October 9, 2013

The following excerpts are from the blog “The Times They Are a Changin. And —?” on Joe Dallas’s website: “But it’s not just the culture that’s shifting. I’m honestly starting to think we have two general Christian populations, co-existing and sometimes overlapping, both claiming to be evangelical Bible believers but not really on the same page. One is black and white regarding scripture, so its doctrinal and moral views are traditional and predictable. The other claims a Biblical base and does, in fact, acknowledge the Bible. But it gets fuzzy on questions of what salvation is and why it’s needed, what awaits us in the next life, and what’s moral versus what’s not. The first group prizes objective truth; the second says truth matters but, in fact, seems to primarily value experience. The first emphasizes the Word; the second considers any form of judging to be among the worst of crimes. And it’s not hard to guess which group gets the most and loudest kudos from the world.”

“So today, if you hold to traditional views of marriage and family, or take Jesus literally when He presents Himself as the only way to the Father, or view man as essentially sinful rather than inherently good, or warn about a future place of judgment, then you’re part of an ever-shrinking minority. Some – many? – believers who used to agree with you have now evolved in their thinking and adopted a more “enlightened” Christianity. Psychologists and educators consider you backwards, activists say you’re dangerous, comedians use you for new material, and many people sincerely believe you’re hateful.”

“… I don’t want to fight. I hate arguing, I think controversy’s exhausting, and I’ve no interest in doing battle with believers or non-believers holding different views than mine. But more than ever I’m also aware how impossible it is to cleave to truth without having to, at some point, contend for the faith (Jude 1:3) be ready to give an answer for the hope that’s in me (I Peter 3:15) and hold fast to what is good. (II Thessalonians 5:21) Things are progressing, for sure. But not all progress is good, since you can make progress towards a cliff just as surely as you can progress towards the promised land. Times change; He doesn’t. And the terms and truths He’s set down are not subject to opinion polls. So God grant us a patient and unwavering spirit, a deeper rooting and grounding in truth, and more of the spirit which inspired Martin Luther to say, during his own: ‘My conscience is held captive by the Word of God. And to act against conscience is neither right nor safe.’”