Some Historical Perspective – Part 1
“The Christian Church today often has an inferiority complex. A few generations ago the pastor of a church was the most educated and respected leader in the community. There was a day when, because of this cultural situation, the Church exercised the predominant influence in the structure of Western community life. That day has long passed. We have often felt that the world has thrust the Church into a corner and passed us by. The Church does not count in the world at large. The United Nations is not calling upon the Church for advice in the solution of its problems. Our political leaders do not often depend upon leaders in the Church for their guidance. Science, industry, labour, education: these are the circles where wisdom and leadership are usually sought. The Church is brushed aside. Sometimes we get the feeling that we really do not count. We are on the margin of influence, we have been pushed over on to the periphery instead of standing squarely in the centre; and we pity ourselves and long for the world to pay attention to us. Thus we fall into a defensive attitude and attempt to justify our existence. Indeed, our main concern seems often to be that of self-preservation, and we assume a defeatist interpretation of our significance and of our role in the world!”
When was that paragraph written? In 1959. At the end of a decade which modern people tend to think was a great decade for being pro-family, pro-morals, pro-Christianity. It was written by Dr. George Ladd in his book The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God.
Following the Supreme Court ruling on June 26th that legalized homosexual marriages, it is easy to believe that that date marks the beginning of the end of Christianity in America, the beginning of the end of the United States of America. Even self-professed Christians have begun playing taps, even suggesting this decision must mean that the world is going to end soon. How can God let this stuff go on any longer!!!
Let’s take a breath and get some historical perspective. Certainly, the United States of America has been (and still is in many ways) a wonderful contribution to the history of mankind. America has been wealthy and very productive, blessed by God, because her leaders largely blessed God, in giving Him credit for her successes.
But the United States is an aberration in the 8,000+ year history of mankind. The United States of America and its largely pro-Christian history is a historical fluke. The overall thrust of human history is antagonism and animosity of the world against believers in God. Think of the Philistines, Canaanites, Moabites, Midianites, Ammonites. God’s people have usually and historically been a persecuted minority.
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Think of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. The church of Christ was established during the days of the Roman Empire when immorality was as widespread if not more than in the U. S. today. The church grew and thrived in an immoral environment. In fact, it was because the Empire was so immoral that Christianity attracted many people.
Following the Roman Empire, we have the Holy Roman Empire and Christianity was still the persecuted minority. The Ottoman Empire. Even during the Protestant Reformation movement, in each country which developed a state religion, New Testament Christianity was still the persecuted minority.
The rest and reprieve that Christianity has had in the United States of America for the past 239 years has been the exception, not the rule, in 8,000 years of human history.
Let us thank God for that; vote in ways that will return to that; but keep our hearts and eyes focused on Christ’s Nation (see 1 Peter 2:9). More perspective coming soon…
–Paul Holland
