There are many amazing Burning Bushes around us. Will we recognize what the Creator is teaching? I've compiled these in four volumes.
This is Volume III of the 21st Century Burning Bushes series. Writing this volume proved more challenging. There are startling social and cultural trends perplexing the 21st Century. We face strange new Burning Bushes that are shaking what it means to be a Christian, even what it means to be human in modern society.
Age-old assumptions about family, decent behavior, and even gender are now questioned. Christians are divided on fundamental issues.
True Christians are being marginalized and becoming undesirables, especially in Western countries.
The Kingdom of God faces unprecedented challenges as secular culture increasingly opposes biblical values and truth.
Believers must navigate this hostile landscape while maintaining their witness and understanding of God's Kingdom principles in a world that rejects them.
Technology has alienated us. Humanity is constantly online, yet so lonely and alienated. Volume III examines these cultural Burning Bushes and what they reveal about our times and God's call to His people in this challenging era.
This chapter examines the Woke movement and social justice ideology from a Christian perspective. It analyzes how these contemporary movements intersect with biblical principles and traditional Christian values.
Examining foundational issues of justice in contemporary society
Establishing a biblical framework for understanding justice
Analyzing modern phenomena and their societal impact
Contextualizing the movement's origins and development
Addressing progressive Christianity and social justice ideology
Exploring spiritual forces behind these movements
Offering practical guidance for Christians
Wokeness is not simply a cultural trend—it's a worldview that often stands in direct conflict with biblical truth. As Christians, we are not called to be culturally relevant at the expense of faithfulness. We are called to be faithful witnesses in a confused age.
Let us respond to the challenges of wokeness not with fear or compromise, but with the boldness and clarity of God's Word.
Source: Responding to Wokeness with Biblical Clarity - Servants of Grace
Interview with Noelle Mering, author of Awake but not Woke
The infiltration of woke ideology into Christian churches represents a fundamental departure from biblical Christianity. This movement redefines core Christian concepts through a secular lens, replacing gospel truth with cultural narratives.
Watch: Understanding the Dangers of Woke Christianity
We are living in an increasingly perverse and decadent world where morality appears to be declining with each passing century and decade. Sexual immorality, corruption, murder, the erosion of family values, violence, dishonesty, theft, and other unacceptable behaviors are becoming pervasive norms in society.
The Lord saw the great wickedness of humanity and that every inclination of human hearts was only evil all the time, reminiscent of the days before the flood.
While knowledge is increasing at an unprecedented rate, morality is paradoxically declining, as evidenced by the widespread use of remarkable technologies like the Internet for immoral and pornographic activities.
A plethora of morality issues plagues contemporary society, reflecting both our fallen human nature and the working of the Enemy to create disorder and facilitate our downfall.
This chapter highlights how humanity's fallen nature manifests in several morally reprehensible behaviors that have caused havoc to the lives and even souls of people, distorting the beautiful image of God that each person carries. These moral crises demand careful examination through a biblical lens to understand their spiritual dimensions and societal impact.
They've killed over 100,000 [Christians] since 2009. They've burned 18,000 churches. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza.
Read more: The Christian Genocide in Nigeria
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially in the eastern region, Christians face severe persecution and violence, frequently from Islamist militants the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Allied with the Islamic State group, the ADF abduct and kill Christians and attack churches, leading to widespread terror, insecurity and displacement.
Learn more: What does persecution look like in Democratic Republic of the Congo?
What was supposed to be a peaceful gathering of believers mourning together ended in bloodshed as militants attacked with guns, mostly with machetes. By the time the militants left, 70 Christians were dead, 100 kidnapped and 16 houses were burned to the ground.
"They arrived and started killing. Those who tried to flee were shot dead, and others were killed with machetes." - Rev. Mbula Samaki of the 55e CEBCE church in Mangurejipa
Source: Pray for the DRC - Open Doors USA
The sanctity of human life begins at conception. Abortion represents the taking of innocent human life and stands as one of the most profound moral crises of our time.
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Contemporary society faces a fundamental breakdown in moral understanding. What was once universally recognized as wrong is now celebrated, while biblical truth is increasingly marginalized and condemned.
Watch: The New Moral Disorder
Gallup polling data reveals dramatic shifts in American moral attitudes over recent decades. Issues once considered morally unacceptable by large majorities are now viewed as acceptable by significant portions of the population.
