“Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?”Psalm 94:16 ESV
Reflection: are you standing up for God? If so, how?
Over the past decade, the US have experienced some of the most polarized elections in history. There is an increase in number of people engaged in politics, as most see the dire consequences of what is happening more directly. There are great concerns over the food supply, health care, education, economy, safety, environment, and so on. When issues are “real” to people, they tend to get more engaged. Think of the recent flooding. Or Ukraine. Perhaps all the turmoil has been good in a way, because more people now read, study, and speak up on topics that matter to them, to the neighborhoods, cities and states. Before, many were apathetic, as the issues discussed were not affecting them directly. But now, many have very strong opinions about what is going on.
But I am wondering, as Christians, are we mostly apathetic for the topics God cares about? Are issues of God “real” to us?
What I mean is that, if we truly believe what we say we believe, shouldn’t that drive us to be very engaged and outspoken? The stakes are much higher than an election for some politician who is already part of a system. A system that eventually will be destroyed. While we are affected by that system in our daily living (we are in the world but not of the world), working with the system seems to have a lot more of Christians’ attention than working within the kingdom of God. Many are pulled along from news, social media, etc, shaping our opinions on topics of the world; not necessarily aligned with God. We see all the evil, all the injustice, how what is beautiful is being destroyed, and wealth taken by a few.
In Psalm 94, God is asking us, “are you going to stand up for me”, against the wicked and the evildoers? Or said in another way, which side are you really on? I mean, by default if we don’t stand and speak against evil, aren’t we in a way agreeing with it since we allow it? We have all seen many faith communities, churches, not speaking up against what they know is wrong, what the word of God says. Some even embrace it. In a way it is “fornication” with the world being talked about extensively in the scriptures. It is what infuriated God with his people of past; we can only image how disappointed, how hurt and angry He is by watching what is happening in our days.
The pride of man, of evildoers, is just amazing, “and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”” Psalm 94:7 ESV. And we all notice this, how they seem to thumb their nose towards God, as if He doesn’t see it or hear it. As if they are untouchable. Let’s read on “Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.” Psalm 94:8-11 ESV.
The Lord is calling us to “come out of Babylon”, as we read by the prophets, by the apostles, and even in Revelations. Let’s look at a few.
““Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.” Jeremiah 51:6 ESV.
“What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.””2 Corinthians 6:16-18 ESV
“After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:1-5 ESV
It is time to pick sides. It is either God or the world, good or evil. There is nothing in the middle. We cannot serve both. And, for all who pick the side of God, we must rise up for, and stand up for, our God. Which side are you picking?