News flash: water is wet

If you spend time on any of the leading social nets (with the possible exception of Instagram) you have probably noticed the digital incarnation of Orwell’s Two Minutes Hate where, in the novel, the population was instructed to vent their frustration at poor Emmanuel Goldstein. And lately there seems to be an exponential increase in the number of Emmanuel Goldsteins.

Thought crime

And what offenses have the objects of this hatred committed? Usually, it’s commenting in the negative on some topic dear to the dominant group. Sometimes, though rarely, it’s an act of defiance. Other times it’s merely having the wrong facial expression. The most important aspect is that the miscreant is bucking the system. But I want to illustrate that this is nothing new.

Imagine a group of young men in a strange city — a seat of government and power. And for daring to affirm their beliefs they paid a terrible price.

If you think I’m talking about Washington, DC, in 2019, read on.

Was it something I said?

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we read the story about three Hebrew young men named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah who had been taken captive and carried to Babylon where they received training to become wise men, sages, and seers. Although their captors gave them the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these three, along with their companion Daniel, did their best to live in a way to please their God. As you’ll see, this desire made them different. As the Japanese proverb says, “The nail that sticks up gets beaten down.”

Sic semper tyrannis

The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, was the fulfillment of Lord Acton’s famous saying that power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. King Nebuchadnezzar set up a 90-foot-tall golden statue for the people to worship. He called all the important people in his government together and told them that whenever they heard music, they had to drop what they were doing and worship the statue. Talk about a power trip!

But it’s worse, because like most tyrants, Nebuchadnezzar added the threat of violence. Anybody who resisted the king’s order to worship would be burned alive in a furnace.

Command performance

The text doesn’t tell us what kind of meeting (if any) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held to decide their response, but it is clear they chose not to obey the king’s order. Let’s join the story already in progress:

⁸ Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. ⁹ They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! ¹⁰ You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. ¹¹ And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. ¹² There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

-Daniel 3: 8-15 (ESV)

Turning up the heat

Our friends are in for it now — they’ve been ratted out by their rivals and confronted directly by an angry king. By the way, it’s always a bad idea to make your leader look bad in front of his followers, but in this case, the three young men knew that they were subjects of a higher king. Look at how they answered the enraged ruler:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

– Daniel 3: 16 – 18 (ESV)

And a surprise ending

The king, royally angry, commanded the heat of the furnace be turned up seven times hotter than usual and he had Shadrach, Meshach, and Adednego tied up and thrown into the furnace. The writer tells us that some of the executioners were killed by the heat as they threw the three men into the fire. An important detail given what happens next.

Nebuchadnezzar and his followers looked with fiendish satisfaction into the death chamber and were astonished to see the three men walking around in the fire, untied, and not being consumed at all. And even more surprising, there was a fourth man walking around in the fire with them. The Babylonians described his appearance as “like a son of the gods.”

The king called to the three men and asked them to come out of the fire. When they did, their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke. The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saved them.

What can we learn from their example?

Don’t go looking for trouble

Let’s start with knowing what you believe and why. I’ve written on many occasions about the need for cultivating a biblical worldview. The clash with an increasingly hostile culture makes this more important than ever. When you are grounded and established in your frame of reference, you don’t need a guru to tell you whether a policy or a law is moral or immoral, and you will also have the tools to understand when these terms are being used by others to try to control you.

The text doesn’t say, but I don’t think the three Hebrew lads had to discuss their response to the king’s command to idol-worship. Notice also that they didn’t taunt the king to call attention to their disobedience. They simply refused to comply.

But don’t run from it

When you’re among a people who prize going along with the crowd, you can bet someone will notice if you aren’t going along. And when the go-along gang rats you out to the authorities, the correct example is that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their answer was clear and direct, with no finger-pointing of blame shifting. And, I would add, no whining about the consequences.

