A few days ago an article was posted from Death Rattle Sports.com entitled, “How Will The Shocking Decline Of Christianity In America Affect The Future Of This Nation?” The article lays out the decline of the influence of Christianity in our nation but doesn’t really ever tell us the implications of this decline. That is what I would like to address in this post.
There has been a long influence of Christianity in our Nation. The early presidents of our country actually attended church services in the nation’s capitol. This tradition was carried on up to the Civil War.
This influence carried on into the early and middle part of the last century. Many people attended church services regularly. Christianity influenced the lives of followers during the week, not just on Sunday. Its influences throughout society were numerous. Old timers remember the stir caused by the use of the first curse word in movies. Gone with the Wind (1939) was the first official movie that someone swore in. The very last line in the movie “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a d@#%.” The very first movie to ever swear was “The Big Trail” (1930) starring John Wayne. It wasn’t as popular as Gone with the Wind hence forth no one really knew about it. “They always told me Women were d@#% funny” was the line. But society didn’t really accept swearing in movies until the 1960s when it became much more numerous and accepted. Today, directors dread a “G” rating and throw in curse words just to avoid it.
Paul actually laid out the progression of the rejection of Godly influence on a nation and its progression can be seen in the United States today. It starts in Romans 1.
Romans 1:20-24 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
Carefully read these verses. God has revealed Himself but mankind rejects God; therefore, God gives them up or over to their sinful desires. Notice who walks away first. It isn’t God, it’s mankind.
The first step is sexual impurity. In our nation this started with the sexual revolution in the 1960s. Phrases such as “free love” and “doing your own thing” were common. Rock music of the era latched on to this theme. Love the One You’re With by Stephen Stills summed up the thought of the era. During this phase the affects on the people are rather muted. Christian influence was still rather strong; nevertheless, the seeds to further decay had been sown.
The first phase is complete. What happens next? (Notice each step of the way people reject God and while He wants to be in relationship with mankind, mankind says no, so God releases them gradually all the while calling for them to come back to Him.) Paul goes on to state:
Romans 1:25-27 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
The sexual revolution leads to further sexual perversion. Mankind rejects God and His ways regarding morality. Sexual perversion becomes accepted.
As my children used to say on a long car trip, “Are we there yet?” Objectively speaking I’d have to say yes. Many of the television sitcoms have gay characters. The lifestyle is applauded and approved. The consequences of the gay lifestyle are intentionally hidden. This article from the Family Research Council lays out many of the consequences. While you may object to the source, the article is heavily footnoted to governmental research sites. The effects range from HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases to cancer and mental illness. It isn’t politically correct to object to someone’s lifestyle but the health risks are enormous. (As a footnote to this thought, if the government was consistent in its thought process, it should adamantly oppose the gay lifestyle for the costs it imposes on the health care system alone.)
Once these two phases occur in society, what happens next? Paul tells us.
Romans 1:28-32 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Every kind of evil and wickedness become the norm in society. Society becomes increasingly unstable. I could write many a post on greed alone; the greed on Wall Street to Washington D.C. The out of control spending and borrowing bankrupting our nation is well documented. Our cities are filled with envy and murder. Home invasions leading to murder are common. People become arrogant. They become senseless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. Do you recognize any of these trends in America today? Lawful citizens are forced to protect themselves from increasing violence as the police no longer are able to respond. Even those that do wrong approve of others who practice wickedness and violence.
Laid out before us is the progression of society away from God outlined in three understandable steps. Each step leads to further steps away from God. Each step leads to more instability. The acts listed in verses 28 to 32 will become more and more common as the disease grows and spreads.
There are organizations in our country who reject the tenets of Christianity but desire a peaceful, functioning society where all men are treated equally. They want do not want the United States to be considered a “Christian” nation. They want to reject God (and salvation through his son Jesus) but still reap the rewards of a society heavily influenced by Christianity. They have the choice to reject God but it doesn’t appear a peaceful society can be maintained without a strong Christian influence, at least not according to Paul.
So, what do we do with this?
First, individually we must lead Christian lives and raise our children to do the same. The influences of society are heavy but it starts at home.
Second, we must become educated and be prepared to loving teach and share Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
This is not a call to hate. It is not a call to disrespect people where they are. It is a call to be open with people and to be approachable with the love of Jesus Christ. If Christians are not approachable, where do hurting and fallen people go when their lives are wrecked by sin? We have to be the conduit to Jesus who saves. If we are mean spirited and angry our witness for Christ is worthless!
If we do these two things, society will take care of itself. Or rather, God will take care of us!
What is the Gospel and How Does it Affect My Life
