I agree, we have a LOT of freedom here but as you said( I read partially the Benedict Option online) there is a culture clash, the pews are not filling anymore. There is a huge move to deny God and who He is. They scream "science" yet believe in pseudo-science. I should stop. We have our issues and it's slowly getting worse. Morally we are decrepit but it's not the temple of Diana yet.However we promotes free sex, drugs and so much abortion unheard of anytime int he past. The 20th century killed more in wars that all the other times in history added up. To me, I see a dangerous contentedness in churches and dangerous doctrines, watered down,lukewarm church of Laodecia where Jesus is outside the doors knocking.
The big responses to Jesus are in China and the underground churches where they suffer as Christians always have. It's not the days Nero or other times like the horrors of the moors...but dang we are merely one country and small in numbers comparatively. But again by God's Grace we are so blessed to be living in the United States. Indeed we are blessed!
We are Blessed. And We are our Brothers keeper. But I wonder how far we can go with that in practice? At what point does our duty to be our Brothers Keeper yield to the admonition to shake the dust from our sandals?
I don’t know.
I have noticed that I’m a lot happier working on things that are more obviously within my scope of influence.