Speak the truth in love – and don’t forget the love

In this story, the king seems to understand that what is at stake is his personal supremacy versus that of the God of his Hebrew captives. I marvel at the brazen challenge offered by Nebuchadnezzar: “And who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?” But I’m more amazed by the calm firmness of the answer — our God is able to deliver us from anything, but if he chooses not to, we will still serve him.

Again, notice the lack of trash talk, the lack of anger. Given the positions of authority the three men held, they likely earned their jobs based on faithful performance over time. They probably enjoyed a good relationship with the king as his trusted advisers. Perhaps they even loved him.

In this context, their refusal to worship the statue must have seemed to the king like a betrayal. In response, he threatened their lives and they responded with grace and truth.

Trust God

When the fertilizer contacts the rotating blades, trusting God is all that is left, and all that matters. If you’re His, you can be certain He holds you in His hands. God rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace, and He can rescue you from whatever version this age devises to punish dissidents. But — and this is important — God is not obligated to rescue you, me, or anyone from pain or suffering in this world.

I know this may sound unfair, but the people who tell you God only wants His servants to be healthy, wealthy, and wise — flying only in first-class, and owning the priciest sports cars — are selling something. If you want to know the score, look at Jesus’ personal inner circle from his earthly ministry, the twelve apostles, and at the outcomes of their lives, and you’ll understand that this life is not principally about our comfort.

If you’re sure you’re right, you don’t have to yell

If you believe what Jesus said — that we will know the Truth and the Truth will set us free — then you have all the volume you need. It isn’t necessary to pound the table or shout the other side down. You may receive the gift of supernatural deliverance. You may persuade people around you through your dignified words and demeanor. And you may lose everything this world counts as precious. But take heart — this world does not get the last word, God does.

So how about you? In what ways are you cultivating a biblical worldview? How do you see dissent being punished? Add your comments below.

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis

In two recent posts under this same title, I summarized the message of Roy H. Williams’ and Michael Drew’s book Pendulum: How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future. As I explained in Part I, the thrust of the book is that history unfolds in cycles — like a pendulum — through forty-year arcs from what the authors refer to as a “Peak Me” phase to a “Peak We” phase. The period from a peak We to the next peak We  — one round trip — is roughly eighty years, and the authors claim we are heading for the next peak We in or around 2023 — less than six years from now.

The apex of a We cycle brings an over-the-top emphasis on conformity for the common good, stifling individuality, and suppressing individual liberty. Unfortunately, according to the authors, it always goes to extremes, bringing witch hunts and bloodbaths.

In Part I, I laid out the reasons why I think the current conditions in the US support the authors’ hypothesis. In Part II, I discussed how I think the unpleasantness might show up. Today, I want to offer some thoughts and encouragement on how we ought to live through difficult and dangerous times.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? We’re going to find out!

Tough times aren’t anything new

First, it’s important to remember that this generation will not be the first to live through a peak We, or even the first to endure hard times. A family member with whom I was discussing this series pointed out that although World War II was a time of excessive violence and conformity, there was also a great deal of wholesome unity as Americans banded together to endure hardship and support the war effort. This observation is correct, and it neither rebuts nor excuses the internment of Japanese Americans in camps.

The potential for overreach notwithstanding, I believe it is possible for faithful men to live honorable, courageous, and fulfilling lives even in the midst of trouble. Consider the persecution of the first-century church at the hands of the Roman Empire. Christians rejected the empire’s demands that they confess Caesar as lord, and they suffered condemnation and martyrdom as a result. Even so, the apostles Peter and Paul each wrote that Christians were to submit to the authorities,  and more – they were to pray for the emperor. If you are unclear how hostile the relationship was between the empire and the church, take a look at the emperor Nero and the persecution he visited on followers of Jesus.

