Newsweek declares Christianity a dying faith: Are they right?

Friedrich Nietzsche slew God with a pen. Newsweek is now killing Christianity with the internet. An April 7th article on Newsweek.com, titled “The End of Christian America” declared that Christianity is a dying faith, and that the number of self-proclaimed Christians has decreased by 10 points in the last two decades. While the sentiment that America is a “Christian” nation has faded, and drones of Americans declare their religious affiliation as non-Christian, there has also been a surprising surge in new believers and churches across the country. Christian virtues and morals no longer dictate political policy making; however, the Christian ethic remains a driving force in our society.

Dr. Timothy Keller, founder and head pastor of The Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has much to say on the topic of the current state of Christianity in America. Dr. Keller is a world renown apologist and thinker, who reaches out just as much to non-believers as he does believers. In fact, The Redeemer’s 5,000 member congregation is made up of 35% non-believers. Why do drones of secular New  Yorkers fill Redeemer’s services to capacity every Sunday? The answer lies behind Dr. Keller’s intellectual and cross-cultural approach to delivering sermons – a style that is both non-offensive to those on the fence, and enlightening to even the most ardent opponents of Christianity. The Redeemer is proof that large numbers of secular Americans are heading to churches to fill voids left by agnosticism, antitheism and atheism.

In his book ‘The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism’, Dr. Keller presents a case not frequently substantiated by popular media. Keller outlines a world that is “getting both more religious and less religious at the same time”. While he acknowleges up front that the non-churchgoing population in the US is increasing, he also points out that Christianity is growing, even in unexpected circles, such as the intellectual elite.“And dispite the secularism of most universities and colleges, religious faith is growing in some corners of academia. It is estimated that 10 to 25 percent of all the teachers and professors of philosophy in the country are orthodox Christians, up from less than 1 percent just thirty years ago.”, says Keller. He goes on to add, “There was once a confident belief that secular European countries were the harbingers for the rest of the world. Religion, it was thought, would thin out from its more robust, supernaturalistic forms or die out altogether. But the theory that technological advancement brings inevitable secularization is now being scrapped or radically rethought.”

Liberal media sources, such as Newsweek, have repeatedly tried (in vain) to debunk Christianity as an archaic fairytale, believed only by the naive. For example, Newsweek has been heavily advertising a DVD titled ‘The God Who Wasn’t There’, which they say, “irreverently lays out the case that Jesus Christ never existed.” While the notion of swaying the world to believe that the 2,000+ year old riddle of Jesus has been effectively and convincingly answered by a 90 minute DVD, produced by one of the most biased and one-sided media sources on the planet, is a dream to the Richard Dawkins of the world. But its simply not going to work. Holy Blood, Holy Grail, The DaVinci Code, The Last Tomb of Christ – we’ve been there, done that. As Dr. Tim Keller suggests, “…each side should accept that both religious belief and skepticism are on the rise…the time for making elegant dismissive gestures toward the other side is past…something more is now required.”

That “something more” is the bravery to doubt our own convictions, to thoroughly research the position of our opponents, and to only then make fair and sound conclusions based on the evidence. In short, stop the blind finger pointing. We’re fueling a culture war, waged by popular media, religious extremists and false prophets. We must learn  to respectfully coexist, or it’s going to destroy our great nation.

Dodging Arrows

Put on “The Armor of God” and protect yourself from spiritual warfare

As Christians we must be in the business of dodging arrows. Surely we will get stuck by a few – and some are poisonous – but we must battle on for the good of the Kingdom. In the lifelong battle against spiritual warfare, Satan is in constant pursuit and makes sure to throw an arrow or two in our direction when we least expect it. Luckily, our God has given us some spiritual armor to protect our hearts, minds and souls. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul goes into detail about the various armor pieces that are essential to fight against evil, but the big idea is that we need God’s protection and guidance to have a fighting chance in the battle for our hearts.

In Psalm 91:3-5, the psalmist encourages us not to fear the presence or power of Satan. “He [God] will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

In Ephesians 6:10-17, Paul tells us to “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”

What are these “arrows” that Satan hurls in our direction, and how do we know when we’ve been hit? Let’s explore this terrifying yet very real battle and find out how to win more than we lose. We are a fallen race, and sin is without question, but with God on our side we can learn to fend off the attacks and come out on top.

