Posted on 08/30/2016 8:04:03 AM PDT by Salvation
Moses Breaking the Tablets of the Law (1659) by Rembrandt
I had an interesting discussion with Matt Hadro on EWTN’s “Morning Glory” radio show about the rising number of “nones” in our country. When asked for their religious affiliation, “nones” do not identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, but rather check the “none” box. They tend to be dismissive of “organized” religion and generally believe that it is acceptable to construct a purely personal religious view and understanding of God.
Indeed, we live in times when many people make light of the fact that others do not believe in God or relegate their faith to a solely personal and largely irrelevant aspect of life. This attitude exists even among many Catholics who, though believers themselves, don’t seem to be overly concerned that others are not. What seems to be of greater concern to most believers—Catholics included—is that a person be “nice.” If a person is determined to be “nice,” little else seems to matter.
Frankly, all of us should be concerned by the rise of unbelief in our culture, whether it is atheism, agnosticism, “none-ism,” indifference, or the rampant secularism that relegates God to the margins. We should be concerned because unbelief on a wide scale (as is the case today) is not only unhealthy for a culture, it is dangerous to it.
This danger is fairly obvious when one considers that unbelievers (and most “under-believers” such as “nones”) think that they answer to no one. When one no longer acknowledges that God exists and sees everything, “reinvents” God, selects what he likes from what God has commanded, or doesn’t understand that he will ultimately have to answer to God for what he has or has not done, it is easy to ignore important aspects of the moral life.
Realizing that we will one day answer to God is an important reminder that we are not a law unto ourselves. The knowledge that we will not ultimately escape if we treat others with contempt, engage in serious injustice, live unchastely, or indulge greed, is an important curb on sin (or at least a call to repentance).
This observation does not mean that every unbeliever or “under-believer” lives a reprobate life. There are atheists who live exemplary lives, who exhibit natural virtues, whether they do so because it is to their benefit or simply because they have some ethical sense that comports with the right reason.
But, other things being equal, having large numbers of unbelievers who do not think that they are ultimately accountable for what they do or fail to do is never healthy to good order, morality, or virtue.
Further, when belief is lost by many, so is a common moral reference point. The Judeo-Christian moral view formed the basis for modern law, justice, constitutional rights, and ethics. While sectarian differences obviously existed in the country for 200 years before this rise of unbelief, there was basic agreement on the essential moral issues, based on a biblical worldview. The rise of unbelief has caused this moral consensus to break down. In its place there has arisen a tyranny of relativism, in which numbers matter more than reason. The one who wins is the one with the loudest megaphone, the most power, and the greatest influence.
This, too, is dangerous to a culture. Without a shared cultus, there can be no real culture. The word cultus refers to a reference point (God and His revelation) that is above and outside a culture, that is bigger and more lasting. Without that shared cultus, that devotion to someone higher, there can be no culture.
Today, when we cannot agree on what makes a marriage, or even on something as obvious as whether one is male or female, the tyranny is starting to resemble anarchy and nihilism. No culture can withstand such a basic undermining. Problems of this sort are civilization killers.
Thus, belief is not only important—it is critical. We cannot go on relegating this matter to the realm of the purely personal and largely irrelevant. Being “nice” is not enough. We must be accountable to God and see Him as authoritative in our life. If we are to survive we must do this, both individually and collectively.
The First Commandment says, I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:2). This is not some egocentric God, demanding worship and that He have no rivals. This is our loving Father, who knows what unbelief does to us. When we reject Him and/or turn to other gods, we are harmed immeasurably. We lose our way and inherit a lawless and confused world, in which the tyranny of relativism holds sway and no one thinks or acts as if he will one day answer for what he has and has not done.
Do not make light of the rampant unbelief in our world today. It is far more serious than most imagine. God commands the most serious things for our own well-being. The First Commandment is that we believe and that we call others to do the same. There is a reason that it is commandment number one!
False teaching always has a following. This also weakens the Church.
One might even call these 'eternal truths' the Gods of the Copybook Headings.
I was just talking about that yesterday. But I guessed it was Bob Dillon.
Is that who you meant by ‘Bobby’? If not who was it that sang that?
Can’t put a gun to people’s heads. All we can o is try.
And we’re up against 24/7 indoctrination.
God will do what God will do.
Let’s all make sure we’re personally ready.
Every little bit helps!
Yes, Bob Dylan.
Ahhh! You even corrected me on the spelling of his name.
I should have been more careful.
Thanks.
False teaching always has a following. This also weakens the Church.
If you came up with CI after 'diligent study', you best get back to the studying.
The beginning of wisdom for me was this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2240648/posts
Before that I simply believed what the church told me because, well, everybody KNOWS about hell and damnation, right?
Nope. I studied. I went to more sites. I studied some more. Now, I’m a member here: Rethinkinghell.com
I listen to the bible for two hours on my commute every day. Have been doing it for three years now. This is on top of the study I do (on this and other subjects) And CI is EVERYWHERE in the bible.
It is argued that as people actually start studying this subject in great numbers, more and people will come on board and it is expected to be the majority opinion in ten to 15 years. It used to be that people even asking the question were practically blackballed. It became the topic where “questions are forbidden”.
Not any more! And as more people ask, answers really are forthcoming
The evidence really is overwhelmingly in support of CI. It’s gotten almost comical. ECT adherents have an extremely limited number of “proof texts”, most of which actually support CI. And Edward Fudge nails it in “The Fire that Consumes”. VERY good book. This video is really good too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHUPpmbTOV4
it is expected to be the majority opinion in ten to 15 years.
Doctrine by consensus, good stuff. The only opinion that matters has already spoken on it.
CI is ‘tickled ears’ doctrine, SDA in particular. It isn’t biblical.
I’m not SDA. I’m not JW. But I have actually read the bible and studied it. That is what actually brought me to CI. I’ve offered sources here. More and more people are getting their pastors to study it themselves. Once people are exposed to the full picture, minds are changed.
I’ve actually read papers and watched videos from all sides of this issue before solidifying my viewpoint. Have you? To not do so is, by definition, dogmatism.
It is also adherence to “the traditions of men”.
Nothing wrong with Biblical dogmatism. That would make it by definition not a tradition of man. CI is an effort to minimize the cost of sin and by extension minimize the Lord's sacrificial atonement for that sin. The Bible is plain as to the final place for those who have not believed. Same place as the Devil and his angels.
No sense in rehashing what I’ve argued on this subject for years. I’ve offered several links and a video.
But I do disagree with this comment strongly: “Nothing wrong with Biblical dogmatism.”
Dogmatism is the refusal to even look at evidence contrary to your own viewpoint. That is really not the high ground. When someone offers new teaching on old dogmas, searching the scripture is the high ground. This is why the Bereans were commended.
It is unbelief that the bible warns against; over and over.
While certain churches emphasize DOING things to KEEP your salvation; the bible doesn't.
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
The Book does NOT say...
...but whoever does not GET BAPTIZED will be condemned.
There will come a time when sound doctrine men will up with not put!
Do you know of a 'nation' that has NO missionaries in it?
But; even BEFORE Algore's wonderful invention...
Acts 17:11
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Jesus said...
John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
I wonder what happens to folks who are CONDEMNED?
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