Good article, Sarah. Christians have always faced enemies, clear enemies who make no attempt to hide their animosity toward Christ, the gospel, and the Church. These have proved serious enough. Paul relates his suffering at the hands of enemies in II Corinthians 11, which included beatings, stoning, and prison. And as Christ was betrayed…
Good article, Sarah. Christians have always faced enemies, clear enemies who make no attempt to hide their animosity toward Christ, the gospel, and the Church. These have proved serious enough. Paul relates his suffering at the hands of enemies in II Corinthians 11, which included beatings, stoning, and prison. And as Christ was betrayed by Judas, Paul notes that he also suffered betrayals from false brothers. I would say that betrayals from those who claim to be among us represent the most stinging enemies that we encounter.
Over the past several years, the Barna Group has reported the results of its Worldview Survey. These results have recorded a steady decline in the number of Americans who hold a biblical worldview—particularly Americans who identify as Christians and attend church regularly. A growing number of Christians accept the idea of “karma” and affirm that all people pray to the same God no matter how such people identify deity. In addition, more and more Christians identify with naturalistic beliefs about the nature of reality, beliefs that characterize their secular neighbors. These beliefs include a rejection of absolute truth, the embrace of moral relativism, and even the acceptance of a Marxist analysis of history and society.
Brooke Hempell, senior vice president of research for Barna, explains what his years-long research shows, “This research really crystalizes what Barna has been tracking in our country as an ongoing shift away from Christianity as the basis for a shared worldview. We have observed and reported on increasing pluralism, relativism, and moral decline among Americans and even in the Church. Nevertheless, it is striking how pervasive some of these beliefs are among people who are actively engaged in the Christian faith.” https://www.barna.com/research/competing-worldviews-influence-todays-christians/
Christians still encounter bitter opposition from those who despise the Judeo-Christian tradition. Anti-Semitism is not only on the rise, but so is an anti-Christian bias that often drips with bitter animus toward any public expression of faith. At the same time, a growing number who identify as Christians are likely to oppose orthodox moral beliefs as bigoted and out of touch. That is, we see Christians who deny any aspect of the orthodox Christian faith inconsistent with their beliefs and lifestyles. We find Catholics in positions of power, for example, who accept and even promote elective abortion despite the Church's teaching. And those who disagree? Well, they are simply bigots who seek only to oppress women and exclude diversity.
For another example, Grace Semler Baldridge, the openly queer performer known simply as Semler on stage, saw her 2001 album, Preacher’s Kid, go to number one on iTunes Christian Music Chart, and her song, Faith, hit number one this year. For yet another example, last June, the drag performer, Flamy Grant, appeared in a music video for Christian musician Derek Webb’s song “Boys Will Be Girls,” which is an ode to queer "Christians" mistreated by the Christian community that refuses to accept them. And there seems to be, apparently, an enthusiastic Christian audience for this message.
Both of these performers identify as Christians, yet both demand that they be accepted within the Christian community despite their denial of Christian moral values. It’s not that they wish simply to be left alone to pursue their lifestyles. Not at all. No one is stopping them. But they want more. Their quest is for the entire Christian faith to change in order to accommodate them. That orthodox Christians do not accept their lifestyles is hurtful, damaging, and immoral. A Christian faith that opposes the LGBTQ+ agenda is, in their view, a cruel affront to man and to God. The implication? They are the victims, and all of Christianity must change. Forget Scripture and doctrine, Semler and Flamy Grant will tell you what God’s moral views are. And unless Christians gleefully celebrate their sexual proclivities, we are guilty of denying God’s inclusiveness and love. Despite their denial of Christian doctrine relative to human sexuality, they still demand to be included as part of the Christian faith. That very demand is an aggressive and hostile repudiation of Christian belief. Yet they are the ones who claim to be victims. This message echoes Paul’s words about false brethren, as well as his warnings about false doctrine. Paul is clear that we have enemies from within.
As Christians, we offer the message of the gospel to all. But we also recognize that not all will respond. Some of these will become bitter and open enemies of the gospel. Scripture tells us this will happen. But Scripture also tells us that some who have identified with us will eventually turn against the Church. They will show themselves to be wolves who will teach false doctrines and who will lead others away from the gospel. These are also enemies. Paul, in fact, has stern words for them in Galatians (NAB), “As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!” We must, therefore, be aware of those enemies who oppose the Christian faith claiming to be our brothers and sisters, as well as those who oppose the gospel as open enemies.
