Reasserting Christian Influence in a Moral Wasteland

Having laid out the probem of lost Christian influence, we should now consider what, if anything, can be done about this. 

In order for Christianity to reassert its proper place in western (and eastern) culture, it must first reclaim the churches. Orthodox Christian theology indicates, of course, that Christianity will never be “dead.”  Certainly, however, it is in need of doctors, spiritual doctors. The condition of the patient has worsened because of the malpractice of the spiritual doctors. The world does not know or understand Christianity because we have not taught it. The leadership of the church needs to extricate itself from the many “isms” and “programs” it is following down the path to humanism and reassert the primacy of Scripture. The very fact that mankind will not allow the Christian memory to die confirms the fact that a spiritual thirst still exists. Seeking some kind of spiritual fulfillment, men and women are casting about trying to find some good news.

An acquaintance with Biblical doctrines is the surest inoculation against runaway humanism. In his plea for preachers who will preach to the heart, Sinclair Ferguson states, “When there is the exposition of the Scriptures, an enlargement and opening of the preacher’s heart, and the exposing of the hearts of the hearers, then the majesty of the Word of God written will be self-evident and the presence of the Word of God incarnate will stand forth in all His glory.”[8] When we get the relationship between the Creator and His creation right, we can hardly continue to place man in the position reserved for God.

Avoiding Entangling Alliances

A second step toward the repositioning of Christianity within the society is to take the advice of President George Washington, who warned the fledgling nation to avoid entangling alliances. In recent years conservative Christians have bonded with the Republican party. Branding the other party “liberal,” Christian leaders have allowed themselves to be co-opted by the political leaders of their party. Yet, many of the elected officials and political operatives of the Republican party openly stand for abortion rights, homosexual marriage and other anti-Christian policies.

Some Christians have simply opted out of politics altogether. This would seem a foolhardy approach, since Christians are called to affect the society in which they live in a positive manner. Rather, a careful assessment of candidates, on an individual basis, rather than endorsement of a platform full of humanistic platitudes, would be a reasonable approach. Failing to find candidates who are willing to stand for truth and justice, as expressed in God’s Word might just call for Christians to find better candidates – or run for office themselves.

Neither political party is the party of God. Neither is the Christian party. As attitudes and beliefs ebb and flow, politicians adjust to the shifting sands beneath their feet. If Christians are to retake the moral and political high ground, and reassert Christian morality and practice in the west - and particularly in the United States, they need to be wise in their choices – not going along with the “moderates” in the allegedly conservative party.

Proclaim His Wondrous Deeds

Christianity will not magically become the ethos of the land once more. Christians must be willing to do the work to bring it back to prominence. We are to be the first to model our repentance and obedience to the law of God. We should pray for our land – for our family members, neighbors, and strangers. We are called to work on behalf of the fatherless and widow, and to seek justice. As Colson and Pearcey put it, “We  must be men and women who will dare to wrest Christianity free from its fortress mentality, its sanctuary stronghold, and establish it once again as the great life system and cultural force that acknowledges the Creator as sovereign over all.”[9]

The west has been lost to Christianity, not by invasion or military conquest, but by self-centeredness and smugness. We have “claimed to be wise” and “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and animals and reptiles.”[10]

All is not lost.  God will use even the weakest of His creatures for His glory. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than Man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”[11]

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[8] “Preaching to the Heart,” in Feed My Sheep (Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, Morgan, PA, 2002), pp. 196-7.

[9] How Now Shall We Live, p. 36.

[10] Romans 1:22-23 (NIV).

[11] 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV).

World View Views

Christianity is under attack across the globe. I have written numerous blogs on the topic, the latest of which was in February of this year. Being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ takes work. It’s not easy when there are influences trying to tell us that we’re fools. This is no new phenomenon.

There are many challenges to the authority of God’s Word in our lives. People all around us want us to simply accept that the Bible is inadequate to meet the needs of “modern mankind.” Those who follow Jesus need to have a clear understanding that the Bible is God’s Word to us; written for us. It is the authoritative Word, which cuts across historical eras and provides timeless truth. It cuts across geographical boundaries and gives us universal truth.

Over the next few months, I want to review with whoever will read this blog some of the non- (and anti-) Christian views regarding the Bible. These are some of the shaky frameworks around which some of our friends, neighbors and colleagues are building their lives. Then, we will look at what God’s Word says about itself, for that is where we will find a framework will enable us to be imitators of God; a framework upon which we can build a life pleasing to God.

Romans 1:18-20 reads this way,

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Man has, since the beginning of time, tried to suppress the truth about the world and its Creator. Many of us have probably tried to do the same thing. There are several ways in which men and women in our own time – and across geographic boundaries – try to suppress God’s Truth. There are also a huge number of variations on these themes. The point is for us to realize that a great need exists for us to both practice and teach Bible literacy. Most people simply do not understand what the Bible is about.

The first unbiblical concept about the Bible that I'd like to look at is this: "It was written for a “primitive” audience." We’ve outgrown the Bible, people tell us. We’re modern. We live in a scientific age. The Bible was written for men and women who needed its message of faith and explanation of the workings of the universe. After all, weren’t they what we might call “pre-scientific?” They were primitive. They could not answer all the “why” questions about the world around them. They didn’t quite understand the Sun and the relations of the planets in the solar system. They couldn’t explain natural disasters or seasons, or disease. They didn’t even have cellphones. So, they had to have their superstitious reasons for things that happen in the world around them. They needed to invent God –or a series of gods – who controlled their destinies.

This line of reasoning has been around a long time. And it persists today. In fact, it’s pretty common. You’ve probably heard people tell you that science can answer most of the questions (they didn’t do so well with the Tsunami or Hurricane Katrina). We just don’t need God.

Even those with little understanding of science choose to accept the word of the scientist/priests rather than God’s Word. How does this Christian respond to this?

1.    First, we deal with the word “primitive.” What makes us think that we’re any smarter than our grandfathers? Just because our pool of facts has expanded since the time of Abraham, or the Apostle Paul, or your grandmother does not mean that they did not have the capacity to understand our universe. To assume that we have a greater facility for understanding than our forefathers is to assume the evolutionary theory – which I do not. Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, and the Apostle Peter had no difficulty in accepting God’s Word. Anyone who has ever read the Epistle to the Romans must see there the writings of a highly organized and intellectually developed philosopher and theologian. One writer (CS Lewis) called this idea that we are necessarily wiser than our ancestors, “chronological snobbery.” One who has the capacity to reason knows better than to accept this fallacy.

2.    Next, we look to the answers being provided by science. It would seem that today there are many more questions left unanswered than in generations past. I know why there are terminal diseases. I know how the physical world came into existence. Our leading scientists are not yet ready to offer a definitive answer as to what was the First cause in creation. They may exclaim that everything began with a Big Bang, but are reluctant to discuss anything that came before that – while admitting that something had to precede the Big Bang. At this point, many scientists say that we have entered the realm of theology; but they are unwilling to accept the answers which responsible theology offers.

3.    Understand that I am not saying that having unanswered questions means that one is intellectually incapable. Nor am I saying that science offers nothing positive. I believe that science is a marvelous field of endeavor which uncovers the laws of the universe which God has put in place. But I am stating, without reservation, that modern science in no way renders the answers of the Bible unnecessary, faulty, or mythological.

What do YOU think?