Faith for Troubled Times

(Read Habakkuk 1-20) The events that have been taking place in our country in the last five to eight years testify that we are living in troubled times. In this article I want to discuss the necessity of faith in God at all times and especially at this time. I will compare our present situation to that of the Southern Kingdom of Israel just prior to the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 605 B. C. under king Nebuchadnezzar. I will compare the events that the prophet Habakkuk complained to God about with the events that are taking place in our country. As we begin our discussion I want to remind us of the words of the preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes. He said, “That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9, NASB). The year 2016 to this date has been marked by political unrest and uncertainty. According to some polls Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are two of the most unpopular choices to become candidates to be president in the history of the USA. The British, our most trusted ally has voted to withdraw from the European Union making our economic future uncertain. Moral and legal issues such as abortion, LBGT’s right to marry, and sexual abuse by teachers of their students are of great concern for many Americans. We are divided on immigration and the threat of Radical Islam and ISIS. How does the right to religious freedom for all people regardless of religious beliefs affect the long held rights of Christians in America? This summer has been marked by violence. On June 13, 2016 Omar Mateen shot down and killed forty-nine people and injured fifty-three in an Orlando, Florida nightclub frequented by people of the LBGT community. On July 5, 2016 the nation watched video evidence that suggest that Alton Sterling a thirty-seven year old Black man was killed needlessly by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The next day, July 6, 2016 Philando Castile was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The deaths of Sterling and Castile are a continuation of African Americans who are concerned about Black men being killed by police. The killing of innocent Black men is nothing new, but these two are the continuing highlighting of this reality in the past two to three years. Violence breads violence and this is seen in the deaths of five police officers and seven injured in Dallas, Texas on July 7, 2016 as police walked with peaceful protesters as a result of these killings. Again, on July 17, 2016 police responded to a 911 call in Baton Rouge and three police officers were killed by a sniper’s bullets. The killing of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge suggest to us that many believe that retaliation and revenge are justifiable means for solving the problem. How has the news media portrayed these incidents? The media reports the concerns of leading persons in our country. President Obama held a town hall meeting to discuss with citizens how to stop the violence between police and citizens. How can we get them to work together? African American parents across the country are discussing what they should tell their children, especially their sons, what to do when stopped by a police officer. Mayors and governors are forming task forces and holding community meeting trying to find ways to stop the violence. There is a movement in which police seek to interact with citizens as a way to bridge the divide between police and citizens. It seems to me that these strategies have been used in the past but the suggested solutions have not brought about the desired results to any lasting degree. Most concerned people are calling for love and respect of all people by all people. As we recall the words of the preacher above we must ask ourselves, is this possible? When the media reports these kinds of incidents it is a favorite saying of news reporters and leading persons to say: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.” Now, for me I find this an interesting statement. I ask, who are they praying to? We have taken prayer out of the schools in order to not offend anyone who might have a different religious belief. We ask where God is in times like these, and we ask why a loving God allows such evil? How many times have we eliminated God in our institutions and celebrations? Do we not want to do things our way and take the credit for what we do? As I have thought about these things in the past several days I have been reminded of the book of Habakkuk. I did not know anything about the book of Habakkuk until I took a course on the Twelve Minor Prophets when I attended the American Baptist College, Nashville, Tennessee. I was struck by the words recorded in 2:4. “But the righteous (just, KJV) will live by his faith (NASB). This word to the prophet is the response of God to the prophet who is complaining to God about the conditions that exist in his country. So, let us review the situation in Judah and compare it with our own country today. Remember, there is nothing new under the sun. As Christians, do we not worship the same God that the Israelites worshiped? Is it not true that God continues to respond favorably to those who have faith in Him? “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6, NASB). In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet goes to God and complains about the things that are taking place in Judah. In 1:2 he complains of violence in the land. He wants to know why God does not save. What is God going to do about the violence? The prophet is tired of seeing iniquity, wickedness, violence, strife, and contention (v.3). He concludes his complaint by saying, “Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted” (v. 4, NASB). Does this seem to be the state of things in America today? The response of God announces that things will get worse before they get better. God tells Habakkuk to take notice of the Babylonians. God makes a statement to the prophet that I am sure will shock a lot of Americans. ‘“Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days- You would not believe if you were told. “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth’” (1:5-6, NASB). Today, many feel threatened by ISIS and Radical Islam. Is it possible that their threat and advances are God’s response to the lawlessness and injustices in our country? How do we respond to the notion that God will use a people who behave more wickedly than ourselves to bring about justice and righteousness? What would God have His people to do as they endure such troubling times? What does the song “God Bless America” sound like to God? What will God do in response? Now, I do not wish to belittle human efforts. I do want to say that when we attempt to solve the difficult problems that we are facing without God it is unlikely that we will come up with any viable solutions that will have lasting effects. I do not deny the role of government and community leaders. I do want to say that we cannot stop the plans of God. What interest me is that with all of the planning and the strategizing that is taking place there is no inclusion of God, His words and His ways. I see ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ included in many of these strategic meeting, but they are not at liberty to proclaim the power of God and the wisdom of Jesus Christ for fear of offending those who do not believe. If those of us who proclaim the gospel allow our followers to believe that peace will come without the inclusion of the Prince of Peace we are being dishonest with the people and ourselves. We are denying the necessity of faith. The church is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are the called out. We must separate ourselves from the philosophies of the world and proclaim boldly the good news that the righteous must live by faith regardless of circumstances. We cannot compromise the truth of God and we cannot be silent about our faith in God. We must remind the people that we must wait on the Lord believing in His promise to bring about justice and righteousness.