Christ

Pajamas Media » Five Societal Trends That Signal Our Nation’s Decline

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Here are five societal trends that will further exacerbate the pessimism of two-thirds of American adults who believe our nation’s future is bleak: National poverty is higher now than in all 51 years of record keeping. There is an increasing number of high school drop-outs. The American workforce is steadily becoming less educated. Four of out of every ten births in America are to unmarried women. Only 53% of Americans pay federal income taxes.

via Pajamas Media » Five Societal Trends That Signal Our Nation’s Decline.

It seems to me that each of these indicators of societal decline connect with the decline of Christianity.  Here is a brief explanation.

America is getting poorer?  Christianity teaches the sanctity of work.  Work is a God-given and blessed endeavor.  Further, the New Testament forbids providing welfare to those who can work but choose not to.  Could America’s increasing poverty be a result of rejecting this work ethic?

Increasing number of high school dropouts.  Liek with work, Christianity generally encourages education.  Universities sprung forth from this, and it was Christian’s who saved many ancient works from passing into the dustbin of history.  Also, men like Newton pursued Science out of a conviction that studying Creation glorified God.  Perhaps abandoning the tenets of Christianity means there is no longer a strong cultural basis for education.

4/10 births are to unwed woman.  This doesn’t even need comment.

For me the bottom line is this:  Western Civilization grew over thousands of years of discipleship.  It will not be reclaimed in a moment.  The church must return to instilling Christ’s teachings in the hearts and lives of Christians, who will instill it in their children and so forth, so that society can regain her Christian foundation.

Cal Thomas on Revival & Glen Beck

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Revivals don’t ratify the earthly aspirations of humanity, including selfish political agendas. They are about glorifying God. Too many modern Christians have it backward. In a real revival the Lincoln Memorial event would have been a result, not an attempt to cause a revival. People would have assembled who had already repented in private. They would not have bemoaned a decline in American “morality,” but instead have fallen on their knees or faces and cried out in genuine repentance and humility.

via WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Genuine revival.

Christianity is very much about personal repentance.  When the Christian is more concerned with the sins of the ‘nation’ or Politicians than our own, personal sin, we become the people Jesus warned us about.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
(Matthew 7:3–5 ESV)

And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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At his rally last weekend on the Washington Mall, Fox News host Glenn Beck brought 240 clergy onstage. Harkening back to the Revolutionary War, Beck called the group a “Black Robe Regiment.” He said the clergy “all locked arms saying the principles of America need to be taught from the pulpit.”

via And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

As politically conservative as I am, I don’t thing the pulpit is the place for the ‘principles of America.’  Further, the tradition of Western Civilization which gave us the ‘principles of America’ came from Scripture–the Judeo Christian ethic.  Perhaps, if Mr. Beck and Co. desire a revival that leads to traditional public virtues, we need to preach repentance and disciple the repentant.

Christianity should alter the way we understand with and interact with the world around us.  That includes our politics.  However, preaching politics doesn’t renew minds nor transform lives.  Also, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world–America was founded on Christian principles, but that does not make us Christ’s Kingdom.

Want to transform the moral fabric of society?  Then, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV)

Faith v. Works

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Sarah Cassidy is the sort of no-nonsense, capable woman you might expect to find as headmistress of a ­primary school. But Sarah doesn’t do children, and she doesn’t do husbands either.No. Sarah is 43, single and celibate — and determined to remain so. Each night she fastens a wire chain, known as a cilice, around her upper thigh . . .

. . . ‘It’s an easy way of knowing you’re doing penance,’ says Eileen, who lives in an Opus Dei centre in Ealing, West London. ‘I wear mine above my thigh. If you go swimming, you don’t want to leave a mark from where it has been.

via Why does Opus Dei member Sarah Cassidy attach a cilice to her leg every day? | Mail Online.

Yet,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV)

Either we’re saved BY grace FOR good works, or we are saved BY works.  It cannot be both ways.  While these women are extreme examples, perhaps, the reality is that most of us try to ‘do penance.’  We try to make up for our sin by doing good things.  If those good works outweigh the sin, we seem to believe, God will accept us.

But that is not the gospel.  The gospel acknowledges we cannot do enough to make up for our sin.  It demands, not penance, but repentance.  The atoning was done by Christ, once for all.  To think my self-inflicted suffering, or my good works, somehow atones for my sin is to make light of Christ’s work on the cross.

WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Does Americans’ faith run only skin-deep?

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In a newly released poll from the Barna Group, only 12 percent of those surveyed said faith was their top priority. This despite the fact that, as the Barna press release points out, more than 75 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christians.

via WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Does Americans’ faith run only skin-deep?.

Jesus said, ““If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple,” (Luke 14.26).

Now, if Jesus is saying that absolutely nothing–not even family or our own lives–can take precedence over our faith in Him, what can we conclude about the 75 percent of American’s who claim to be Christians?  Do quote The Princess Bride, “That word you keep using.  I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Mark Driscoll on Avatar

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Mark Driscoll: Avatar “Most Satanic Movie Ive Ever Seen” | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.

Mark Driscoll takes on Avatar from a theological perspective.  Earlier, I wrote about my secular view of the movie.  As an Airman, I dislike films that depict the military as blood thirsty knuckle draggers.  Therefore, I didn’t want to see the film.

Driscoll’s view is much more significant, if true.  If he’s right than Avatar isn’t merely offensive, it is dangerous.  However, I wonder if Avatar isn’t merely reflecting the squishy spirituality of America, today.  While many have rejected the traditional concept of God, they are still left with a longing for Him.  They just don’t understand the longing.  So, as man has always done, they attempt to construct ways to fill this longing.  It may be pleasures or false religion–they are simply trying to fill the void.

Even if Driscoll is right in his assessment, I think there is hope.  The hope is this:  Avatar recognizes something is wrong with us, it just misdiagnosed the problem.  If the culture around us can agree that something is wrong, then we have a clear opportunity to share Christ.  We share the diagnosis (sin) and the cure (Christ).

Russell Moore on Outrage

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Misguided Christian Outrage | TheResurgence.

What if, instead, we loved the world the way God does (Jn. 3:16), and not the way the satanic powers ask us to? What if we loved the world through verbal proclamation and self-sacrificial giving, not by seeking product placement for the Trinity? Rather than expecting our politicians and musicians and actors to placate us with platitudes to some generic god, let’s work with them where we can on “doing good to all people” (Gal. 6:10). Let’s proclaim the God of a crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus. And let’s teach our kids and our converts the actual content of the biblical revelation.

In conversations with friends, I’ve mentioned my frustration with much Christian Outrage.  While often there is a kernel of truth to our political, cultural and other-al outrage, it consumes a huge amount of resources.

Think of the time, talent and treasure spent on fighting cultural and political wars.  Sure, we need to stand firm for what we believe, but isn’t there a tipping point where standing firm is really an excuse for fighting back?

I wonder what it might look like if we were as passionate for evangelism as we are for the most recent Outrage against ChristTM.  I wonder what it would look like if we invested ourselves into discipleship with the same fervency we invest in political and cultural battles?