Options = strength. Strength = options

Making it happen

Your mindset matters

Love your neighbor (yes, that one) — If you’re on board with sowing good seed to help your community hold together, let’s go back to the Good Book. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” goes back 3,000 years — and that’s still the best advice. To love your neighbor when things get dicey, you have to get to know him now, before things get difficult.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶ Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. ⁷ But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:4-7 (ESV)

Bridge the divide — Find ways to establish common denominators with your opposite numbers. No, you can’t make people love you but you can model godliness. Previously, I referred to Charles Murray’s book, Coming Apart, and the trends he cited that signified a growing separation between college-educated and non-college-educated Americans.

Emphasize and live in the theology of the body — Recognize that we need each other and we need to be able to cooperate with people who are different from us.

¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴ which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵ that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Give space — Don’t be the moral busybody Lewis mentions above. Even if — especially if — you disagree with someone, let him be free to have his opinion without fear of reprisals. The gravest provocation is the one that hounds a man for his private thoughts. Speech codes and political correctness, along with employment practices that result in firings for saying or believing the “wrong” thing, .

We don’t get to choose the time or place…

Theoden: I will not risk open war.
Aragorn: Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not.”

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis

In a recent post, I summarized the message of Roy H. Williams’ and Michael Drew’s book Pendulum: How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future. As I explained in Part I, the thrust of the book is that history unfolds in cycles — like a pendulum — through forty-year arcs from what the authors refer to as a “Peak Me” phase to a “Peak We” phase. The period from a peak We to the next peak We  — one round trip — is roughly eighty years, and the authors claim we are heading for the next peak We in or around 2023 — less than six years from now.

“This is God’s country — why do you want to turn it into Hell?” – a bumper sticker

The apex of a We cycle brings an over-the-top emphasis on conformity for the common good, stifling individuality, and suppressing individual liberty. Unfortunately, according to the authors, it always goes to extremes, bringing witch hunts and bloodbaths.

In Part I, I laid out the reasons why I think the current conditions in the US support the authors’ hypothesis. Today, I want to explain when and how I think this is likely to play out, and offer some thoughts on how you and I can help avoid the worst of this. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet — this is my best estimate based on what I see.

What do you think will happen?

• Attempts to incite violence – protestors and planted antagonists will be spoiling for a fight, like two bullies in a schoolyard each daring the other to strike first.
• Political de-legitimization as a pretext – Allegations of treachery coupled with disrespect for institutions will cause the aggrieved to disregard the results of elections, or to justify attempts at coups, assassinations, and the like.
  • Although the authors say 2023 is the 80-year point, I think the 2020 elections may be the catalyst for the worst of what’s coming.
  • Already, there is a lot of militant loose talk on the left and right edges of the internet, singling out President Trump and other elected officials. This is not a good sign — and this began with the 2016 election.*
• Depersonalization/dehumanization – An decrease in empathy and fellow-feeling for those holding contrasting views, resulting in justification for violence.
• Attempts at large-scale disruptions – groups seeking a confrontation and/or a reason to act out may try to attack infrastructure such as roads and bridges, municipal utilities, or the power grid. If the violence comes in anything greater than isolated outbreaks, I think we should look at the experience of Bosnia as a likely guide. Consider that our infrastructure can be disrupted by determined groups — particularly if law enforcement takes a hands-off approach. Consider the recent events Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charlotte as small examples.

But that can’t happen here

Cui bono?

Before you sign up for someone else’s cause, it is worthwhile to stop and ask yourself who benefits if your leader prevails. Is that outcome one you can live with? At what cost? Is the cause good and noble? By what measure? I’ve said before that the worst thing about the era predicted by the Pendulum is the great waste of it all. Neighbor will turn against neighbor and both will lose their freedom over it.

I hope I’m wrong

 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Time flies. What’s the big deal?

We need to strengthen social cohesion.

What do you see?

