Liberalism is a doctrine of sinfulness. We live in a fallen world that becomes more and more decadent and morally bankrupt, as the world winds down toward the end times.
“We live in a fallen world that becomes more and more decadent and morally bankrupt, as the world winds down toward the end times.”
Our church has been doing a sermon series about “living in exile”. To view life (and our faith) as the Jews lived in Egypt, or Babylon. Life in this world will not be easy, but it can be exciting.
One of the things he has discussed is how we may not be able to change laws that have been passed, or can’t turn back time to the 1950’s, but we CAN make an impact on the fallen world as it is - right now.
So in that sense - God is not afraid of change. That doesn’t mean he LIKES it, or condones it, but God can use ANYTHING to further His will. Now that is not saying that the church needs to embrace the sinful ways of the world - but that it CAN adapt and respond to the new things that society throws at it.
Sinfulness has always been around. People have always been as decadent. Nothing has changed about human nature. The way we live our lives however, has.
I disagree with your statement that it is a sign of the end times. Ever since the resurrection and ascent to heaven people have been thinking they live in the end times, I find it kind of arrogant to believe we are the lucky, or unlucky (relative) to witness the return of Christ. However, only for a short period of time have we had the power to destroy every life on Earth. Which is when Jesus will intercede. At least, this is my impression of Revelation. Really it is Israel that will be about to be destroyed, which could cause the destruction of everything else. Samson option anyone? Every nation will be an enemy of Israel. Why not destroy everyone at that point?
We do live in a fallen world. But even during the end there will be righteous men and women. Basically revelation was written so long ago, and John was literally seeing the future, he had no words to describe the things he saw. He may have referred to what he thought was the entire Earth, but really may have just been the Middle Eastern area. There is just too much of a gap in time for us to read what he saw and interpret it rationally. The end could come at anytime, most think it is after massive global catastrophes, and billions of deaths. I forget the correct % that many say will die, I think it’s something like 80% of the total human population at the time, but I’m pretty sure it would actually be higher. The end times prophecies really don’t specifically talk about any lands besides the Middle Eastern, and Eastern European areas. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t even think China and the eastern Asian areas are mentioned, and definitely not America, or the American continents for that matter.
Liberalism is not a new idea however. But it is a new name. More people are embracing it. Tolerance for “all” , but not for those who say liberalism is wrong. Is how I would sum up liberalism in one sentence. Same idea many tyrants, dictators, and evil men have had.
I could be completely wrong and most likely am, but liberalism/communism/socialism/progresivism seem to have begun taking a hold on many nations. I guess it just seems like mankind is headed for some major issues, and each global conflict has been worse and worse. Instead of sinfulness (since the world has always been sinful), I think there are just MORE SINFUL. Due to technology, we live longer, can communicate easier, and have all our basic needs provided about 100x easier than 2000 years ago. All the problems caused by sin are therefore communicated instantly around the world, there are more people to cause chaos, and people don’t have to focus on hunting 12 hours a day 365 days a year. We can commit our minds to other things besides survival.
Proverbs 16:27 sums up perfectly the point I am trying to get across.
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.
Nobody has anything to focus their mind and body on so they turn to the sinful side of human nature. Which leads to the isms currently destroying our world and way of life. Technology, IMHO is a major factor of humanity’s descent into illogical madness. Why the massive technological advances during the 20th century. Why not earlier? Were we helped along by supernatural forces? As humanity grew more sinful, was it easier to deceive us into building things that would do our work for us? I believe technology is one of the major factors for the way the world is.
The evil people are no longer purged through their own foolishness, there is no accountability anymore. It feels like the world is aimlessly driving of a cliff. There are more people causing problems then there are trying to solve them. Many good men and women have just given up on the world, trying to live peaceful lives, and evil runs rampant.