If there is one intricate belief system that has significantly influenced contemporary culture, it would be what's commonly termed the New Age movement, though it appears under various labels.
Draws from Eastern spiritual traditions including Hinduism, Gnosticism, Druidism, and the Occult
Appears as Tarot, palm reading, Yoga, spiritual mediumship, and quantum mysticism
Prompts us to look inside ourselves to find the inner "gods" rather than the true God
Recently, we have seen many Christians who came out of profound New Age experiences and can warn us more about the dangers of this deceptive movement—especially regarding its influence on the Church.
New Agers often have super or extra-natural experiences. The experiences and the "revelations" are frequently accurate and precise. Yet, they are demonic and very dangerous.
Testimonies from former New Age practitioners reveal the deceptive nature of these practices and the liberating power of encountering Jesus Christ.
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Throughout the annals of human civilization, countless ambitious rulers have harbored grand visions of absolute dominion—aspiring to bring the entire known world under their singular rule.
Nebuchadnezzar sought to establish universal dominion
Alexander the Great conquered the known world
Julius Caesar expanded Rome's territorial control
Genghis Khan created the largest contiguous empire
Adolf Hitler pursued global totalitarian control
The fundamental nature of humanity remains unchanged across millennia. Deep within the corrupted recesses of our fallen human condition lies an inherent and powerful impulse toward self-elevation and domination over others.
This reflects the ancient temptation to "be like God" as recorded in Genesis 3:5—the desire to place ourselves at the center of existence and exert control over our fellow human beings. While the methods and strategies employed by modern power-seekers have evolved and become far more refined and technologically sophisticated than those of ancient conquerors, the ultimate goal persists unchanged.
Scripture identifies such figures as 'antichrists'—forerunners and types of the ultimate deceiver—while prophesying that at the culmination of human history, the final Antichrist will arise.
For hundreds of years, clandestine organizations and secret societies operating in the shadows have been methodically working toward a sinister agenda of global totalitarianism. Whether they fully comprehend it or not, their efforts ultimately advance the prophetic plans and malevolent purposes of the coming Antichrist.
Recent images and gestures by French President Emmanuel Macron have fueled online speculation that he is displaying "Illuminati symbolism" openly. Social media users interpret certain hand gestures, imagery, and public appearances as coded messages indicating secret affiliations.
Source: Facebook post analyzing symbolic gestures
Political analysts and historians dismiss these claims, noting that symbols and gestures are often culturally misinterpreted when taken out of context.
They emphasize that no credible evidence connects modern political leaders to secret global organizations.
The viral spread of these interpretations reflects growing institutional distrust and the challenge of distinguishing between legitimate questioning and unfounded conspiracy theories.
Understanding the connection between historical secret societies and end-times biblical prophecy provides crucial context for current events.
Watch: Secret Societies and Biblical Prophecy
Spiritual forces and principalities have influenced nations throughout history. Understanding these spiritual realities helps believers recognize the true nature of cultural and political battles.
Watch: The Pagan Entities Ruling Over America
The intersection of spiritual warfare, fallen angelic beings, and global power structures reveals a deeper reality behind world events.
Watch: Age of Deceit: Fallen Angels and the New World Order
Christian hypocrisy, particularly among leaders, has severely damaged the church's witness and credibility. The "fish stinks from its head" proverb aptly describes how moral failures undermine Christianity's message.
Percentage of young people outside the church who cite hypocrisy as a top negative perception of Christianity
Number of times Jesus called out religious leaders for hypocrisy in Matthew 23
Christians martyred in Nigeria since 2009, while Western church focuses on comfort
Leaders falling into sexual sin while preaching purity
Misuse of church funds and exploitation of congregants
Abuse of authority and manipulation of believers
Physical and emotional harm inflicted by those claiming to represent Christ
The gap between professed beliefs and actual behavior creates a major barrier to faith, especially when those claiming to represent Christ fail to embody His teachings.
Jesus devoted significant attention in Matthew 23 to condemning the hypocrisy of religious leaders. This directly contradicts the witness Christians are called to maintain in the world.
Failing to live by beliefs you still claim to hold. Maintaining outward religious appearance while denying its power through behavior.
Abandoning your beliefs entirely. Total rejection of Christ and moral principles. Derived from Greek meaning "rebellion" or "defection."
