Part I
Introduction
As we wake up today we bemoan the fact we are living in a collapsing world (context please). Many believe, but will not say out loud we are headed for an unprecedented global apocalyptic event or events. Ironically, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Joel the great ancient Hebrew prophets received Messianic and end-times revelations and warnings 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. It was six hundred years before Christ the Messiah when Daniel the visions and dreams prophet received a series of cryptic apocalyptic ruach ha-kodesh(divine inspirations and revelations). The New Testament writers (Gospels, Epistles, and Revelations) gave prophetic warning and insight of similar events and natural catastrophes from which Christians have shaped and taught end-times eschatology [theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind] for two thousand years. For active followers of Christ and those who look directly to God each day for a moral compass and spiritual direction in what we think, say, and do, there is are living God-breathed Words and Commands to help navigate worship of the Creator, and our daily relationship with Him and the rest of humanity. These Words and Commands are not obsolete. Certainly their context and conditions have changed – but not their foundational content is now and forever unchangeable. In fact, we will see that it is God’s remedy for man’s malady.
Reunion begins a relevant and contextual study of God’s Biblical remedies for the unraveling of malady of present-day cultural and societal structures.
I don’t believe a responsible person of average character with a reasonably intelligent, deductive, or logical mind believes that a toxic and unhealthy civilization and society such as our own can sustain itself in ideological chaos, governed in systemic corruption, while strategically legislating lawlessness on its own people. Historically when a culture or society reaches the peak of Godlessness, Corruption, Lawlessness, and Chaos three things can happen – they all lead to a collapse.
- A nation-wide collapse responded to with repentance followed by transformational and structural reform of moral and ethical ideology. Historical models would be 16th and 17th century Europe and 19th and early to mid-20th century America.
- Brutal civil liberties revolution led by the blue-collar working class. (Farming, Shipping, Trades and Repair, Travel, Manufacturing, Goods and Service) Historical models would be both the American and French Revolutions.
- A strategical deconstruction of the societal moral compass and nuclear family through false forms of elitism, intellectualism, used to create intimidation, fear and isolation of the masses of the weak, weary, and vulnerable. Followed by demise multi-lateral societal collapse. Historical models would be Nazi Germany and Marxist Russia.
Which of these if any, do you see as greater possibility of happening?
Institutional Reform; All Government Branches, Elementary -Intermediate-Higher Education, Big-Tech Regulation, Churches and Non-Profit, Media, Sports and Entertainment, Health Care
Reset of Ideological Balance; Save the Planet, Gender Fluidity, Cancel Culture, The Unemployed Employed, Racial Injustice, Conception of Human Life
Reclamation of Founding Principles; as “the” Civil and Societal Moral and Ethical Compass.
Where to Start?
It all starts within the American Church and its leadership – pastors, teachers, and all ministry leaders. The government cannot legislate morality, righteousness, and faithfulness. They neither have the right or the resources to do so. The role for teaching the love and commands of God, and modeling a godly moral behavior belongs to the Christian church and the redeeming power of the Holy Spirit. To do what God has called and empowered us to do WE MUST STOP conforming to man’s world and begin immediately reforming to God’s. Jesus said make disciples, teach everything I have commanded you. That is where we begin.
Old Testament Law
Exodus 20:3-17
One: I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (The Reality of the Sovereignty of God)
Two: You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor any manner of likeness of anything that is in heaven above, that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them. For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children of the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. (Mankind’s Priority for God)
Three: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. (Honor and Respect for God the Creator and Almighty)
Four: Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any manner of work—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant, your cattle, and your stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it. (Sanctity of a Day of Rest and Worship)
Five: Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Six: You shall not murder. (Value of Human Life)
Seven: You shall not commit adultery. (Marital Fidelity, Fornication-Sexual Morality)
Eight: You shall not steal. (stealing what does not belong to you)
Nine: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Lying and Truth Telling)
Ten: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his manservant, his maid-servant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. (Pride, Greed, and Lust)
New Testament Commands and Fulfillment
Matthew 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:17-20
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
About Reunion Community Church
We are a Bible teaching Christian church in Peoria, AZ. We love God and teach His Truth. We invite you, your family and friends to join us on the faith journey, growing closer to one another, the Christian community of believers at Reunion, and most importantly with God. Read more about the timeless Truth we build our lives and faith in Christ on HERE.
We are conveniently located just off the 101 on 83rd Ave and Cactus Rd. Join us on Sunday mornings, Weds. evenings, and throughout the week at our small groups, meeting in homes around the Valley, including Surprise, Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Goodyear, Litchfield, and more. Connect with us on Facebook and watch our live streaming service on YouTube.
