"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (1 Corinthians 15:3-9)

September 2, 2026

Dear friends,

"How long, O Lord?" ... is what I think when I read of another church being burned in Nigeria or I see the news that another group of Christians have been killed.

The author of Psalm 74 felt frustration with God's seeming inaction (vv 1-11) when he saw that the holy places -- the temple and synagogues of Israel -- were burned, defaced, destroyed, and abandoned. "How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! (Psalm 74:10-11)

In other words, "With all the synagogues [and now churches] being burned to the ground, why do you stand around with your hands in your pockets?" That's the mental image of those verses. But then I read further...

"Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:12)

What follows in that psalm is a lyrical description of God's creation of the world pictured as a conquest over the forces of chaos and darkness, shown as a dragon (Leviathan) being crushed, and raging seas quelled, and boundaries set upon day and night and upon summer and winter. The psalmist intercedes for God to care for the soul of his dove (his vulnerable people), and to remember his covenant with them. He prays, "Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!" (74:22)

We too, though many years removed from the days of that psalm, pray for the protection of God's people from those who hate God and who destroy places of worship. There are so many opponents of biblical values it is difficult to know where and when to speak out against the enemies of God. Whether it is perversions regarding human sexuality, persecutions against Christians and Jews around the world, violations of religious liberty, totalitarianism, falsehoods in media, injustices in the courts, violence in the streets, and violence toward the unborn and children, we can be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the evil. (Not to mention the evil within our own hearts!)

Like the psalmist we may think that God is being inactive in the midst of this chaos, but as the psalmist wrote, "God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." God is not standing idly by, watching in a disinterested way. He's working salvation -- has been working salvation from of old -- not far off, but in the midst of the earth.

After reading Psalm 74 I recalled a phrase from 1 Corinthians 15, namely, "of first importance", quoted above.

It is the gospel about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is about a salvation from God, worked out like creation, not far away, but here in the midst of chaos. Note from the first nine verses: It is a salvation worked out a) in the midst of the earth (first century Israel); b) through death (upon a Roman cross); c) in fulfillment of the Scriptures (a divine plan); d) in atonement for sins (not mere martyrdom); e) sealed by burial; f) validated by physical resurrection; g) attested by many eye-witnesses; and h) resulting in grace and forgiveness even for persecutors (Paul himself).

And Paul says this is "of first importance". Not secondary, like after voting or protesting or data centers or social justice or whatever. Primary. Of first importance.

Here’s a couple of lessons for me... First, God is at work. The gospel is advancing and people are entering his kingdom, even as martyrs are dying, even as churches are burning. God does not have his hands in his pockets. Israel has survived. The church has survived. The church is growing. Should we speak out against evil? Yes. But should we remember that even persecuters (like Paul was) are coming to Christ? Also, yes. God is working salvation in the midst of the earth, even through death and even in the midst of chaos.

Secondly, there are many critical issues and matters facing us today. We cannot be an expert on all of them, or even a few. But for me there is one thing that is "of first importance" -- and that is the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. If I'm not speaking on this, then I'm not speaking out on the most important matter of all. People may vote correctly, they may speak out on all the right issues, they may go to the right rallies and they may support or not support this or that political initiative, but if they do not know and believe and cling to the gospel of the atoning death and resurrection of Christ, they will ultimately have no hope or life or salvation or forgiveness, now or forever.

I want to keep that uppermost in my mind and heart, as being of First Importance.

LINKS.

-- "Flood the zone." A helpful concept to know when evaluating political positions and media.

-- Samaritan's Purse is helping to provide relief in Nepal.

-- The Bible's countercultural view of aging. (Jen Wilkin)

-- We enjoy watching the animals' reaction to this guy's singing.

And that's it for this week!

Sandy

Afterwords is an occasional newsletter on topics of interest to me (Sandy Young) since my retirement from full-time pastoral ministry. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.