WIPnet.tv - The Boathouse - A Still Ripples Blog

Growing up, I was in a decidedly-Christian home, attending church every week (multiple times, actually), and knowing that God existed. With true childlike faith, I accepted what the Bible said, and in childlike innocence, assumed that everyone else did, too.

Unfortunately, we all have to grow up, and one of the first things to go seems to be naivety about many subjects.

Perhaps I should be embarrassed about this, but it is the truth. My assumption that everyone around me believes the way I do and accepts the same truths that I do has only recently (in my 30+ years) begun to come into question. I spent much of my 20s living in "the bubble": attending church, the BSM (Baptist Student Ministry) at the local junior college, and spending time with my "Christian" friends. I had nothing come along to challenge my perception that all was right with the world; that everyone shared -- or at least accepted -- my beliefs, and that confrontation about such things would be minimal throughout my life.

But something eventually changed. I don't know how, or when, but I one day learned and accepted the truth -- that I am in the minority. Most people in our country -- including those that call themselves "Christians" -- do not share my beliefs. They don't accept that the Bible is God's special revelation, written by men inspired directly by God to teach us about His character and how to emulate Him. They don't accept that Jesus was the begotten Son of God, and that He was sacrificed for our sins so that we could have a right and proper relationship with the Father. They don't even accept that they have ever done anything wrong. They throw out words like "hater," "bigot," "fundamentalist," and "Bible-thumper."

Don't misunderstand me -- this is not a diatribe about going out and "living in the world;" I am thankful for the things God has sheltered me from in my life. This is about all of us, as believers in Christ, being prepared for what our country has become.

You see, from what I have observed -- and perhaps my vision is more myopic than I realize -- but from what I have observed, Christians, in general, in our country, seem to live "in the bubble" more than they might want to admit. There seems to be this concept that each of us can just go on about our daily lives, believing what we believe, and no one will ever come along to bother us. After all, we live in a Christian nation, right?

I would argue -- and I know that many will disagree with me -- that we, in fact, are living in a post-Christian nation. I am not just talking about the whole "gay marriage" debate these past few months; this is much bigger than that. Christianity is actively discriminated against in our nation, and it seems to be the last acceptable form of that attitude. Listen to what the policeman in the following video has to say about open-air preaching (whether you agree with that method of sharing the Gospel, or not, the point of this video is still valid):

(or, if you prefer, a shorter version from Wretched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=527rFvqonJk )

Many of the comments this deputy makes reflect that of the plurality in our country: that we have freedom of speech, but not if that includes saying things that annoy people, or make them uncomfortable, or goes against the "accepted narrative" that the populace has adopted.

My purpose in pointing this out is that we, as Christians, are going to have to answer some tough questions moving forward in our lives, mostly between us and God. What exactly do we believe, and are we willing to stand up for it when challenged? It's easy to say that we believe something strongly enough to defend it when confronted when our rights and laws support our decision, but what about when they do not? I believe the time is coming -- and in some parts of the country is already here -- when we will have to make those decisions knowing that the law and "system" are not on our side, and we could face real, serious consequences from our choice to stand firm in our faith.

Should we be surprised by these developments? No. Christ Himself said, "Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you... They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me." (John 15:20b & 21, NLT) This is not new. Christians have been persecuted from the beginning of the religion. We in America have largely been spared this, especially compared to our brethren in countries such as China, North Korea, and the recent incidents in Africa. But our time of being isolated from true persecution may be coming to an end. Perhaps it will not reach the levels of those other countries within our lifetimes, but the shift has already begun.

I encourage you, fellow believer, to take the time now, while our freedoms are still (mostly) intact, to decide how important certain aspects of your faith are to you. How much are you willing to compromise to continue to "fit in" with your friends? Your co-workers? Your family members? Which "fights" are you willing to have in defense of your faith? I feel that this is important to think about, if only so that you will become more aware of your surroundings and the world we now live in.

We are all in this together, with Christ as the head of our congregation, so we know that we will be successful in the end. May God bless you and keep you.