Someone said, “Culture is the root of politics, and religion is the root of culture.” If that is true, then right religion in a society means everything.
Universities and other places of higher learning were almost all founded by religious groups and were for a long time anchored in religious tradition. This was true up until about the mid 1900’s when secularism took root and religion was cast aside. Today universities have become places where students have to fight to retain their faith in God. Today in our elite places of higher learning, holiness is regarded as intolerance, righteousness is seen as old-fashioned, and reason is incompatible with faith.
Carl R. Trueman, professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College states this. “Today’s cultured despisers of Christianity do not find its teaching to be intellectually implausible; they regard them as morally reprehensible. Our postmodern world sees all the claims to truth as bids for power. …Failure to conform to new orthodoxies on race, morality, sexual orientation, and gender identity is the main reason orthodox Christianity is despised today. They cannot accommodate Christianity.”
So how, in our increasingly secular culture, will faith in Jesus as the center of Christianity and a belief in his saving death and bodily resurrection as our only means of reconciliation with God continue to be proclaimed? God’s answer to this has not changed. It will be through you – through me. We are the light of the world. We are the salt of the earth. We are God’s chosen channel to ensure his message of redemption is shared with the world.
Our culture at its very heart is rebellious, proudful, and sinful. It’s this way because unregenerate man is rebellious, proudful, and sinful. (Rom. 3:23) Within Christianity the world can only be transformed indirectly – through the consistency of our testimony, our faithful presence, and our words timely spoken. Together with his creation, we are God’s voice to the world! (II Cor. 15:18-20)
To think that we can change a godless culture from the top down is only wishful thinking. Cultures are changed from the bottom up. Christianity will not win by hurling nasty comments at every opposing person. It will not be won in religious debates or governments. Nor will it take root in our centers of higher learning. Christianity only wins as the people of God step up in dependence upon his Spirit to be the salt and light and agents of reconciliation He planned for us to be.
The revolution that Jesus introduced when he came into this world was not only counter-cultural – it was counter intuitive for it was a revolution of love. (see I Cor. 1:18-31) And when all is finally said and done – love wins.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)
Be blessed my friend.
Glen (Pitts)
The Barnabas Group (Loads of Love)
Matthew 28:18-20; II Corinthians 3:12-4:18; 6:1; Acts 17:22-28
