While the world seems out of control, God is still the Sovereign Lord of history. What we are seeing manifested in nearly every area of life is a manifestation of unsustainable ideologies working themselves out. Paul wrote, “they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all” (2 Tim. 3:9).
There is a price to pay for this folly, some of which falls at the feet of Christians who abandoned God’s law and the culture hoping and waiting for a heavenly exit that has been repeatedly promised but never realized. “Maybe this time,” is the repeated refrain.
The question is, What should Christians be doing as these corrupt ideologies burn themselves out? Here’s Paul’s answer to Timothy:
Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:11-17)
Notice Paul’s statement: “you however.” There can’t be any passivity on Timothy’s part. There was no place for “let’s wait for the whole thing to collapse” or “Jesus is coming to rapture us out of this mess.”
While the enemies of Christ hatch their schemes against Him, God laughs (Psalm 2:1-2). It’s a laugh of derision and dismissal.
This brings me to the first Fight Laugh Feast Conference being held in Franklin, Tenn. People from all over the United States are in attendance. It’s been great to reconnect with people I have not seen in a long time as well as American Vision supporters as far away as the Dominican Republic.
The first-night crowd was massive in these days of lock-downs, social distancing, and masks.
Here’s a picture Darren Doane took as Gabe Rench was addressing the crowd:
Opening Night at the Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Franklin, Tennessee
The crowd will be larger tomorrow.
American Vision has set up a book table with most of our titles. After visiting the warehouse, we found some titles we thought were out of print. Book sales have been brisk.
George Grant was there. I got him to autograph four copies of the first book he wrote and American Vision published, Bringing in the Sheaves.
Of course, David “Chocolate Knox” Shannon is here as well as Sye Ten Bruggencate, Jeff Durbin, Marcus Pittman, Luke Pierson, Douglas Wilson, David Bahnsen, and many more.
But what’s most inspiring is the number of people ― young and old ― from all walks of life. Lots of young children. I suspect that I’m one of the oldest in attendance.
I’ve seen a lot over the past four decades since I’ve been involved in promoting world-and-life-view Christianity. An event like this makes it all worthwhile.
When Dr. Greg Bahnsen died in 1995, it was heartbreaking. He was an unparalleled voice in the defense of the gospel and Christian worldview. Who would replace him? Given his gifts and abilities, no one has. I suspect that many people in attendance have no idea that one of the reasons they are in attendance is due to the groundwork that Dr. Bahnsen and other Christian worldview thinkers plowed and planted.
I’m looking forward to what will come out of this conference and many more like it.