John came preparing the way for Jesus and in so doing openly exposed the corruption of the religious leaders of his day calling them a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7-12). He warned that every tree that did not bring forth good fruit would be cut down and that the chaff would be burnt up with unquenchable fire. Wowser!

He confronted their evil just as Malachi had prophesied 400 years earlier…..

“‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘so that it will leave them neither root nor branches.’” Malachi 4:1

Jesus in the same way addressed self-righteousness and abuses of the law among the people with whom he lived. His 7 “Woes” from Matthew 23:13-33 publicly called out the ungodly behavior of the Pharisees & scribes.

Romans, Greeks & barbarians alike were idolaters and their idolatry involved them in fornication, gluttony, drunkenness and violence. Peter & Paul are on record speaking out against such practices and warning the disciples not to be involved with them.

What’s on the ballot for us in 21st century America? Abortion, a push for recognition of multiple sexes, a celebration of homosexuality on one hand and an Islamic invasion (who kill gays) on the other, men in women’s restrooms, men in women’s sports, children transitioning to male or female, eliminating law enforcement, inviting those who hate us and the God we worship into our country, challenging law & order on every front?

Satan would like nothing more than to convince the church that to speak up about the evils of our day is “politics”. “Keep that in church”, we would be told. But Jesus taught us to be lights in the darkness and to be the salt that flavors and preserves all that is worthy. We are to be cities, not down in an unseen valley, but atop a hill that can be seen from a distance.