• Polarized politics – the left and the right do not talk to each other, so much as they talk at or past each other.
• Contentious social issues – Triumphalism and scorched earth seem to be the order of things, “Coexist” stickers to the contrary
  • Intolerance in the name of tolerance
  • Flash mobs, shouting down of unpopular points of view, suppression of dissent, and speech codes
• Nationalism vs. Globalism – diametrically opposite and irreconcilable views concerning the relationship between citizens and their government
  • This is actually a three-way clash between the worldviews of militant Islam, international Socialism and classical Liberalism
• The rise of populism – It may be pure cynicism, but notice how political candidates speak of The Little Guy or Everyday Americans
• Tribalism and parochialism – intensifying competition among identity groups
  • Charles Murray’s book Coming Apart examines the stratification among college-educated versus non-college-educated whites, showing how what he calls the “cognitive elite” increasingly keep to themselves.
    
• Fraying moral consensus – Americans no longer share a common view of what makes up a good life, or of the values that encourage and sustain it.
• Setting groups against one another – note political rhetoric aimed at appeals to group identity. These pit:
  • men against women
  • black against white
  • poor against rich
  • Law enforcement officers against civilians
• Suspicion and hostility toward institutions – some of it well-deserved. Consider the opinions of your friends about:
  • Church
  • Government
  • Media
  • Business
  • Academia
• Erosion of social trust – note the rise of gated communities, security systems, and neighbors who don’t know each other
  • This is, in part, a byproduct of the failure of institutions. If authorities lie with impunity, trust dies.
• Reality television and social media rewarding the lack of self-control and exhibitionism
  • This creates an amplifying effect – creates a self-fulfilling perception that “everyone is doing it.”
  • This also undermines notions of personal modesty and privacy
• Acceptance of near-universal surveillance – we aren’t the only ones recording video, but “it’s for our safety.”

What vulnerability?

Is it hopeless?

So how about you? What do you think about Williams and Drew’s prediction? What am I missing? Add your comments below

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

In Part I, I recounted the biblical story of Balaam from the Old Testament book of Numbers. Most of what I have to say in this post will resonate more if you read that post (I’ll wait). But for those of you who don’t have time right now, the story is as follows:

The children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness following their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Balak, the king of Moab, did not like his new neighbors and sent for the prophet Balaam to put a curse on the Hebrews. Balak had heard that Balaam’s blessings and curses were pretty strong stuff. Balaam refused to go at first, but Balak upped the offer. On the way, God sent an angel (invisible to Balaam, but visible to his donkey) to block his way. When Balaam’s frustration boiled over, resulting in his hitting the donkey, the donkey put the prophet to shame by speaking to him about his bad behavior. Oh, and Balaam had King Balak build altars and sacrifice to the Lord, only to pronounce blessings on the children of Israel instead of curses.

Jackass!

Panning for gold in the dust of history

Maybe your pastor preached about Balaam somewhere along the line. I don’t ever remember hearing a sermon about the guy. Even so, his story is in the Bible for a reason. I argue it’s because there are many lessons to take from this less-well-known Bible story. Here’s what I learned:

