Hello and welcome. I look on at our current world with incredulous amazement. I see the most extraordinary events like the historic attacks against the USA on 11 September 2001 and wonder why so many people are under the illusion that life can continue as usual since that event. Whether it’s Christians or others, many appear oblivious and don’t seem to want clarification as to what it all means. How could this be? One major reason is that much of the media downplays or ignores it in the interests of, among other things, multiculturalism. Thankfully there are also many, both Christians and non-Christians, who see deeper meaning in these events and are willing to speak out. A further reason for blindness to Islam’s threat is the lies that surround us on this and so many other issues. Non-familiarity with historical trends and even with the Bible itself add to blindness.
I have never studied politics or political thought. It is only by seeing the many political decisions being made in western countries that I have decided to work my way back to understand where the thought behind these actions has come from and why. People’s premises affect their understanding of the world and how they go about living their lives. For this reason, my faith leads me to try to decipher meaning in other people’s political and general thought in order to understand why people behave as they do. Ordinary, everyday Christians at this time in our history are being called into areas of life that they may be less than familiar with, like politics. Even as we are hurtling towards a post-Christian West, many in the church seem oblivious to the need for Christians to spread their influence at the political level where quite a wide impact can be made on a culture. The argument is made by some that we are called to spread the gospel and that ours is a war not against flesh and blood but against heavenly powers.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV) 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Olive Tree Bible App)
Even though evil is happening at the cosmic level, this does not imply that we are to do nothing at the earthly level. Otherwise, why did the Apostle Paul take up argument with the opponents of the faith in his day? Why did Jesus walk this earth and get involved in real people’s lives? Why, ultimately, did He bother to die on a cross? All the earthly decisions made by the prophets, priests, kings, apostles and Jesus Himself show that although spiritual warfare is ultimately taking place, earthly action is required in this process along with prayer. There are clear biblical examples of earthly action being necessary and yet the activity being simultaneously spiritual. See:
2 Samuel 23:11-12 (NASB) Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.
We are called to recognise the forces of evil as evil yet within Christianity we are not to hate our enemies. Opposing evil agendas, though, is another question. In personal encounters and in our ‘democracy’, the shreds of it that are left, we are to see other people as made in the image of God yet those same people may need to be opposed. Opposing lies is a favour to the culture even though the message may be unwanted. It needs to be done – again and again and again. This is what Jesus did when He walked this earth. He tells Christians to be salt and light. That means being an influence for good and for godliness in whatever way we consider to be effective. Christians have had a profound influence on the moral directions within their culture through politics. For example, William Wilberforce was a British parliamentarian instrumental in abolishing the human slave trade in Great Britain.
An assumption is held by many that Christianity is a personal thing of the heart. It is about how one treats one’s neighbour, friend etc. or it’s about one’s relationship with God. In other words Christianity belongs in the realm of personal relationships, evangelism, worship and social reaching out. Christianity does involve all of these things but I have found that the more I studied God’s Word and the more I prayed, the more I had to get involved in the political world, even at a minimal level. Why? Because our laws have been hijacked by those with an agenda that is fiercely opposed to Christianity and this process is not abating, it is worsening. I see Christians as having been given the full truth of God and that now more than ever is the time for us to be salt and light in this darkening world.
Here, we will be exploring the Christian faith alongside the various remedies that the world comes up with to cope with what has been commonly known as the human condition. You will see that what true Christianity teaches and the solutions that the world proposes are diametrically opposed. But it will be more than seeing the world’s take on things from a Christian’s point of view; more specifically a conservative Christian’s view. It will also include an exploration of theology through my understanding of Christianity’s source text, the Bible. I find these explorations compelling. I hope you will join me on the journey.
Our World Our Faith 