Sober and Vigilant in the World in which We Live

We are living in an increasingly hostile and secular society. Journalist Aaron Renn has written extensively on this subject. Renn proposes that the American church has lived through three different eras in American society. Each era was defined by how society at large viewed the church.[1] The first era he labels as, “Positive World (Pre-1994).” During this time, Renn suggests that American society viewed Christianity “positively and Christian morality was still normative.” The second era he labels, “Neutral World (1994-2014).” During this time Christianity no longer holds “dominant status in society” but it was not generally seen as a social negative. During this time “Christian moral norms retained residual force.” The third era is labeled, “Negative World (2014-). Renn writes, “In this world, being a Christian is now a social negative, especially in high status positions. Christianity in many ways is seen as undermining the social good. Christian morality is expressly repudiated.”[2] Now, you may take issue with Renn’s dating of said “eras” but it is difficult to dismiss his observations out of hand.

The U.S. is not neutral toward Christianity. The truths of Christianity are under attack. The LGBTQ agenda is seeking to vilify and shame biblically faithful Christians into surrendering to its claims and practices. Major corporations, media outlets, and educational institutions are endeavoring to normalize sexual immorality and perversion in society. Accompanying this movement is a concerted effort to normalize the sexualization of children. There is no other explanation for the existence of such perverse practices as, “Drag Queen Story Hour.” Brandon Showalter recently wrote an article for The Christian Post entitled, “Stop sexually grooming children and quit gaslighting parents.” In the article, he lists several recent examples of the drive toward the sexualization of children. I would encourage you to read it. I have included a link below.[3] If that was not bad enough, Stephen Kershner, a philosophy professor at SUNY Fredonia, published the book, Pedophilia and Adult-Child Sex: A Philosophical Analysis.[4] In pushing for normalization of such acts, he suggests pedophilia is like a child choosing to play kickball or attending religious instruction.[5] Kershner, and others like him, have sought to redefine what it means to be a child. Critical Theory (i.e. cultural Marxism) has declared that Western culture and even its language have been oppressive by establishing a certain morality and even definitions of words or concepts, such as what it means to be a child. These cultural Marxists are seeking to redefine what is acceptable socially and morally. We must see it as it is, perversity and the grooming of children by sexual predators.

Saint Paul’s Nova Classical Academy, named the top Minnesota high school by U.S. News and World Report, “was sued by Dave and Hannah Edwards for not including pro-transgender materials starting in kindergarten to accommodate their five-year-old son, whom they claim is transgender.”[6] Joy Pullman writes, “After 16 months in litigation, the school was required to ‘train staff’ in politically correct behavior every three years, and ‘not adopt any gender policy that allows parents to opt out of requirements in gender inclusion policy because of objections based on religion or conscience.’”[7] Pullman goes on to write, “Nova is a test case for what trans activists want to perpetuate nationwide – and not just in public schools, but also in private and homeschools.”[8] Pullman also found, “Edwards’ LinkedIn profile lists him as a ‘founding staff member of Venture Academy Charter School,’ also in Saint Paul, a high-profile school funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which uses its deep pockets to seed ‘education reform’ with far-left ideas and personnel. Edwards started his career in a heavily Gates-funded teaching fellowship known for its politically progressive staff.”[9]

If you don’t believe LGBTQ advocates are serious about this subject, listen to what Dr. Suzanne Eckes said about Christian schools that hold to a biblical sexual ethic, “People say just don’t apply to one of those schools… And that doesn’t sit well with me, because we made the same argument in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s about black kids.”[10] So, Eckes says that Christians who hold to a biblical standard of sexuality are like racists and segregationists. Brothers and sisters, this is a logical fallacy and it is absurd. Do not bow the knee to such foolish thinking and slander. The Chalkbeat article also mentions a local Christian school, Victory Christian Academy in Valparaiso, as one of those employing “discriminatory policies” because they have biblical sexual standards in their school handbook.

