ACQUIESCENCE

From My Perspective - - - 

Events and experiences in one’s life occur at such an accelerated rate that one can become overwhelmed. When one is overwhelmed, other aspects within one’s life become buffers in terms of what is happening and allowing one to realize the near-impossibility of being able to alter what is taking place. The chain of one’s life begins to add links - (a) overwhelmed; (b) indifferent (c) lethargic; (d) acquiescent. When one acquiesces, he/she is passively “giving tacit assent to that which is occurring; agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance.” This type of response has generated a newer compound term that likens people to sheep, namely, “sheeple - people who tend to follow the majority in matters of opinion, taste, etc.” This life choice contributes to the rise of cults both religious and alternative lifestyles. In our culture and society, we are tolerating things like the legalization of same gender unions; the legalization of marijuana use[ and a variety of other whims and/or unrestrained behavioral choices.

An issue that should be attached to acquiescence is compromise. The Cultural Pressures can become a dominant factor in terms of what one will either accept or oppose. To avoid conflict, too many acquiesce rather than to become engaged in the discussion and debate regarding moral and core values versus cultural and societal trends and direction. For those who have expressed and embraced the Judeo-Christian lifestyle and values, among some is a type of mental gymnastic in terms of how to adapt to that which is contrary to the long-held Judeo-Christian ethic. An Opinion Column - The Post Rail - in the Tuscaloosa News for Sunday, June 1st, Larry Clayton headlined his column: “The Top 10 Sermons About Hot Issues Worth Hearing.” His list begs the question and he allows that the list can and will include different topics by different people. Some of his shared rationale does have merit. Clayton writes: “Our culture and civilization change over time.What concerned people in this country in 1765 was different from 1865 (try the end of the Civil War), and 1965 for example, when women’s liberation, the civil rights movement and Vietnam War were all demanding our attention. As the Civil War drew to a close, for example, a hot issue among Southerners was “why did we lose, and so catastrophically at that?” Whose side was God on in this immense internecine conflict that still casts shadows on our world today…?

Clayton continues: “Every age has to contend with the fact that while Scripture does not change, the customs, habits and culture of a civilization do change. The tough question…is how do we interpret Scripture when we have grown so complicated, so complex, so sophisticated (we think), so modern, so scientific, so in-charge-of-it-all. Scripture seems, by contrast, static, antique, boring and old fashioned, and not relevant at all to the world we live in. As the world tries to adapt Scripture to fit its own needs, the result is what theologians and scholars call the ‘cultural captivity’ of the Bible; or, how we adopt Biblical principles and rules and laws to our times. Or, put another way, each different culture — of, let’s say, the Roman Empire, or medieval Europe or of the Enlightenment — reads and interprets Scripture to suit its fashions.”

While many Biblical passages could be referenced one that states the encompassing worldview from God Himself is expressed in Isaiah 46:8-10, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying: My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,” Any attempt by the “church” to finesse and/or adapt the word of God to the Cultural Trends will only result in God’s frown and His shaking His head disapprovingly. Sin will always be sin before God; unrighteousness will never be modified by Him to make it more righteous; The Gospel is uniform throughout all generations and cultural shifts, Sadly, the “church” is allowing for gradualism and a drift into a cultural captivity. Stand firm upon the Solid Rock - Jesus Christ - and communicate His message free of acquiescence and/or compromise. Consider these things with me.