Reason 26 - Cultural Modernization
“As societies modernize, traditional religious beliefs and practices often become less relevant to people. Atheists see this secular shift as a natural progression toward reason and equality. In many developed nations, education, technological advancements, and social progress challenge old dogmas, paving the way for a more skeptical and humanistic worldview.”
Secularism - To draw away from religious orientation; make worldly; the activity of changing something (art or education or society or morality etc.) so it is no longer under the control or influence of religion. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016)
“Cultural Modernization” is secularism dressed up with a new fancy title. Atheists and agnostics have been attempting for generations to, in some cases, demonize religion by misrepresenting what Christianity truly is. They have used their pre-conceived ideas in an attempt to remove God from peoples consciousness. Mainline orthodox denominations; the Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopals, and Catholics, have been edging toward secularization for a number of years now by slowing embracing the whole Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion doctrine that is sweeping the world. Forcing it on others is not the right way to approach that. In other words, I don’t try to force you to become a Christian, so don’t try to force me to embrace DEI. The result of not embracing it is name calling and hate mongering by those who do. We are allowed to have differing opinions of a subject. The fact remains that if I don’t agree with DEI and don’t wish to participate in it, I won’t go to hell. My understanding of scripture tells me that if you embrace that and other marginal practices you won’t go to hell either. A person goes to hell for rejecting Jesus, and by association, God. Atheists don’t want to hear that. I get it. It certainly wouldn’t be a pleasant thing to hear. We didn’t invent this stuff. And if we’re wrong and there is no God, then we’ve lived a good life full of love, kindness, peace and hope and when we die everything ends. So what. That possibility doesn’t faze me.
I live by what I believe to be true. I am loved as I stumble thru this life trying to emulate a perfect representative of God, Jesus Christ. I’m truly sorry that so many people have been made to feel horrible about themselves and what they believe by supposed Christians. Please don’t judge us all by the repulsive acts of some.
Someone has to be right, and someone has to be wrong. In other words, EVERYONE can’t be right. And just because I don’t agree with someone else, that doesn’t make me wrong.
God allows man a free will to follow if He so chooses, because He would like willing followers, not those who feel they MUST follow.
The church needs to adhere to the Word of God, not skirt the edges of worldly living. As believers in Christ we need to love the peoples of the world with the love of Christ and pray for those who chastise us for being exclusive. I suppose you could say Christianity is a bit of an exclusive group for we are altogether loving and serving a God we cannot see. Exclusive in some respects, but nonexclusive in that ANYONE can join the family of God.
As Christians we turn away from worldly endeavors. That’s not to say we don’t follow sports teams, buy hats and jerseys and get rowdy with the best of them. We like various types of music, not just Christian. We go to movies, although we tend to gravitate toward the G & PG variety. We don’t drink ourselves under the table and then go looking for trouble. No one is saying non-Christians can’t do all these things, just know that the consequences that come from doing crazy things are going to probably be crazy as well.
And what about the historic figure Jesus. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, NOT A CHRISTIAN, wrote a few lines in his book “Antiquities” about the man called Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was a historic person who really lived. Now one can poo-poo that and just say it all fabricated lies. So be it. People are given a variety of opportunities to receive Christ. If they continue to resist it will be on them and not me or God.
Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org.
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