Good article, Sarah. Christians have always faced enemies, clear enemies who make no attempt to hide their animosity toward Christ, the gospel, and the Church. These have proved serious enough. Paul relates his suffering at the hands of enemies in II Corinthians 11, which included beatings, stoning, and prison. And as Christ was betrayed by Judas, Paul notes that he also suffered betrayals from false brothers. I would say that betrayals from those who claim to be among us represent the most stinging enemies that we encounter.
Over the past several years, the Barna Group has reported the results of its Worldview Survey. These results have recorded a steady decline in the number of Americans who hold a biblical worldview—particularly Americans who identify as Christians and attend church regularly. A growing number of Christians accept the idea of “karma” and affirm that all people pray to the same God no matter how such people identify deity. In addition, more and more Christians identify with naturalistic beliefs about the nature of reality, beliefs that characterize their secular neighbors. These beliefs include a rejection of absolute truth, the embrace of moral relativism, and even the acceptance of a Marxist analysis of history and society.
Brooke Hempell, senior vice president of research for Barna, explains what his years-long research shows, “This research really crystalizes what Barna has been tracking in our country as an ongoing shift away from Christianity as the basis for a shared worldview. We have observed and reported on increasing pluralism, relativism, and moral decline among Americans and even in the Church. Nevertheless, it is striking how pervasive some of these beliefs are among people who are actively engaged in the Christian faith.” https://www.barna.com/research/competing-worldviews-influence-todays-christians/
Christians still encounter bitter opposition from those who despise the Judeo-Christian tradition. Anti-Semitism is not only on the rise, but so is an anti-Christian bias that often drips with bitter animus toward any public expression of faith. At the same time, a growing number who identify as Christians are likely to oppose orthodox moral beliefs as bigoted and out of touch. That is, we see Christians who deny any aspect of the orthodox Christian faith inconsistent with their beliefs and lifestyles. We find Catholics in positions of power, for example, who accept and even promote elective abortion despite the Church's teaching. And those who disagree? Well, they are simply bigots who seek only to oppress women and exclude diversity.
For another example, Grace Semler Baldridge, the openly queer performer known simply as Semler on stage, saw her 2001 album, Preacher’s Kid, go to number one on iTunes Christian Music Chart, and her song, Faith, hit number one this year. For yet another example, last June, the drag performer, Flamy Grant, appeared in a music video for Christian musician Derek Webb’s song “Boys Will Be Girls,” which is an ode to queer "Christians" mistreated by the Christian community that refuses to accept them. And there seems to be, apparently, an enthusiastic Christian audience for this message.
Both of these performers identify as Christians, yet both demand that they be accepted within the Christian community despite their denial of Christian moral values. It’s not that they wish simply to be left alone to pursue their lifestyles. Not at all. No one is stopping them. But they want more. Their quest is for the entire Christian faith to change in order to accommodate them. That orthodox Christians do not accept their lifestyles is hurtful, damaging, and immoral. A Christian faith that opposes the LGBTQ+ agenda is, in their view, a cruel affront to man and to God. The implication? They are the victims, and all of Christianity must change. Forget Scripture and doctrine, Semler and Flamy Grant will tell you what God’s moral views are. And unless Christians gleefully celebrate their sexual proclivities, we are guilty of denying God’s inclusiveness and love. Despite their denial of Christian doctrine relative to human sexuality, they still demand to be included as part of the Christian faith. That very demand is an aggressive and hostile repudiation of Christian belief. Yet they are the ones who claim to be victims. This message echoes Paul’s words about false brethren, as well as his warnings about false doctrine. Paul is clear that we have enemies from within.
As Christians, we offer the message of the gospel to all. But we also recognize that not all will respond. Some of these will become bitter and open enemies of the gospel. Scripture tells us this will happen. But Scripture also tells us that some who have identified with us will eventually turn against the Church. They will show themselves to be wolves who will teach false doctrines and who will lead others away from the gospel. These are also enemies. Paul, in fact, has stern words for them in Galatians (NAB), “As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!” We must, therefore, be aware of those enemies who oppose the Christian faith claiming to be our brothers and sisters, as well as those who oppose the gospel as open enemies.