What are arrows and how do I recognize them?
Arrows are Satan’s many deceitful lies and temptations, and they often times stick us in the weakest areas of our lives. They strike in the form of getting invited to happy hour when you’re trying to quit drinking; falling victim to lust while in a committed relationship or overspending when you are already deep in debt. Other notable “strikes” occur in the forms of jealously, envy, anger, hatred, racism, sexism, greed, arrogance, insecurity and fear. Arrows can be summed up as anything that attempts to pull you away from loving and obeying God.

The most important thing to remember is that Satan is alive and well, even in the lives of Christians. Whether you’ve recently given your life to Jesus or have known him for 30 years, the battle will never cease and sin will always seek to gain a stronghold. Many modern Churches do not preach or emphasize the power of Satan and the vicious destruction that evil causes in the world, but this is not due to a lack of evil. Many pastors and churches simply preach a watered down Gospel that speaks only of God’s love and the ever loving Jesus, who is all-accepting and all-inclusive. The truth is that God is also a God of wrath and judgment, and when his all-mighty Son returns he will judge the world by fire. Jesus is all-inviting but is only inclusive of those who believe in his divinity and obediently follow his commandments.

Anticipate the arrows and always be on the defensive
Spiritual warfare and attacks from the evil one are not a potential, they are an absolute for any Christ-loving Christian. With some practice and keen observation we can learn to anticipate how sin will tempt you. Remember, Satan is a master at exploiting our weaknesses and uses our character flaws to destroy us. Always be on the defensive and watch out for flying arrows of temptation. The moment you conquer one battle, another is bound to ensue, so never let your guard down because this is precisely when Satan will conveniently show up.

Put on God’s Armor
In Ephesians 6:13-18 the great exhorter, Paul, offers a means of protection “against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. The protection is The Armor of God. The following represents the arsenal of armor offered by Paul that he ensures will provide safety from spiritual warfare:

The belt of truth

The breastplate of righteousness

The shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one

The helmet of salvation

The sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word

Paul also tells us to keep our “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace” and to “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”.

It is interesting to note that all but one of Paul’s armor pieces are intended for defense. The sword of the Spirit is our only method of fighting back, but why is this? The reason is that the word of God is unchanging, unwaivering and all-powerful when used correctly. Learning, understanding and applying God’s word is the most powerful thing a Christian can do. For only then can we begin to comprehend how reliant we are to be on God and how his offering of Jesus Christ as a propitiation for original sin represents the ultimate defense against Satan’s powers. John 1:5 says “1.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was with God in the beginning. 3. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Notice that verse 2 adds a descriptor to the term “the Word”. The phrase “He was with God…” implies that “the Word” is a person, and from this we can easily assume the person John is referencing is Jesus. The power in this verse is quite amazing, as it explains the eternal presence of Jesus and his power to overcome “the darkness”. Learn to associate the Word with the Father, Son and Spirit and you will be ready to wield the sword effectively to combat the flaming arrows.

Petition to God through prayer
As with any relationship, communication is the key to developing strong bonds of trust and reliance. God gave us the ability to speak to him, in Jesus’ name, and he listens to our every request.  God demands our full attention and wants to know that we crave a personal and devout relationship with his Son, who was sent as a propitiation for the sins of human kind, which makes prayer an absolute essential part of the Christian walk. How much time do you spend each day in prayer? When you pray, what do you say? Jesus commanded “when you pray, use not vein repetitions, as the heathens do”.  His point: be intentional when you pray, and do it from the heart. God will not answer prayers that are prayed in vein or without faith, so meditate on what you are saying to your creator, and believe that God can move mountains through your petitioning.

For the purpose of relating prayer to dodging arrows, pray for God to protect your heart and mind from Satan’s attacks. Plea for forgiveness for your transgressions, and ask God to give you the courage and strength to become a spiritual warrior and to heal your battle wounds. Spend time in the word, work on your personal relationship with Jesus and pray for child-like faith. Through these means only will you be able to survive the life-long battle of spiritual warfare.

Was Jesus the First Feminist?

