Posted on 01/14/2014 7:47:13 PM PST by ReformationFan
Is this a Christian country? There are likely as many ways to answer the question as there are stripes on our flag. Yes, the country was populated at its beginning with Christians looking for a place to worship freely. But that was before we became a country. Yes, many of our founding fathers were sincere professing Christians. But many of them were not. Yes, we are Christian in the same sense as all of Europe is Christian — it is the faith tradition of the majority in our country. But no, we have rejected the faith of our fathers. Yes, our country’s laws, traditions, symbols, culture, were shaped by predominately Protestant notions. But no, we are living in times of great change. And therein lies the rub.
Our nation for decades enjoyed an uneasy peace on the question of the Christian faith in the public square grounded in a de pacto secularism and a de facto Christianity. That is, while the state could not, by pact, or on the grounds of a modern understanding of the First Amendment, promote any one particular religion. But, everyone knew our cultural momentum was Christian. Thus our pledge acknowledged that we are under God, our money noted we trusted in Him, and even the astronauts circling the moon read from Genesis to the watching world.
As the culture has been moving more vehemently into an aggressive secularism we are witnessing the steady erasure of the unwritten rules. We have moved from being the dominant cultural force to being the norm, to being oddities, and we are swiftly on our way to becoming pariahs. This, we would be wise to remember, is yet well short of what our brothers suffer in Muslim and communist countries. We don’t want to be the church that cried persecution.
That said, we would likewise be wise to, even as we seek to make known the glory of the reign of Christ over all things, get used to the new normal. It is not easy giving up privileges we once took for granted. The broader culture no longer recognizes our day of rest, and so many of us are expected to work, or to get our children to the game. It no longer recognizes our holy days, so now Turkey Day opens the Winter Holiday Season, and “Merry Christmas” is now less a greeting, more a political statement. The broader culture finds our sexual morality not just silly and old-fashioned but oppressive and demeaning.
While I long for and labor for a day when all men everywhere acknowledge the Lordship of Christ over all things, the loss of these privileges comes with a great blessing, the giving of a greater privilege — we are now hated and despised for His name’s sake.
Or are we? It will not be long, I suspect, before those who believe marriage is between one man and one woman will have all the cultural respect as a member of the KKK. Will the church be telling us to soften on this issue, to not talk about it, so accommodate the broader world for the sake of soul-winning? If so, we will have sold our own soul. Jesus was rather clear — if we were of the world, the world would love its own. But we have been bought with a price (John 15:19). Pray that we don’t sell our birthright of persecution for the pottage of respectability.
You assume correctly : )
Still a good post whether from Sr. or Jr.(I like the work of both father and son Sprouls).
Thanks. Good he’s got a kid to carry on.
Jesus, that Rabbi from Nazareth, answered the legal scholars of His day -defining “marriage” thus At the beginning God Created them male and female and said for this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife and the two shall become one flesh.(Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12 —and compare Genesis 1:27; 2:24 . When the Judges violate the Constitution the only Right action is IMPEACHMENT. when any Judge orders a Christian to do that which is contrary to what is written — We ought follow Peter and the other Apostles when “strictly commanded to not teach in that Name” We ought to obey God rather than men.” Our Constitution begins “We the people” It does NOT say we the corrupt and lawless Courts— The only way man can “lose” the rights given by God— is if that man chooses to surrender them. so when any Court says same sex marriage is legal I say “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Wake up!!! Haven’t you been listening to our beloved President? America is a Muslim country. :-)
Sproul Jr. has some pretty good things to say.
He is more of a commentator on the culture than his dad who speaks more on the Bible and theology...both are doing so much for the Christian cause.
People forget to look at what church they belonged to, and what that church taught about Jesus.
RC Sproul Sr is turning 75 soon.
Thanks. Well, he’s achieved psalm 90:10.
May he continue on to a full Genesis 6:3. I like his radio talks.
Absolutely!....We have his video series too........From Dust to Glory.....and our adult Sunday School is doing Sproul’s ......’Parables’
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