Excellent! The question remains: how long will we tolerate this slow but seemingly sure takeover? Or is it too late? But then, there's God's sovereignty to consider. Just as He used Israel's enemies - the Assyrians and Babylonians - to violently defeat and conquer Israel because of its sins against Him, why should we (US citizens in general) expect His mercy and spare us? We are already in His judgment, as the increasing moral decay is the result of Him withdrawing His restraining hand upon wicked man, a wicked nation.
But, as you faithful pastors have repeatedly exhorted us, what we as Christians do know is that God is just and good and whatever He ordains is right. We must not give up praying for revival and a spiritual awakening, not only for this country but globally. And we must consistently abide in Him, no matter what.
Hello brother - I'm a recent RBS graduate and grateful for your work there to make solid Baptist education available to men around the country.
I appreciate this article and your frank identification of a real problem. But I must admit, in light of this problem, your rejection of Christian Nationalism is confusing to me (just basing that on the RBNet roundtable discussion). It seems to me that defending "the West" is too vague - we (Christian, American men) must actually defend America and distinguish America from that which is not American. We have to identify what an American is (which obviously must exclude Islam and include Christianity) and then be willing to defend the American people and way of life in order to preserve the Christian heritage that we have received.
You admit that the strength of Islam comes from the fact that it has a clear established, "We believe in this," whereas Western countries lack that clarity. In my view, Christian Nationalism reintroduces the "this" to the West. As Western nations, we believe in "this" - Christianity. It would be good and right to reintroduce Christianity formally into our system of government. The attempt at a religiously neutral civil government has been a key factor in the deracination of the West, because by definition such a government is forbidden from imposing Christian norms on Christian grounds. If, in your view, Christian Nationalism is not a viable (or biblically permissible) route toward the goal of reestablishing a robust Western identity, then what practical route ought we to pursue? Of course, the role of the church is faithful preaching, calling to repentance, etc. - but what does God require of the civil magistrate in this situation?
Make the argument that "Christian principles" are a secular public good. Argue on their turf.
Start small, policies that incentivize marriage, make adultery something that has an actual penalty in the divorce. I used to work with fairly liberal attorneys and they all agreed that divorce was too easy in my state. Recognize why Christendom declined and the issues that led to the change and actually try to chart a better way forward. E.g. No-Fault Divorce was advocated for because so many women were trapped in marriages of domestic violence and proving it in court was untenable. How do get people married, stop their divorces without causing real suffering?
Excellent! The question remains: how long will we tolerate this slow but seemingly sure takeover? Or is it too late? But then, there's God's sovereignty to consider. Just as He used Israel's enemies - the Assyrians and Babylonians - to violently defeat and conquer Israel because of its sins against Him, why should we (US citizens in general) expect His mercy and spare us? We are already in His judgment, as the increasing moral decay is the result of Him withdrawing His restraining hand upon wicked man, a wicked nation.
But, as you faithful pastors have repeatedly exhorted us, what we as Christians do know is that God is just and good and whatever He ordains is right. We must not give up praying for revival and a spiritual awakening, not only for this country but globally. And we must consistently abide in Him, no matter what.
Hello brother - I'm a recent RBS graduate and grateful for your work there to make solid Baptist education available to men around the country.
I appreciate this article and your frank identification of a real problem. But I must admit, in light of this problem, your rejection of Christian Nationalism is confusing to me (just basing that on the RBNet roundtable discussion). It seems to me that defending "the West" is too vague - we (Christian, American men) must actually defend America and distinguish America from that which is not American. We have to identify what an American is (which obviously must exclude Islam and include Christianity) and then be willing to defend the American people and way of life in order to preserve the Christian heritage that we have received.
You admit that the strength of Islam comes from the fact that it has a clear established, "We believe in this," whereas Western countries lack that clarity. In my view, Christian Nationalism reintroduces the "this" to the West. As Western nations, we believe in "this" - Christianity. It would be good and right to reintroduce Christianity formally into our system of government. The attempt at a religiously neutral civil government has been a key factor in the deracination of the West, because by definition such a government is forbidden from imposing Christian norms on Christian grounds. If, in your view, Christian Nationalism is not a viable (or biblically permissible) route toward the goal of reestablishing a robust Western identity, then what practical route ought we to pursue? Of course, the role of the church is faithful preaching, calling to repentance, etc. - but what does God require of the civil magistrate in this situation?
Make the argument that "Christian principles" are a secular public good. Argue on their turf.
Start small, policies that incentivize marriage, make adultery something that has an actual penalty in the divorce. I used to work with fairly liberal attorneys and they all agreed that divorce was too easy in my state. Recognize why Christendom declined and the issues that led to the change and actually try to chart a better way forward. E.g. No-Fault Divorce was advocated for because so many women were trapped in marriages of domestic violence and proving it in court was untenable. How do get people married, stop their divorces without causing real suffering?