• It’s more important to know God than to know about God – Balaam was familiar with Israel’s God, but he was not a Hebrew. Other sources say he was a sorcerer — a practitioner of magic. Even though he inquired of God, and God communicated His will to Balaam, it’s clear that Balaam less a friend than an acquaintance.
• It’s about what you love – If Balaam had truly known and loved the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, no amount of money would have enticed him to entertain Balak’s offer. Notice that when Balak’s second delegation — the more impressive one — came to Balaam, they conveyed that Balak was able and willing to PAY. Clearly, money was higher on Balaam’s list of priorities, or he wouldn’t have gone away to pray a second time to ask if God would, just this once, curse Israel.
• God cares – even for a stinker like Balaam — Note that God spared Balaam’s life on his foolish trip to Moab. He certainly had the prerogative to strike him down and chose not to. Instead, He opened the mouth of the donkey, and the eyes of the man to see the angelic messenger of judgment.
• God moves – but not because of magic — One might be tempted to imagine Balaam as a success due to his effective use of ritual. I say that God’s words to and through Balaam were in spite of Balaam, not because of him. Remember that God made a covenant with Abraham to make him a great nation through whom all nations would receive a blessing. God’s actions in blessing his chosen people in defiance of wicked Balak was a result of God’s faithfulness and never-ending love.
• God’s will is unstoppable — I find it humorous that the obstinate Balaam got his correction from an animal known for its stubbornness. As Jesus said that if people wouldn’t worship him, rocks and stones would cry out His praise, so unreliable prophets end up being upstaged truth-wise by talking livestock. Note also, that God held Balaam to speak only what He instructed, and God resolutely and resoundingly  blessed His people.
• A miss is as good as a mile — Elsewhere in scripture we find characters such as Ruth and Rahab — foreigners whose faith made them righteous, and who even found their way into the earthly lineage of the Messiah, Jesus. Balaam had a similar opportunity to be a hero of the faith — at least in terms of the conversational familiarity he enjoyed with the Lord — but, as we’ll see, he squandered it.

So how did it turn out for Balaam?

In Numbers 25, we read that instead of a divine curse or a military conquest, the Moabites sought to overthrow Israel by seducing them. The Moabite women made themselves sexually available to the Hebrew men, through this encouraging them to worship their god, Baal of Peor, provoking the judgment of God. If you think the Bible is this sanitized book that faints at sex and violence, I encourage you to get over it by clicking though and reading Numbers 25.

In chapter 31, we learn that Balaam died by the sword of the Hebrews in Moses’ final campaign acting as God’s instrument of judgment. Verse 8b says, “They also killed Balaam … with the sword.” But why?

As Moses’ fighters killed the men of Midian, they took the Midianite women captive. Moses objected strenuously, saying:

“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. ¹⁶ “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.” Numbers 31:15-16 (NIV)”

There you have it. Balaam wanted Balak’s money. When God wouldn’t cooperate by cursing His chosen ones, Balaam taught Balak how to undermine his enemies via the honey trap. It didn’t fool God, though, and Balaam paid with his life.

Echoes and warnings

Interestingly, Balaam’s name appears in scripture several more times — in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Nehemiah, and Micah in the Old Testament —  condemning him for his involvement in “the Peor incident” and reminding the reader of his grisly end. His name became a warning to the children of Israel.

But that’s not all. Three books of the New Testament also call Balaam’s folly to our attention, making it all the more unusual that his story seems to be taught so infrequently. Here are the New Testament references in their entirety:

They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 2 Peter 2:15 (NIV)

“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 1:11 (NIV)

“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.” Revelation 2:14 (NIV)

Parting thoughts

Now that you know the rest of the story, I want to offer a few other lessons from the tale of Balaam:

• Always interpret scripture with scripture — If we only considered the text in Numbers 22 – 24 when considering Balaam, we might conclude that he was a righteous man. Subsequent passages show that wasn’t so. Throughout your life, be careful not to build doctrinal castles on single Bible verses or interpretations that aren’t supported elsewhere in scripture.
• Take the long view — When faced with a moral dilemma, think beyond the current circumstances. Balaam’s greed resulted in a payday for him, but a violent death soon after. Be sure that your solution to a problem doesn’t create more problems.
• Evaluate according to the plumb-line of scripture — Compare your plans, your desires, and your feelings against the teachings of scripture. Plans, desires, and feelings are useful, but they can also mislead you. Better to check against a transcendent moral arbiter.
• Own your convictions — Notice that Balaam always protested to Balak that he could only say what God told him to say. This suggests that Balaam had no fixed principles, that he would have been only too happy to go along with the whole curse plan, but God wouldn’t let him. It’s easy to get a wedge between an external conviction and the person who is mouthing it. And Balaam shows the cost.
• Trust God first and always — How bitterly ironic that Balaam should utter the words in Numbers 23:19, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (ESV). If only he had truly believed this. He wouldn’t have asked God but one time regarding whether to entertain an emissary from Moab.