In 2021, a gay choir from San Francisco released a video online in which they sang a song heralding their desire to convert America’s children to their perverse choices and agenda. The chorus of the song goes like this, “We’re coming for them. We’re coming for your children. We’re coming for them. We’re coming for them. We’re coming for your children. For your children.” If you would like to know what the rest of the song says, see the link below.[11] Should you be concerned as a Christian? I would suggest you should be. Fathers and mothers, hear this loud and clear, you have a God-given responsibility to protect your children. You have been given the precious privilege and responsibility to raise your children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Christian parents, we are to teach and pray for our children that they would repent of their sins and trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. We are to teach and model for them what it looks like to follow Christ. These lessons involve talking about God’s Word throughout everyday life (Deut. 6). We do what God instructs us to do because we love him (1 John 5:3-5). It is for our own good that we live in obedience to God’s Word. It is for the good of our families that we teach them God’s ways and truth.

There are times as Christians when we must remove ourselves from situations or environments that are unhealthy spiritually for us or our families. Do not delay in doing so because you are concerned about whether or not people will like you for it, including your children. Did you know that Christians living in the Roman empire were put to death for the crime of “hatred against mankind” under the emperor Nero?[12] It startles you a bit when you first read such a charge. In fact, your first reaction may have been to think it was a valid charge because Christians can be difficult at times. Why were they accused of such a thing? They would not attend Roman parties, which featured sacrifices to false gods (i.e. the Roman pantheon). The Christians would not participate in their paganism by attending the event. Our spiritual forefathers applied Ephesians 5:11-17, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is’” Fathers and mothers, one of your primary responsibilities as Christian parents is to make disciples of your children, by the grace of God. Dads, outside of yourself and your wife, you have a greater responsibility for the spiritual well being of your children than you do for anyone else. Are we putting our children and families in spiritually healthy environments that will encourage them to be disciples of Christ who are healthy and growing? Whether we realize it or not, we are being discipled every day. The same goes for our children. Are they God-honoring influences? As parents, we have a responsibility to ensure they receive God-honoring influences. It means saying no to some things and removing ourselves from the situation or environment. It means saying yes to other things and placing ourselves in environments that foster spiritual health and growth. The time we have to raise and educate our children is short. Will we be intentional and wise?

Peter writes that Lot was, “greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)” (2 Pet. 2:7–8). The inspired Word informs us that Lot was not comfortable or dispassionate about his time in Sodom and Gomorrah. His soul was vexed. Are our souls vexed about the culture around us? When Paul visited Athens he had a strong internal and then external reaction. “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:16–17). Greg Morse writes, “Men ought to have… strong convictions. How rare are warm-blooded men of zeal these days, men of strong likes and dislikes — even within the church? … What [do] these Christian men really wake up for in the morning? It isn’t clear. They’re moderate in their likes; moderate in their dislikes. They remain room-temperature. They never have that look in their eye. They smile and smile, but never laugh from the belly, nor give a firm handshake or word when the occasion calls. That man, that weapon, that sword is beat into a plow.”[13] We need Christian men who are willing to speak up when the occasion calls for it. We need Christian men who are willing to stand up and speak up for truth and righteousness when the occasion calls for it. We need Christian fathers to provide for and protect their families. We need Christian mothers to respect their husbands and nurture their children in the faith. It begins with being vexed in our souls about the condition of the world around us. It continues with putting God’s Word into action in our homes. Stronger godly homes make for stronger churches. Stronger godly churches make for brighter lights in a nation. It starts with us.

[1] https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/02/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism

[2] https://americanreformer.org/2021/08/welcome-to-the-negative-world-why-we-need-american-reformer/

[3] https://www.christianpost.com/voices/stop-sexually-grooming-children-and-quit-gaslighting-parents.html?utm_source=pocket_mylist

[4] https://www.amazon.com/Pedophilia-Adult-Child-Sex-Philosophical-Analysis/dp/1498504450

[5] https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1488693057583140864

[6] https://thefederalist.com/2017/08/17/trans-juggernaut-wants-kids-public-schools-just-beginning/

[7] https://thefederalist.com/2017/08/17/trans-juggernaut-wants-kids-public-schools-just-beginning/

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] https://www.chalkbeat.org/2017/8/10/21107318/choice-for-most-in-nation-s-largest-voucher-program-16-million-went-to-schools-with-anti-lgbt-polici

[11] https://genius.com/San-francisco-gay-mens-chorus-a-message-from-the-gay-community-lyrics

[12] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/are-christians-intolerant-haters-the-charges-are-not-new/