Next to the family, the church is the most important institution God has created. Jesus only spoke of the “church” (ekklesia) twice—both in future terms: “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) and (18:17) in terms of church discipline. The church could not begin until Jesus had died, been resurrected (see Colossians 1:18), ascended to heaven (Ephesians 1:20-23) and then sent the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Thus the church began at Pentecost (Acts 1:5, 2:4 and 11:15-16). The New Testament affirms that the church (ekklesia) is literally a body of “called out ones.”

Most of us were ready to say goodbye to 2020, a year filled with so much darkness: The disruptive, deadly COVID pandemic; toxic politics; wildfires in the West; a record number of hurricanes; and worldwide economic and financial disarray. This darkness is intensified by the utter confusion that plagues our Postmodern culture, a confusion marked by a seeming inability to answer two simple questions—“what is right” and “who am I?”

Psalm 9: God, the Sovereign Lord of history, with justice and righteousness, holds civilizations and individuals accountable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended and disrupted almost every facet of our lives. Since the pandemic began in early 2020, medical and political leaders have declared that only a widely used vaccine will check this pandemic. Amazingly, months after the COVID-19 virus was detected and entered into our vocabulary, a successful vaccine has now been developed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided emergency authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against the coronavirus.

As God offers the five reasons why He will judge Babylon, Habakkuk then presents a praise hymn to God celebrating His splendour, power and righteous judgment.

On the traditional church calendar, January 6 is called the Feast of Epiphany, “when Christians celebrate how the light of Christ spreads to all nations. The season of Epiphany—also called Theophany in the East—focuses on Jesus’ revelation of his true identity to all the world.” In the West, it centers on the Magi finding Jesus. “In the weeks ahead, the Epiphany season recalls the baptism of Christ and the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle.”

Habakkuk cannot understand how a holy God could use a pagan nation to judge His people—but God reminds him of His sovereignty, His goodness and His purpose in discipline.

The economic and financial realities facing the new administration of President-elect Joe Biden are formidable. The national debt has skyrocketed under President Trump. This enormous increase resulted from President Trump’s tax cut policies and the staggering increase in national government spending to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic (over $3 trillion, all financed by debt). Furthermore, during the Trump presidency, the trade policies of the United States were radically upended. Both of these policy changes will have a profound impact on the direction of US economic and financial policies for both the near- and long-term.

The late Chuck Colson frequently would proclaim, “What was once unthinkable, becomes debatable and then gradually becomes acceptable.” I have always appreciated this declaration as a succinct summary of cultural accommodation. Cultural developments that only a few years ago were unimaginable are now mainstreamed as normal and legitimate in American civilization. Two recent developments illustrate this process of cultural accommodation.

Christmas is an intriguing and agreeable story: The tale of an unwed mother and an ostracized family, angelic messengers, noble shepherds, magi from the East and a tyrannical king. But, Christmas has a prequel; it only makes sense within the context of the larger story of what God is doing in the world.