So how about you? What insights do you draw from the story of Balaam? How are you seeking to mature spiritually — and how does this story help you? Add your comments below.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” – Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)

The group of guys I meet with every Saturday morning (Hi fellas) is serious about becoming disciples who make disciples. This is a most worthy objective, and although it requires intention and perseverance, one doesn’t become mature by gritting his teeth. There are no shortcuts — you just have to put in the time, doing the right things for the right reasons. With this thought in mind, I’d like to tell you the story of an Old Testament prophet named Balaam. His story starts in the book of Numbers, beginning with chapter 22.

During the time Moses was leading the children of Israel in the wilderness, following the Exodus from Egypt, Balak the king of Moab wanted to be rid of his new neighbors. He rounded up his advisers and sent them to hire Balaam — a prophet — to curse the Hebrews. He explained he had noticed that whomever Balaam blessed stayed blessed, and whomever he cursed stayed cursed.

“Message for Mr. Balaam…”

First thought best thought?

Balaam invited the men to stay as his guests overnight while he asked for God’s guidance. When God told Balaam not to go with the men, or to curse His blessed ones, he refused the offer of the Moabite king and sent the men back to their homes. As he did, he told them that he wasn’t allowed to exceed the authority God had given to him. At this point, it seems that Balaam is a man of integrity, and his response seems to be the right one.

For his part, King Balak was annoyed but rounded up his most senior and impressive nobles and sent them to Balaam to request his services a second time.  They conveyed a message that the King would pay Balaam’s price, honor him, and do anything he said to do, if only he would come and curse “those people.” Once again, Balaam said no, but invited the Moabite nobles to stay the night while he sought God’s guidance.

What part of “Thou Shalt Not” don’t you understand?

God told Balaam he could go with the men, but He commanded Balaam only to do what God instructed him to do. Then something interesting happened. As Balaam was going, God became angry at Balaam, and He sent an angel armed with a sword to discourage him from going to Balak. Balaam’s donkey saw the angel, but Balaam couldn’t,  and the donkey left the path and went into a ditch to avoid the fearsome creature. The angel appeared ahead of the donkey in a narrow passage through a vineyard and the donkey pressed hard against one of the walls in that narrow passage, crushing Balaam’s foot. And a third time, the angel appeared to block the path in a narrow alleyway, and the poor donkey — seeing no escape — simply lay down.

Balaam thought each of these incidents was an occasion for an ass-whoopin’ (see what I did there?) and struck the animal each time the donkey seemed to misbehave.

An extraordinary privilege

Most of us don’t get the rest of the story so immediately, but Balaam received an extraordinary gift. God enabled the donkey to speak to his master. The beast rebuked the man, asking him why he chose to beat her after all the years she had served him without ever acting this way. Humorously, the prophet didn’t seem to question the circumstances or the reality of a talking donkey, but joined the debate with gusto, saying to the donkey she was lucky he didn’t have a sword of he’d have killed her.

Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel and the sword. And the angel asked why the prophet had chosen to beat his animal. But more, he explained that his mission was to turn Balaam back from his current course. If the donkey hadn’t balked, the angel would have killed him while sparing the donkey.

Balaam repented and confessed his wrong — even offering to return home — but the angel said he could go with the men. He told Balaam he could only say what he was instructed to say, nothing else.

A king’s welcome

King Balak went out to great his would-be spiritual hit man. He chided Balaam for his reluctance, asking if Balaam thought the king couldn’t pay him enough. Balaam said God wouldn’t let him do anything other than what He commanded. Balak then took Balaam up to one of the high places of pagan worship to look down on his Hebrew enemies.

