Crumbling Foundations - Part 2 of 2

This month's Grape Leaves continues the discussion on the cause and effect of crumbling social foundations. The "anything goes" or "it's all good" mentality is chipping away at the values, structure, and boundaries of civilized society. Last month, part 1 dealt with the problem. This month, part 2 offers options for responding to this social deterioration.

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Crumbling Foundations Part 2

Clearly, the foundation of western civilization is rapidly crumbling throughout the world. Governments are rejecting the absolutes of Judeo-Christian principles. Being politically correct (PC) is preferable to being ethical and moral. Religious, especially Christian, institutions are declining as public opinion turns against them and the standards they have upheld. Declining church attendance has resulted in church buildings being sold as social halls, tourist information centers, purveyors of ghost tours, and gothic temples of the macabre. They're even being converted into private homes and offices. All too often, even when a congregation is still active within the walls of a church, there is more pomp and circumstance than spirit and faith. If this was merely the condition of the buildings that would be an unalarming loss, but the fact of the matter is that it is part and parcel with the spiritual decline of western society. The church is in dire need of resuscitation! If it fails to stand up and strengthen what remains of civilization's foundation, society will crumble into utter chaos right along with every congregation around the globe.

But there are missionaries, of a sort, who are attempting to bridge the gap between those who have faith and those who do not. These missionary spend their weeks learning to fit into the culture; working with interfaith programs (in the broadest sense); attempting to hide the fact that they believe in a singular God and a single path to fellowship with God. Every effort is made in such groups - whether missionary, congregational, or individual - to avoid offending someone. Because if the general public learned that they believed in absolutes, their cover would be blown and the opportunity to witness would be gone. But the opportunity to witness to what?! I've heard such watering-down of the Gospel referred to as being a Seeker Friendly approach to evangelism. When the Gospel message is adapted to the point that it is palatable to anyone and everyone, there is no Gospel message left. The Gospel is supposed to offend and confront us with the fact that we are sinners who fail on our own to live morally and ethically before God our creator. But right there in that one sentence I have offended:

1.      Those who believe the Gospel is merely a nice morality tale, and literary contribution from the religious community.

2.      Those who believe that to offend or confront is the greatest wrong and that all ways and all paths are of equal value.

3.      Those who do not believe in sin and embrace the freedom of all people to live as they see fit for themselves so long as they do not impose their way on others.

4.      Those who do not believe in God, gods, or any power greater than nature.

5.      Those who do not believe in God, gods, or any power greater than humanity.

6.      Those who do not believe in God, gods, or any power greater than one's own individual power.

7.      Those who believe in a greater power yet are offended by attempts to identify or characterize that power in any particular way.

8.      Those who believe in a greater power but not in the act of creation, only in the randomness of the universe and its innate ability to arbitrarily bring existence into existence.

Such watering-down of the Truth is contributing to the stabilization of society how? When those who profess to know Truth refuse to support Truth, what chance does civilization have to remain? Who will stand and say right is right and wrong is wrong? Too often Followers (which is PC lingo for Christians) avoid such conversations or interaction claiming that their only focus is on faith issues and that they do not participate in social, political, or governmental issues. This complacent attempt to compartmentalize faith apart from the rest of one's life is at the heart of civilization's decline. When Christ told His disciples to feed the poor that was more than a religious action, it was social (Matt. 25.35-40). When He told us to pray for our leaders and to pay them our taxes, it was more than religious behavior, it involved politics and government (Matt. 5.44 & Mark 12.17). And when He told us to go into the entire world and proclaim the Gospel He was commanding us to confront the world with His Truth, for He is the Truth (Matt. 28.19-20 & John 14.6). True faith cannot be lived in isolation. The fact that so many persist in living this way is the reason for the absence of absolutes in society. Isolationist Christians have helped turn the solid foundation of western civilization into pulverized sand.

I said earlier that the foundations of the ancient buildings I recently visited had been maintained and repaired over the years. Here the parallel between the structural and the social emerges again. Foundations, even the most sound and sure, may fall into neglect. It is not the fault of the original foundation if it was firmly grounded. It is the fault of those responsible for tending to it. Disciples of Jesus Christ have the responsibility of tending the foundation of civilization. It is our responsibility to shore up Truth; to shore up law and order founded on God's Word; to shore up society's expectation of and commitment to absolutes. If everything is permissible, there is no order. When there is no order, there is anarchy. And when anarchy rules, chaos and collapse follow close behind.

What then must we do? We must recommit ourselves to the Truth. We must recommit ourselves to law and order founded on Judeo-Christian standards. We must fight to retain the Ten Commandments in principal, practice, and in public display. We must refuse to succumb to the liberal absolute that demands everyone accept everyone else's standards - except the standard of Truth, which is in their opinion too narrow. We must live and communicate compassionately but with uncompromising commitment to the Truth. And we must never forget that the only foundation that will stand is the foundation grounded on the Rock.

Allow me to close with a quote from John the Revelator. How appropriate his words are for our world at this point in history.

Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent.

Revelation 3.2-3

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - please email us or use the Comment form to share your responses.

Do you think the "anything goes" mentality is consistent with Christianity? How is it or isn't it?

How can followers of Christ respond to declining social values?

What are the defining values and morals in your community and how satisfied are you with them?