A Long Time Coming

The changes we have seen in our culture over the past several years are not a new phenomenon. Whether it be the general attitude of people towards the existence of God, the shunning and isolation of Bible-preaching and Bible-believing Christians as "odd" or "outside" of the Christian norm, or the sheer shock of secularists when a believer dares to speak their mind without compromise -- this has all been done before.

In the United States, it can easily seem like our cultural changes only started within the last 15-20 years -- especially for people close to my age (32). I don't know if it's a type of nostalgia or seeing our childhood with rose-colored glasses. Perhaps, in my case, it's simply that my parents protected me from many things that children shouldn't have to worry about.

But the reality is that none of this is new -- it has only accelerated in recent years (and perhaps even that observation will be disproven in hindsight down the road). You can easily go back to the 1800s and see the same attacks, strategies, and cultural shifts attached to the introduction of Darwinian theory to the educational systems. The idea that Christians are somehow "stupid" simply because they don't accept the "loudest" opinion is an old, tested tactic -- and one that comes from the "go-to" strategy book for ideologically liberal politicians, Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, a book whose dedication page should give anyone pause:

“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history... the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer.” (source: http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm)

This all brings me to 2 videos I'd like to share, representing over 43 years of history:

The first is from December 1970, when the BBC aired an interview with Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones. This interview sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. Dr. Jones speaks about the cultural shift he sees in society, and, more specifically, the watered-down approaches he sees taking place within the Christian community itself. This is very eye-opening for someone my age, helping me to see that the problems that exist within the Church today have been there for a long time, festering and growing. Even in 1970, Dr. Jones' viewpoints are called out as being outside the norm for believers, yet, as far as I can tell, they represent Biblical truth at every step.

The second video is much more recent -- this last Tuesday, in fact (February 4, 2014). Bill Nye (The Science Guy) and Ken Ham, the head of the Creation Museum, debated about the creation of the Earth and the validity of the Biblical account vs. the generally-accepted scientific theory. Many of the same tactics discussed above are present here, and especially in any Bill Nye-supporter commentaries you may find on YouTube [such as MrRepzion's Thoughts (caution: contains adult language)]. The debate is very long, but it is worth your time -- especially if you want to hear the Creationist perspective summarized nicely with explanatory details.

In conclusion, the thing I would want a fellow believer to take away from this article is this: you are not alone. Christians throughout history have been persecuted for their faith -- some physically, even unto death; and many emotionally and within society. Be brave and stand up for what you believe in. God will honor those who remain faithful to Him and the Truth until we finish this race.

God bless,
Craig