Surviving the Perfect Storm
by Michael Brown
It is a very interesting time to be a Christian in America. We are a country with such a rich heritage of Christian (or Christian-like) belief and practice. The county’s founding fathers are largely considered to have been Christian men. The historical documents that have shaped and or reflected our country are laced with Christian principles. Yet, despite all of this, we are in a quagmire of debate as to what it means to be a good Christian today.
Why the predicament? There are many proposed answers to this question, and each has some merit. I would suggest that we have come to the perfect storm. The tempests of political correctness, relativism, and religious pluralism have stealthily converged upon the Christian world. This perfect storm has Christians reeling with questions as to how to react to the shifting sands of our time. These questions have to do with what constitutes moral and ethical behavior, can judgment be passed on anything, and is Jesus just a nice option in the pursuit of spiritual life. These are stressful times for many of us, and some seek refuge in the Christian world of yesteryear. It’s not that earlier expressions of Christian America were perfect – for they certainly weren’t. However, those older times did allow for a surer worldview.
The good news is that we can weather this storm. The challenging news is that it will not be easy. Christianity is not now nor has ever been a lazy faith system. It has always required sober thinking in utilizing God’s word to combat opposing thoughts and ideas. God’s Old Covenant people were called to Him in the midst of a religiously pluralistic and relativistic world that had its own version of political correctness. Their challenge was to follow after Him based upon His very nature – of which standard the Law was but a reflection. Now God’s New Covenant people are being called to keep focused on His nature – as shown in Christ though the Bible - as the means for conducting themselves within an eerily similar world.
I’d humbly suggest that we not get caught up in the circumlocution of contemporary arguments of political correctness, relativism, and religious pluralism. I think we are better served to focus on the revealed nature of God – inclusive of His purity, love, and righteousness – as our basis for living in this country…in this world. This aides us in determining proper behavior. This gives us absolutes on which to stand. This points us to the only one who has personally revealed Him to world.
Stay Faithful!
Doc B.
Source [ http://michaelbrown.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/02/51129/surviving-the-perfect-storm ]