner as one for whom Christ gave His life that they might be redeemed and “fixed” from those actions and behaviors which damns and destroys the body and soul.

Yes, I have been blinded by the Light of Christ, and as such I see life through the glasses of a biblical worldview and my true magnetic North being the cross of Christ. There can be no compromise with the godless philosophies of secular humanism and any agenda that seeks to purposely undermine biblical morality and abandon the sacredness of life. As society descends further into a state of decadence and distancing itself further from the foundation on which it was once built, with each passing day my eyes focus more and more on the Eastern skies, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). It is my earnest prayer that the Gospel will shine forth in an effulgence of grace, inspiring wonder and adoration, which will produce an awakening in humanity for whom Christ died and desires each to gaze upon His glorious face which shines brighter than a thousand suns.

Blessings,
Dr. Dan

WHAT HE DID HE DID FOR ALL

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment

Yesterday the 118th running of the Boston Marathon was held. It is the most famous marathon (26.2 miles) in the world. The race was won by American Meb Keflezighi. It was the first time since 1983 that an American won the grueling test of endurance. Meb’s story is truly remarkable and inspirational. Born in Eritrea, he and his family were refugees who came to the United States in 1987 when he was 12 years old. He began running in middle school and quickly showed great promise. Attending UCLA on a track scholarship, he won four NCAA championships. In the fall of 1996 I was privileged to watch Meb win the NCAA Cross Country Championships which was held in South Carolina. After the race I had my picture made with him and got his autograph. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998. He went on to capture for the USA a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. Though his running career has been filled with much success, he has also had his share of disappointments and injuries.

American Meb Keflezighi's final stride of his emotional Boston victory

American Meb Keflezighi’s final stride of his emotional Boston victory

In an interview after the race he stated that after the Boston bombings at the 2013 race he made a vow to dedicate himself to win Boston, believing that it was only right that an American win in 2014. At almost 39 years of age that was no small task. For a solid year every time he laced-up his shoes to go run was for the purpose of winning Boston as an act of redemption for the Boston people. His thoughts, his actions and his focus were on winning Boston, a race an American had not won in 31 years. But his intentional focus resulted in a victory that wasn’t assured until the final half mile, winning by 11 seconds.  His winning was like the ending of beautifully scripted movie, turning last year’s tragedy into this year’s triumph.

He went on to say in a post-race interview, “I did not run for myself. I ran with last year’s victims in my heart. What I did, I did for Boston. My victory was for them all. My victory was their victory. What I did I give back to the city of Boston.” Meb’s Boston win and unselfish gesture to the city will go down in running folklore history.

Our Holy Father, as well,  planned for victory in regard to man’s sinful condition (Romans 3:23).  Sinful man needed someone to bring redemption to him. What would the Father do? Our God didn’t send a third party to provide for us that which we could not provide for ourselves, He came Himself. Paul writes, “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Cor. 5:21). His whole purpose in coming was for the redeeming of sinful man. His whole focus was on offering a Sacrifice for us which we could not offer ourselves. He came to meet the Holy demands of God for us and assume our responsibility for the judgment we deserve for not complying. Our God not only gave the Sacrifice, in Christ He was the Sacrifice! When He went to the cross He carried us in His heart. On Calvary’s hill of death Christ turned tragedy into triumph. When Christ offered the Sacrifice of Himself on the cross He did it for us all. When Christ arose from the dead he did it for us all. And the marvel of it all, His victory is our victory. We are partakers of all that Christ came to do and accomplish. We enter His victory by embracing Him in faith.

Christ won for us more than a laurel wreath that will eventually whither and crumble. The Bible says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He won for us righteousness, forgiveness, mercy and grace, reconciliation with the Father, adoption into the family of God, freedom, peace, access to the Father, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual riches and an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled and fades not away” (I Peter 1:1-5).

Christ did not come for Himself, but for you and me. His living was our living. His dying was our dying. His resurrection was our resurrection. His victory was/is our victory.

Meb’s victory was sensational and inspirational, but in a few days his accomplishment will move from the front pages of the newspapers and will eventually fade into running history. However, what Christ came to do and did for all humanity will forever remain in the eternal-present and will forever remain on the front page of God’s eternal Word. And let us lift our voice in thanksgiving that what He did He did for us all.

Blessings,

Dr. Dan