Jesus attempted to free women from insubordination

Many post-modern feminists blame their struggle for equal rights on the teachings of the Christian bible. They often quote the passage in the book of Genesis, that says “and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee”, claiming it to be a call for women to submit and be enslaved to the man. What feminists often forget, is this passage occurs shortly after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, thus bringing God’s wrath upon themselves. Eve’s punishment was childbirth and submission to her husband, while Adam’s punishment was a life of arduous physical labor. The proceeding age promulgated an unjust and cruel place in society for women. Until the time of Jesus, women had little to no rights, and were treated as mere property. Jewish Rabbis in the first century were encouraged not to teach or speak with women, and were taught that doing so was an evil act punishable by hell. Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus wrote that women are “in all things inferior to men”. It is unto this tremendously sexist society that Christianity made its debut.

Free at last
After spending some years in Egypt and then studying under Jewish Rabbis, Jesus began preaching around the villages and cities of Israel. The doctrine he preached; however, was nothing like the traditional Rabbis had ever heard. Jesus was radical and stirred the pot, constantly bringing into question the beliefs and methods of the Pharisees and Jewish lawmakers. He believed in the equality of all people and martyred himself for all, regardless of gender. The New Testament contains multiple instances of Jesus healing women; forgiving women of their sins and interacting with women of all ranks of society – even prostitutes. Jesus also had women disciples and apostles, and appeared first to a women (Mary Magdalene) upon rising from the dead. Women were not allowed to bear witness in a court of law, so when Christ appeared to Mary and told her to proclaim his resurrection, it acted as yet another ground breaking move that exhibited trust and acknowledgment of women.  In the context of how women were viewed in first century Israel, Jesus was doing the unimaginable! He was going against the grain, and dismantling the traditional roles of women in his culture.

Submit to one another
The apostle Paul’s statement in Galatians 3:38,  ”There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”,  is proof that any true follower of Christ and of the Christian faith, makes no distinction between the rights of men and women. Additionally, in Ephesians 5:21, Paul commands, “Submit to one another out of reverance for Christ”, and in 5:22, directs husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church”. The feminist view of Christianity stems from Old Testament stereotypes and fails to account for the New Testament and the new fundamental instructions inspired by Jesus.

A lesson learned
So who’s to blame for the years of oppression and subordination of women in a country like America, who’s founding fathers proclaimed that every citizen is “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”, including “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Many factors go into the equation, such as generations of misguided thought, irresponsible teaching, and arrogant and power hungry men, who wanted one race and gender to rule over the land.  True Christ loving Christians, on the other hand, are not to blame. Those who simultaneously called themselves Christians and forcefully supported the oppression of the female gender were not living a pure Christian life. A casual proclamation of one’s faith pale in comparison to actions, which always ring true. Humanism and the tendency for people to create their own version of the law, catering to what is convenient and essential to their personal gain, has been around forever. However, if humankind had followed the lead of Jesus, the past 2,000 years would have been quite harmonious and we would not have or need a feminist revolution.

The importance of recognizing and owning your sin

KNOW YOUR SINS AND SECURE SALVATION

Christians sometimes live life overly confident that they are “good” people and have sin under control. This is due mainly to a misconception of sin and its implications. Every human born after Adam and Eve has been a product of original sin and unworthy of God’s love, according to the Old Testament book of Genesis. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, they proved man not to be trustworthy and created the need for us to be forgiven of our sins through grace. The Ten Commandments serve as a basis for the old covenant in Israel; however, these ancient laws are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to moral behavior. There is much more to being a Christian and walking in the footsteps of Jesus than following the basic commandments. A look at the Gospel’s of the apostle Paul tell us much more about what types of actions are shameful and scorned in the eyes of God. The Seven Deadly Sins are not listed as a group in the Christian bible and are not referred to by this name; however, each of the sins are mentioned throughout the Bible and are dealt with in their own respective context. The Seven Deadly Sins were created by Pope St. Gregory the Great and are more commonly something that Catholics follow, but regardless of your denomination, it’s difficult to argue that God wouldn’t agree with these sins as being extremely detrimental to the human spirit.

