“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
Obviously that’s not a phrase from the Bible.
As far as I can find, Santayana wasn’t even a Christian.
Yet that phrase fits many American “Christians” today so firmly that it almost makes me shake. How?
Today’s American “Christians” have essentially become just like the children of Israel in the Old Testament.
Look at this from Ezekiel:
And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (Ezekiel 2:3-8 ESV)
And then look at America today.
How many people who profess to be Christians look at things the Bible clearly calls sin that the world loves and then take the world’s view as their own?
How many people who profess to be Christians take pride in attacking those who stand on the word of the Bible through writing/blogging or verbally when it conflicts with the society we live in?
How many people who profess to be Christians “walk away from the church” because it “isn’t relevant to today’s world” and “doesn’t line up with our culture”? When did Jesus say that we’re to line truth up with the world’s culture instead of His father?
How many people who profess to be Christians have actively done things to harm ministries and other believers because those ministries/people are standing on Scripture instead of what Ellen DeGeneres or George Clooney or Matt Damon or Kim Kardashian or certain politicians say is “what’s right”?
How many people who profess to be Christians don’t even really know what the Bible says on the important issues of our day?
They haven’t read the Word as it is. They don’t see it. They don’t want to follow it. They deny it.
And right now, they’re repeating it whether they realize it or not.
They’re in rebellion against God while still claiming to be followers of Christ.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:2-5 ESV)
Satan has placed soldiers in our camp and they are making advances. God’s people are being overrun by “God’s people”.
And to those who’ve read the Bible, we know what happens when God’s people in majority turn away from His truth.
And it’s driving me to prayer more and more.
