What To Do When Your Culture Is Destroying Itself

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.’

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” [1]

Roman culture had become thoroughly degraded in the days in which the New Testament was being written. Many Christians living in this twenty-first century suppose that no society was ever as degenerate as this present western society in which we live. That common supposition isn’t at all evident to me, especially when I read the history of that ancient empire. To be certain, contemporary culture is following a dark path which approximates that of Roman culture. I must believe that the final terminus of our present culture will not differ significantly from Roman culture of that ancient day. It is possible there will always be a nation bearing the name Canada in my lifetime and in the lifetime of my children, or even in the lifetime of my grandchildren; but it is reasonable to question what the character of that nation will be in that future day.

Our present culture is self-destructing, and we who name the Name of Christ bear a major responsibility for this situation. Jesus appointed His followers to be salt and light, and I fear we are failing miserably in fulfilling the Master’s will. Jesus said of us who follow Him and who serve Him, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” [MATTHEW 5:13-16].

Almost one year ago I preached several messages that reflected a similar approach to the review of culture. [2] Truthfully, I am astonished at the transformation witnessed in North American society in the year since those messages were delivered. I believe I am witnessing events that may presage the coming of the Master. I’m not saying that Messiah will return immediately, though we always live in anticipation of His imminent return; I am saying that what we are witnessing does appear to be outlined by the warning Jesus gave His disciples immediately before His passion.

The psychoanalyst Theodor Reik is credited with the statement, “There are recurring cycles, ups and downs but the course of events is essentially the same, with small variations. It has been said that history repeats itself. This is perhaps not quite correct; it merely rhymes.” [3]

You will recall Jesus saying, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish” [LUKE 21:10-18].

OUR PRESENT CULTURE — Our present western culture is self-destructing. I find it breathtaking to realise how quickly the culture in which I grew up has been transformed. The transformation of western culture, even during the past two decades, makes one dizzy just thinking about the changes. I am certain that the seed for the present bitter harvest society is now reaping (and make no mistake, society is reaping a bitter harvest) will be found in the culture in which I grew up and in which many of you came to adult years. Looking back, I’m certain that the genesis for the present degradation of western society lies in the loss of spiritual vitality among the churches that still dot the land, a loss that was evident more than five decades past. And the downward trend of western morals has only accelerated since those halcyon days of my youth.