Christianity and Its Influence
In yesterday's sermon the pastor told a story about the arrival of American soldiers at a small village in Okinawa. When they arrived they were met by the mayor and the school teacher. These men could not speak English so an interpreter was called. While they waited the soldiers noticed a leather bound book.
When the interpreter told them what the men were saying the soldiers were surprised to find that the whole village was Christian. The mayor and school teacher had been converts 30 years before when a missionary passed through, staying just long enough to give them the gospel. He left them a Bible--the one they lovingly kept with them now--and taught them two hymns.
The villagers did not know the missionary's name, but they knew he was from America. Therefore, when the soldiers from America arrived, they were greeted as fellow Christians.
The soldiers were surprised to find that there was no jail in the village, and no police. Everyone showed the utmost respect for the soldiers, and the Bible they had treasured for the years since the American missionary left.
In America, many despair because our society is becoming more secular, more dangerous, more divided. At the same time we are becoming more demanding of our rights and of politically correct standards that some believe need to be enforced on us all.
Some people may think that we can solve our problems by educating future generations about the wonderful personal freedoms we have in America like the right to a free press, the right to be innocent until proven guilty, and the right not to incriminate ourselves; about the unmatched form of government set up by our forefathers; about the attainability of the American dream; and about the right we all have to exercise religious freedom.
I believe that we have all these things because our nation was founded based on a Christian world view. It was a view that had been informed by persecution from other Christians, and it was a view that no one could force others to the same belief we held. All are free to find truth as they see it. However, our form of government will not work unless there is, in reality, an absolute truth that the majority are striving toward.
When we come to the point that we must accept that someone who holds beliefs that are antagonistic or even threatening to our democratic way of life or our Christian beliefs has as much chance of being correct as we are, then we're in trouble. We're in trouble because a belief like that will seek to destroy our way--not return the favor of freedom for those in opposition to them.
We can afford to give others freedom only if they use it responsibly and only if they will respect that same right for us. We give followers of Islam the right to worship as they choose. However, if for example, Muslims became the majority in America, they would not allow us to worship as we chose because it is fundamental to them that any who do not worship Allah must convert or die. We have seen as secular humanists have become a larger and more influential part of our population that they too, do not believe in equal freedom before the law.
Humanists believe that Christianity is their enemy because its believers seek to promote their view of the world. In the secular humanist paradigm no one should try to influence others to a different view, because they believe all religion is man made to control the masses. What they so often do not see is that their efforts to stifle the influence of Christianity is a restraint on the very freedoms that allow them to exercise their rights to believe as they do. In effect, if secular humanism were a majority view, all religion would be banned as being unsupportable by scientific evidence.
What I'm trying to say is that we have fantastic freedom and opportunity in America. But that very freedom and opportunity is rooted in the fact that America was founded by Christians who were, to some extent, Christlike in their view that others should be free. It is a very rare outlook, and is becoming more and more endangered.
As we move farther from being a Christian nation we move closer to the chasm than can swallow up all our freedoms. You may not be a Christian, but if you're a thinking person you must be grateful that our founding forefathers were. You must understand that while Christians believe their world view is correct and the best they, as part of their view, allow others freedom. It is really the fundamental underlying all true Christianity.
It is when Christians lose sight of the fact that they can only invite others to their way; and can never force or coerce, that Christians receive a bad reputation. As Christians we must remain tolerant and loving while simultaneously courageously evangelical. We believe we're right, but we believe all have the right to choose any path. Even the path to personal and eventual national destruction.
When the interpreter told them what the men were saying the soldiers were surprised to find that the whole village was Christian. The mayor and school teacher had been converts 30 years before when a missionary passed through, staying just long enough to give them the gospel. He left them a Bible--the one they lovingly kept with them now--and taught them two hymns.
The villagers did not know the missionary's name, but they knew he was from America. Therefore, when the soldiers from America arrived, they were greeted as fellow Christians.
The soldiers were surprised to find that there was no jail in the village, and no police. Everyone showed the utmost respect for the soldiers, and the Bible they had treasured for the years since the American missionary left.
In America, many despair because our society is becoming more secular, more dangerous, more divided. At the same time we are becoming more demanding of our rights and of politically correct standards that some believe need to be enforced on us all.
Some people may think that we can solve our problems by educating future generations about the wonderful personal freedoms we have in America like the right to a free press, the right to be innocent until proven guilty, and the right not to incriminate ourselves; about the unmatched form of government set up by our forefathers; about the attainability of the American dream; and about the right we all have to exercise religious freedom.
I believe that we have all these things because our nation was founded based on a Christian world view. It was a view that had been informed by persecution from other Christians, and it was a view that no one could force others to the same belief we held. All are free to find truth as they see it. However, our form of government will not work unless there is, in reality, an absolute truth that the majority are striving toward.
When we come to the point that we must accept that someone who holds beliefs that are antagonistic or even threatening to our democratic way of life or our Christian beliefs has as much chance of being correct as we are, then we're in trouble. We're in trouble because a belief like that will seek to destroy our way--not return the favor of freedom for those in opposition to them.
We can afford to give others freedom only if they use it responsibly and only if they will respect that same right for us. We give followers of Islam the right to worship as they choose. However, if for example, Muslims became the majority in America, they would not allow us to worship as we chose because it is fundamental to them that any who do not worship Allah must convert or die. We have seen as secular humanists have become a larger and more influential part of our population that they too, do not believe in equal freedom before the law.
Humanists believe that Christianity is their enemy because its believers seek to promote their view of the world. In the secular humanist paradigm no one should try to influence others to a different view, because they believe all religion is man made to control the masses. What they so often do not see is that their efforts to stifle the influence of Christianity is a restraint on the very freedoms that allow them to exercise their rights to believe as they do. In effect, if secular humanism were a majority view, all religion would be banned as being unsupportable by scientific evidence.
What I'm trying to say is that we have fantastic freedom and opportunity in America. But that very freedom and opportunity is rooted in the fact that America was founded by Christians who were, to some extent, Christlike in their view that others should be free. It is a very rare outlook, and is becoming more and more endangered.
As we move farther from being a Christian nation we move closer to the chasm than can swallow up all our freedoms. You may not be a Christian, but if you're a thinking person you must be grateful that our founding forefathers were. You must understand that while Christians believe their world view is correct and the best they, as part of their view, allow others freedom. It is really the fundamental underlying all true Christianity.
It is when Christians lose sight of the fact that they can only invite others to their way; and can never force or coerce, that Christians receive a bad reputation. As Christians we must remain tolerant and loving while simultaneously courageously evangelical. We believe we're right, but we believe all have the right to choose any path. Even the path to personal and eventual national destruction.
posted by Al Weber at
11:00 AM
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