It should be noticed that this new dominant world view is a view which is exactly opposite from that of the founding fathers of this country. Now, not all the founding fathers were individually, personally, Christians. That certainly is true. But, nevertheless, they founded the country on the base that there is a God who is the Creator (now I come to the next central phrase) who gave the inalienable rights. We must understand something very thoroughly. If society -- if the state gives the rights, it can take them away -- they're not inalienable. If the states give the rights, they can change them and manipulate them....
....We are now losing those freedoms and we can expect to continue to lose them if this other world view continues to take increased force and power in our county. We can be sure of this. I would say it again -- inevitably, mathematically, all of these things will come forth. There is no possible way to heal the relativistic thinking of our own day, if indeed all there is is a universe out there that is silent about any values. None, whatsoever! It is not possible. It is a loss of values and it is a loss of freedom which we may be sure will continually grow.
The entirety of Dr. Schaeffer's 1982 address at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church will be posted over the course of the next two weeks. Section divisions and titles are mine:
Part 1: The Reason for the Breakdown
Part 2: The Source of Inalienable Rights
Part 3: World Views In Shift
Part 4: Tyranny begotton of Relativism
Part 5: Should I Save This Life?
Part 6: When Human Life has No Value
Part 7: Where have the Bible-believing Christians been?
Part 8: Where has the Christian Leadership been?
Part 9: Oppression begotten of Materialistic Chance
Part 10: Tyranny and Hidden Censorship
Part 11: True Spirituality brings Social Change
Part 12: The Cost of Spirituality
Part 13: Christ Must be Lord, Not Caesar
Part 14: Prayer
Thank you. I will enjoy this series.
Thank you. I will enjoy this series.
Interesting. As God is eliminated from our society, people look upon these rights as not God-given but “made up”. It’s no wonder these rights are being taken away in our growing secular society.