As Jesus entered Jerusalem in what many Bible teachers refer to as The Triumphal Entry, his disciples rejoiced "with a loud voice." Hearing this, the Pharisees demanded that Christ rebuke and quiet His followers. Instead, the Lord responded saying, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:40 KJV)
I was reminded of that episode in our Lord's earthly life as I read a recent news item on the Drudge Report. According to Drudge, the entertainer known globally as "Material Girl" now believes "the beast is the modern world that we live in."
Drudge quotes Madonna as saying, "The material world. The physical world. The world of illusion that we think is real. We live for it, we're enslaved by it. And it will ultimately be our undoing."
Madonna was explaining her new documentary film, "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret," which premiered at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City this week. In the movie, Madonna warns that people "are going to go to hell, if they don't turn from their wicked behavior."
Imagine that. While Material Girl Madonna publicly and boldly sounds the clarion call for repentance, many, if not most, Christian ministers preach a gospel of materialism. What in the world is going on?
I believe what is going on is, the stones are crying out! Because ministers, pastors, and televangelists refuse to address the fundamental ills of society, because they seem caught up with prosperity theology, entertainment evangelism, pandering to politicians, and delivering ear-tickling sermonettes, God is using "stones" to cry out truth!
I believe the stones were crying out when Mel Gibson produced "The Passion." I believe the stones are crying out again with Madonna's warning.
Whether Madonna has had a religious experience, or whether she feels personal guilt for the part she once played in helping to push the nation's culture further down the slippery slope, or something else altogether, it seems apparent that she is now proclaiming truth (at least as quoted above) in a way many preachers seem too timid to do.
For those of us who are students of Scripture, this should come as no surprise. After all, if God could use Balaam's ass to do what the old prophet was unwilling to do, God could use whatever instrument He chooses to proclaim His truth today.
However, the overall message of this story is that prophets and preachers should be the ones who faithfully and loquaciously preach God's truth to the nation. Because they are not doing their jobs, the stones are crying out!
© 2005 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved
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