4-25-22<\/p>\n
It is commonly asserted that religion is on the decline in the United States, in the West, and indeed around the world. The polls affirm this; Christians decry the figures; and the growing numbers of secularists in established centers of power and influence celebrate.<\/p>\n
The trend is noted about Christianity, but is widely applied to other faiths as well. Islam\u2019s imperialism often is as much military as militant, and of repressive, societal goals. Eastern religions often have faded into traditionalism, and the billions of people who live under Communism endure the illegality of religious practice.<\/p>\n
Yet I maintain that the 21st century is one of the most religious eras in the history of humankind.<\/p>\n
It is not a word game to invite you to understand the distinctions. Words and definitions are important in an essay, and vital to proceed in our daily lives. Approximately 2.5-billion people in the world are Christians. Roughly one in three souls in the earth\u2019s population profess a belief in Christ. Islam is second in total numbers.<\/p>\n
Many people assume that Islam is \u201con the march\u201d in places like Africa, and Christianity is in retreat. But in fact Christianity is gaining adherents at a faster rate throughout the continent, and it is no coincidence that Mohammedans have turned many areas into bloody battlegrounds. Frequent attacks on Christian schools, Black girls kidnapped and raped, is part of the campaign to intimidate and stifle the spread of Christianity.<\/p>\n
There would not be such savagery \u2013 or similar attacks in India, Southeast Asia, and China \u2013 if Christians were docile, if the faith was in retreat by itself.<\/p>\n
\u2026 like it is in America and Europe.<\/p>\n
Numbers of professing believers in Christ have declined annually for years. Many mainline denominations, churches, and colleges increasing deny the Divinity of Christ. The inerrancy of the Bible is widely renounced. In the view of government, courts, and schools, Biblical standards are rejected \u2013 a steady secularist evolution from the beliefs and practices of the Founders.<\/p>\n
And so forth. Consistently, people who argue against these points do not defend our spiritual foundations and heritage \u2013 they largely and happily welcome the changes; but rather maintain that the trends should cause joy throughout the land.<\/p>\n
They are, of course, doomed to repeat the lessons of history, as per Prof. Santayana\u2019s dictum about those who do not learn. It is arrogant nonsense, indeed suicidal foolishness, to think that we have become the first society to successfully experiment with licentiousness, toleration of greed and dishonesty, sexual laxity, corruption of youth, imperialism, and rejection of spiritual values.<\/p>\n
Why, then, do I claim that we live in a high-water period of religion?<\/p>\n
The distinction I invited early concerns the difference between religion and Christianity.\u201cReligions\u201d are systems of human creation \u2013 systems, rules, customs, patterns, laws, inclusions and exclusions. I believe that religion<\/em> possibly has sent more people to hell than any other external forces.<\/p>\n The difference with Christianity is that (despite the lazy terminology we all employ) it is not a religion. It sounds like a bumper strip, but Christianity is not a religion \u2013 it is a relationship<\/em>. Christ had few \u201crules\u201d; in fact He was quite clear that the way to find salvation, acceptance by God Almighty, was to believe that Jesus is His Son; that He paid the price, the punishment we deserve before a Holy God; and that He rose from the dead. Believe in your heart, confess with your mouth. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n Rules, robes, memberships, committees, sacrifices, tithing, memorization, candles, doctrines, all count for nothing in terms of being accepted by God \u2013 being a follower of Christ. Oh, we will be motivated to do and share many of these things\u2026 but in their proper order! \u201cSeek ye first the Kingdom of God.\u201d<\/p>\n So \u2013 again \u2013 why do I call this era the most religious of times?<\/p>\n Because of what religion is. As true Christianity declines in America and Europe, religion \u2013 remember my definition: belief in human-created rules and regulations \u2013 has risen. In this sense, America and Europe live in a post-Christian Age.<\/p>\n But a religion of Secularism has supplanted Christianity. We have secular popes. We have worldly commands and \u201cThou Shalt Nots\u201d aplenty. There is a common \u201csalvation\u201d according to secular views. Some people anointed \u2013 the new \u201csaints\u201d and others are demonized.<\/p>\n The new gospels are agreed upon and advances by Hollywood, Big Media, the Educational-Industrial Complex. Political Correctness provides the new Ten \u2013 or more \u2013 Commandments. Surely, more and more, people (those with traditional values and Christian standards) are excommunicated: from jobs, schools, neighborhood associations.<\/p>\n It is surprising, really, how the new Secular Religion is counterfeiting many aspects of Christendom. Greta Thunberg is cast as a contemporary Joan of Arc. Activists who discern sudden rights to indoctrinate children act like they have divine revelations; those who resist are cast as heretics. Books are burned by the Politically Correct \u2013 an up-to-date Inquisition. Those who impose mandates, or assert that men can declare themselves female, and who legalize abortions and euthanasia\u2026 are frankly, declaring themselves gods.<\/p>\n As the Bible prophesied, we live in a time when humankind practices a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof. New England, for instance, is still dotted with beautiful old churches, but many have become literal whited sepulchres \u2013 community centers of feel-good and do-good. Maybe people do feel good and do good\u2026 but how many throughout America and Europe still preach the Gospel? Accountability for sin? Personal encounters with the Risen Savior?<\/p>\n I am not worried about Jesus \u2013 I am not being flippant \u2013 but I am worried about His People, His church, the precious heritage we squander. I have peeked ahead to the end of the Book, and\u2026 God wins. But that does not at all mean that America wins. Or survives. At the current pace, we don\u2019t deserve to.<\/p>\n We are doomed unless revival comes to the land. I have heard many Christians pray for it, but it is not in God\u2019s nature to bless a wayward generation, the willfully sinfully, so to speak.<\/p>\n Rather it is our task to bring revival, \u201cgoing forth into all the world,\u201d which in these times means our very neighborhoods. Then we plead for His blessing on the revival we spark. It is useless and false otherwise, much like the charade of godliness this nation has adopted.<\/p>\n Who shall prevail? Is it too late? Is the coming generation too uninformed and misinformed? Is it drugged in bodies and minds? Are the powerful too powerful? Do we have the will to fight \u2013 do we know Scripture; do we seek the Lord \u2013 in order to defend and counter?<\/p>\n For Christ\u2019s sake, it is all too important.<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n A musical allegory of the grief we face. From the 1600s, but regard it as a dirge for Western Civilization, if we do not redeem ourselves.<\/p>\n