January 18, 2018 - - Proverbs 18:5 Be Mindful of Whom You Celebrate

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,

Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Proverbs 18:5 NKJV

It is a sad when men are built up to be great heroes and no reference is made to their failings. One startling case in point is Martin Luther King Jr. His sexual misconduct and profligate affairs are part of public record. Many denominations hold this man up as an icon, nearly worshiping MLK jr for his ground-breaking vision with regards to civil rights; but I have never heard a church acknowledge his gross weaknesses. In fact, as it is written in Proverbs, it is not good to show partiality to the wicked.

In the Bible great men and their failings are acknowledged. King David's affair with Bathsheba was very public and his confession and repentance were equally public. David was a man after God's own heart because he knew his weakness and confessed his sin and acknowledged his desperate need for God.

There are questions I have and even by posing them I know some will deem it offensive. It is not my intention to be needlessly offensive, but to ask questions that lead to an examination of the heart and the soul and the subsequent conduct that results.

When a man, like Martin King Jr., who was so sexually immoral, is celebrated and his faults never acknowledged, is it any wonder that the sexual licentiousness we see today would be celebrated?

When a man, like MLK Jr., who acted so callously against his own vows of marriage, is given a great place of honour in the life of a nation, is it any wonder that so many who honour him are the very ones who are okay with children being born out of wedlock and households with absentee fathers?

Leaders past and present must be held to a high standard.

In Canada we have a Prime Minister who is profoundly immoral. His stance on abortion, euthanasia, his prideful disregard for Christianity and his violation of ethics are just the tip of the iceberg and along with the Proverbs, I say, it is not good to show partiality to the wicked.

Ontario's Premier pushes an education agenda that is anti-family and anti-Christian. Two leaders in Premier Wynne's government are in jail for their sexual predilections. Under their leadership, writers produced the education material that is now mandatory in Ontario schools. This mandatory material contains graphic and vivid sexual material. Little wonder this is the case as immoral men were in leadership at the time it was written. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked.

There is no one righteous, no not one, except the Man Jesus Christ. It was wicked that this righteous man was overthrown in judgment. He was without fault. Jesus Christ alone can bear the punishment for our sins because He was perfect in His conduct towards others, He was perfect His obedience to His Father in heaven and He treated persons with great dignity and called out the faults of others so that their need for God would be exposed. He alone can be worshiped and adored without reservation, for there will be no revelation that will spoil His beauty or greatness.

Do not put your trust in princes, nor depend on human help or place any confidence in celebrities. Place your trust and your faith in Jesus alone. Find in Him your cause to celebrate, find in Him your icon and deepest joy.

Great and Holy King of Heaven, leadership here on earth is never easy. Some leaders are appointed to chastise a land, a consequence of the godlessness of the people they rule. Other leaders are in place, crying out for a return to old paths and righteousness. Jesus, Saviour and Sanctifier, before Your throne of grace we plead for the leaders of the various levels of government: municipal, regional, school boards, provincial, territorial and federal. We confess our leaders and the people of our land are mired in such godlessness and rebellion against Your Will and Your ways. Heal our land. Restore to us eyes to see our sin and a humble spirit to acknowledge our deep need for the Saviour. Restore our conscience so that we will not celebrate what is wicked.

God of Revival and Sender of the Spirit rebuild the ruins of the Church. May believers hold the truth of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. May believers once again hold Jesus up as the Only Way, the Truth and the Life. Let Your true worshipers arise and live as salt and light in a world shrouded in darkness and rotting with sinfulness. Let believers once again be bold in the public sphere to claim what is good and work for that which is right according to the standards set out by the Bible. Thank You, Jesus, that Your victory is sure and Your cleansing power is near at hand for all who believe. Great Is Your Name and Great is the glory that belongs to You alone. Amen.