Men’s Health recently published an on-line article stating that some of the deadly sins are “gender traits” and not signs that men are doing something wrong. This line of thinking excuses men from being held accountable and merely pushes their problems aside. Let’s say a wife says to her husband, “it’s ok to lust after other women, honey. All men do it and it’s just a natural gender trait, so go ahead and fantasize all you want.” The book of Matthew tells us that to lust with your eyes is to commit adultery in your heart, thus making it impossible to pass lust off as an excusable”gender trait”. Men must train their minds to think of women as women and not sexual icons of lustful gratification. Our problem is that men are stereotyped into being “bad guys”, always letting the little devil on their shoulder get the best of them. Actor Collin Ferrel recently graced the cover of a popular men’s magazine with the caption “Collin Ferrel drinks, smokes, has sex, and drinks some more!”. Apparently the creators of this ad think men are dirt and will be lured in by immorality, and they just may be right! Would a cover boasting a popular religious figure and a caption that says “helps old ladies cross the street and donates to charity” sell millions of magazines to young adults? Men have been trained that it’s good to be bad and are quick to take on the role of the rebellious male who is not contained by rules of society.

Browse the list of Seven Deadly Sins below and think about how they play a role in your life. Simple actions like gossip, little white lies, pride and vanity are not so innocent accordingly to the scripture. All sins are equal in the eyes of the Lord because each and every sin causes separation between us and his eternal blessing of love. The following list may make you feel ashamed or guilty and it may seem harsh, but do not feel ashamed if you have fallen victim to sin. Through the grace of God and the death of Christ we can all be forgiven if we repent whole heartedly through prayer.

Pride:

Psalms 12:3- May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue

Isaiah 2:12- The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled).

Also associated with arrogance, self-centeredness, and pretence, pride creates an attitude where you begin to care more about yourself than about others. Jesus tells us that our relations with other people are of the highest importance in the eyes of God; therefore, putting yourself above another human is sinful. In John 13:34, Jesus gives us a final order before his impending death: ” A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.“

Envy:

James 3:16- “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.“

Acts 13:45- “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.”

Envy comes in many forms. Whether it’s wishing you had a particular car or article of clothing, or desiring to attain a certain attribute or characteristic that isn’t a part of you, this trait only stems jealously and deprives you of self worth. Each life God creates is precious and amazing in itself. God alone should be enough to satisfy each and every craving in your life, which in turn means that envy gives God the impression you are not happy with the things he has provided you. If you are in a difficult situation or have come upon hard times, you probably haven’t sought out the right path to give you what you really want or need. “Seek and ye shall find.”

Gluttony:

Philippians 4:5-”Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand”.

Proverbs 23:19-21- says “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags”.

Gluttony can be perceived as overeating or simply doing anything in excess. Excess means “too much” and in turn means taking more than you need. America is currently under a spell of gluttony that has driven us into decay. Abuse of alcohol and food, and credit card debt are pure signs of gluttony that many of us will experience within our life time.

Lust:

Matthew 5:27-28- “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

I John 2:16-17-”For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Lust is any thought, whether provoked by the eye or the mind, in which we sexually desire another person, or crave something that is not good for us. Lust causes the mind to overpower the body and does not allow you to make rational decisions on the consequences of your actions.

Anger:

Matthew 5:21-22- “You have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not kill;’ and ‘Whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be in danger of the fire of hell”

James 1:20 – “the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.”

The dangers of anger are quite obvious and surround us each and every day. An irritable boss or teacher; road rage; disputes among family members; religious wars; and marital quarrels all stem from deep rooted anger.

Greed:

Luke 12:15- Once the greed-driven have acquired and protected, they begin to covet. They are not satisfied with all they have; their eye is on all that they don’t have. Luke 12:15

Ecclesiastes 5:12- This coveting begets more greed, the greed begets more selfishness, and the selfishness begets more coveting and so on to madness. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12

Greed is similar to envy in that it can cause you to take or want something simply for your pleasurable gain, regardless of the outcome. Would you rather spend money on yourself than help out a charity or buy a thoughtful gift for a family member?

Sloth:

Proverbs 12:27- The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.

Proverbs 12:24- The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Sloth or laziness is one of the most forgotten sins. The book of Proverbs has many examples of how the lazy or unmotivated will suffer as a result. Unemployment and disability are high in America, and the welfare system has taken over as a means of providing for those who choose not to provide for themselves.