Return to the Past

We are living in changing times . As Christians we have seen the rise over the last decade a new brand of aggressive atheism . One that is loud,brash and full of fight with the likes of Hitchen and Dawkins. We also have a rise in those who claim no religious affiliation .My Pastor touched on this in his Sunday sermon. The sadder stat was more children recognized Ronald McDonald then a picture of Jesus. With the rise as well of a global interest in wiccan and pagan beliefs , the landscape is shifting fairly fast. 

We have been spoiled in the west due the cultural influence of the Christian faith. In my Grandparent days ,the church still played an important part in life . Moving to my parents day , the shift began to occur. This was the 60's . This was the generation that began to not attend church . But at the same time , there was still a respect for the Church and the Christian faith . At Christmas Jesus would be mentioned and it was clear why the day was special. But now this new generation , that has grown up as descendants of the 60's ,were God is dead movement first appeared , feminism  , the sexual revolution ,rock n roll that preached rebellion and self love , well  what has happened has been a huge shift. Christians in the west have seen their comfortable position as a respected religion , to it being mocked , laughed at and seen as a archaic myth .

However in reality , we are returning to  the world in which Christ came . The Jews were a marginalized people, their land occupied by the a hostile pagan empire . The Romans looked down upon their beliefs and after Jesus was crucified , rose again, ascended and sent out followers to preach good news and Christianity took root,the attitude was the same. The world was pagan ,full of superstitions and unbelief. Christians in the west have lost sight that the early Church was persecuted. Open hostility was what the followers faced. 

So as this shift continues to happen in the west , we will realize what our early brothers and sisters in the faith faced. It will also make us closer to Christian living in non western countries who have suffered greatly for the faith. 

To believe in the truth of Christmas , that God came in the flesh , lived amongst us , was put to death for His peoples sins , rose again , ascended to heaven and is coming again , will leave one open to more tribulation and a hostile world . Jesus warned of this when He said ,"[33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

(John 16:33 ESV)

But truth be told , I hold that the coming hostility will not only be a good thing (even though no one wants to face persecution) , it will force each of us to look in the mirror and say , who is my treasure, my life allegiances belong to. In the past many people called themselves "Christian" because they thought themselves good. It was acceptable  to go to Church , learn morals but that is not Christianity . We hold that we are not good , that we are vile sinners , that God is holy , that we were hell bound sinners under God's rightful wrath but in Christ , God was reconciling sinners to Himself by sending that baby Jesus , who grew to a man and went to the cross . Our substitute . That we can't earn salvation because we can't ,but God gives it by grace , He has done all the work. 

We have an answer , we have the truth , we have the promise of Jesus that the gates of hell will not prevail . Lets not be dismayed at this change but with the same boldness of those early believers , preach clearly that the light of the world has come and may we shake the foundations of the world .