It is easy to become angry, disheartened, and perhaps even fearful about the cultural trajectory of our nation and the world. In light of the seismic upheavals in cultural norms, how much should we be concerned for the difficulties the future holds for our children and grandchildren?
Thanks be to God, Scripture provides both answers and reassurance.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, St. Paul instructs the Philippians and us “not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Likewise, in the 12th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus exhorts all who follow him not to be anxious about the worries of the day, but rather to store up treasure in heaven, for where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. Both of these passages call us to reorient our perspective.
It is undeniable that our culture has become more secular, and a large portion of society espouses a minimal to nonexistent biblical worldview. Yet, if we think that our great-grandparents lived in a world where all was right, we are fooling ourselves. We live in a fallen world. From Eden until the end of history, we are told “there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccles. 1:9).
The fact that our culture is hostile toward Christians and Christianity is not a new development. Throughout history, we have seen the ways that our brothers and sisters have been discriminated against, oppressed and persecuted because of their faith in Jesus, and by God’s grace, we have seen how they were able to persevere and even thrive in unfriendly environments. We must trust that God will strengthen and bless us to withstand and prosper in spite of the attacks from our culture.
For years now, biblical sexual morality has been rejected, and in certain communities, the institution of marriage has been decimated. The consequences have been devastating for children, singles, couples and families. Still, we stand firm in hope rooted in Scripture that in due time the biblical standards of marriage and family will restore culture.
Writing to Titus, the Apostle Paul reminds Christians that the grace of God has enabled believers to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:21). If today we will soberly hold to biblical standards in sex, marriage and family, the outcomes will stand in stark contrast to those of the world around us. In other words, living counter-cultural lives will be a witness for the Christian faith and biblical truth.
The pro-life community has certainly taken a counter-cultural stand. Consider the enormous strides it has realized over the past four decades. Thanks to their dedication and willingness to be mocked and reviled, it is no longer widely acceptable to claim that a pre-born baby is just a clump of cells or a disposable part of a woman’s body.
Such assertions are outlandish in the face of modern medical advances, especially as doctors now routinely perform life-saving surgical procedures in utero. More recently, the despicable actions of Planned Parenthood (harvesting and selling baby parts) make it extremely difficult for the left to deny the humanity of the pre-born child.
In our lives, each of us will encounter people – family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers – who have been damaged by the seductive lies of our culture. As believers, we have an awesome opportunity and responsibility to point these vulnerable refugees to the truth and to the Author of Truth, so they will find hope and healing through the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must understand that God has sovereignly placed us here, at this exact time, in this specific place, and he has given us everything we need to serve him and our fellow man. This reality is humbling and ought to cause us to fall to our knees in gratitude. In spite of the wickedness of our culture, I praise God that I am privileged to live during this period of human history, in a state and nation that is blessed beyond measure.
Yet, there is much work to be done! As we faithfully roll up our sleeves, serving as ambassadors of another kingdom, may we bring honor and glory to the name of the LORD.
End-of-Year Challange
As you may know, IFI has a year-end matching challenge to raise $110,000. That’s right, a small group of IFI supporters are providing a $55,000 matching challenge to help support IFI’s ongoing work to educate, motivate and activate Illinois’ Christian community.
Please consider helping us reach this goal! Your donation will help us stand strong in 2016! To make a credit card donation over the phone, please call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328. You can also send a gift to:
Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 88848
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