Both weaken the church's effectiveness, but apostasy represents a complete departure from faith.
Billy Graham emphasized that apostasy affects every dimension of life, not just theology. Paul's warning in 2 Thessalonians about a "falling away" before the day of the Lord points to this comprehensive breakdown.
The characteristics Paul lists in 2 Timothy 3—self-love, pride, lack of self-control, brutality, and love of pleasure over God—describe those who maintain a superficial "form of godliness" while denying its transformative power.
Gary Hamrick's powerful sermon on Matthew 23 addresses Jesus' warnings about religious hypocrisy.
Watch: Don't Be a Hypocrite | Matthew 23 | Gary Hamrick
Frank Turek provides practical guidance on how to respond when people criticize Christianity for hypocrisy.
Watch: Frank Explains How to Respond to "Christians are Hypocrites!"
Understanding the current apostasy crisis requires examining both its theological roots and practical manifestations in contemporary Christianity.
Watch: Examining Modern Apostasy
"We can lessen hypocrisy in the church when we realize that being a Christian involves more than having a profession of Jesus; it involves Jesus's coming to live within us by His Spirit, changing us from the inside." - William L. Kynes
Read more: Why Are Christians So Hypocritical? - C.S. Lewis Institute
"In many of our seminaries there is a mad scramble for scholarship, and people are sacrificing clear Biblical teaching upon the altar of so-called scholarship. Many come out of our seminaries today with no Gospel—they are confused and bewildered."
Source: Today's Apostasy - Billy Graham
God created a hierarchical Kingdom with Himself as supreme King over supernatural and earthly beings. Jesus came not to establish a religion, but to proclaim this Kingdom and start a revolution.
According to George Boyd, Jesus' mission wasn't about religious beliefs, behaviors, or political agendas, but about manifesting God's beautiful character and revolting against everything inconsistent with it—"a beautiful revolution."
Through parables like the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, Jesus emphasized the Kingdom's supreme value, showing that discovering it brings such joy and recognition of its worth that one willingly sacrifices everything to obtain it.
Battle between Satan's and God's kingdoms
Signs of imminent return and final separation
Unified new Heaven and Earth with God's manifest presence
This culmination represents not an ending but a beginning—the ultimate destiny for God's people.
God reigns as the ultimate authority over all creation, both visible and invisible realms.
Supernatural creatures with different ranks, roles, and abilities serving God's purposes.
Earth-bound beings created in God's image with unique purpose and destiny in the Kingdom.
Howard Snyder explores Jesus' teaching about God's Kingdom through the lens of creation and divine provision.
Watch: Consider the Lilies with Howard Snyder
Understanding angels as an elder race created before humanity provides crucial context for their role in God's Kingdom and human history.
Watch: Angels are an Elder Race
God's Kingdom operates on principles that seem upside-down to worldly wisdom—the last shall be first, the greatest must be servant of all, and losing your life means finding it.
Watch: The Upside-Down Kingdom
Throughout the Bible, there is a consistent motif involving a celestial assembly composed of divine beings who work in concert with God. The prophets held a solemn responsibility to announce the presence of God's kingdom to the people.
The idea of a divine assembly illuminates the distinctive characteristics of an Old Testament prophet and elucidates the rationale for God's choice of particular persons for this role. Individuals who have had encounters with the sacred are acknowledged as authentic emissaries of the divine realm.
Jesus Christ came to proclaim this Kingdom to all nations
Establishing membership within God's Kingdom through faith
Building a community of believers who live by Kingdom principles
Understanding God's Kingdom transforms how we live in the present age. We are called to be Kingdom citizens now, living by heavenly principles while still on earth, demonstrating the reality of God's rule through our lives.
This requires recognizing both the visible and invisible dimensions of reality, understanding spiritual warfare, and maintaining hope in the ultimate victory and restoration that awaits God's people.
Throughout Volume III, we've examined the cultural, moral, and spiritual Burning Bushes of the 21st Century. From woke ideology to moral decadence, from New Age deception to secret societies, from Christian hypocrisy to God's eternal Kingdom—each reveals something crucial about our times.
The question remains: Will we recognize what the Creator is teaching through these signs? Will we respond with biblical clarity, spiritual discernment, and unwavering faith? The challenges are unprecedented, but so is the opportunity to be faithful witnesses in a confused and hostile age.
Culture, Society, and Morality