And a kings’ frustration

On three separate occasions, per Balaam’s guidance Balak built seven altars and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one. At Balaam’s instruction, the king would wait by his offerings while Balaam went aside to hear from God. Each time, Balaam would come back to the king with a word from God — not a curse for Israel, but a blessing. Each time the blessing was more lavish and effusive. The second blessing is a personal favorite. Here’s Eugene Peterson’s Message translation as it appears in Numbers 23:

On your feet, Balak. Listen,
    listen carefully son of Zippor:
God is not man, one given to lies,
    and not a son of man changing his mind.
Does he speak and not do what he says?
    Does he promise and not come through?
I was brought here to bless;
    and now he’s blessed—how can I change that?
He has no bone to pick with Jacob,
    he sees nothing wrong with Israel.
God is with them,
    and they’re with him, shouting praises to their King.
God brought them out of Egypt,
    rampaging like a wild ox.
No magic spells can bind Jacob,
    no incantations can hold back Israel.
People will look at Jacob and Israel and say,
    “What a great thing has God done!”
Look, a people rising to its feet, stretching like a lion,
    a king-of-the-beasts, aroused,
Unsleeping, unresting until its hunt is over
    and it’s eaten and drunk its fill.

The king couldn’t stand it! He confronted Balaam saying in effect, “I brought you here to curse my enemies, and all you did was bless them!” Balaam protested that he had already told the king that He wasn’t allowed to deviate from what God told him to say.

The end of the alliance

As they relocated to the third location with the construction of the seven altars and the sacrifices of bulls and rams, the Bible says Balaam didn’t engage in his usual sorcery. Instead, he looked at the camp of Israel and spoke prophetically, blessing Israel and condemning Balak — and some other neighboring tribes for good measure.

Naturally, Balak was furious, and sent Balaam away without paying him anything. Both men returned home. End of story.

To be continued?

This episode in scripture seems to be one with a good ending. A prophet is solicited to do evil and steadfastly refuses to defy the will of God. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, as I will explain in my next post.

So how about you? In what ways are you becoming more mature in your faith? What has surprised you most about the process? Add your comments below.

“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
-Mark Twain

Perhaps you’ve heard or read a news item on the findings of a new report on religion in America published by the Pew Research Center. The link to America’s Changing Religious Landscape appears here. The main point reported is that the number of Americans who identify as Christians (a/k/a disciples or Christ-followers) has decreased by roughly eight percentage points over the past seven years. At the same time, the number of Americans who declare themselves atheist, agnostic or otherwise unaffiliated (a/k/a the “nones“) has increased by nearly seven percentage points over the same period. This latter group comprises over a third of the millennial cohort.

Truth isn’t fragile. It can withstand all our questions.

What’s happening?

Let’s begin with the facts. First, the most significant decreases in Christian affiliation seem to be among the historic mainline denominations. These groups decreased by 3.4 percentage points over the previous seven years. Those identifying as Roman Catholic also decreased in number, falling three percentage points.* Evangelical Christians — whether denominational or non-denominational — declined by less than one percentage point, and historically black churches remained similarly stable.

So far this is not surprising, as anyone who has been part of one of the mainline denominations knows that this is a continuation of a longer trend. Speaking only about the changes among self-identified mainline protestants, I can say that these denominations have been the most liberal in their theology and hold the least authoritative view of scripture. Although they may have strict teachings on recycling, they tend not to make many demands on their members, preferring instead a therapeutic approach to spirituality. More on this in a moment.

Who moved?

The change in affiliation is more pronounced among millennials and intensifies among the youngest adults. I won’t pretend that this is news, either. When I was a youth group leader two decades ago, older church members lamented that the young people would likely leave not just our mainline denomination, but the church altogether once they went to college.

What is new is that a larger percentage of these young adults raised in the church no longer feel even a sentimental attachment, preferring to declare as something other than Christian. This does not necessarily signify the absence of a spiritual life, however.

Was it something we said?

The Pew report doesn’t explain the reasons for the changing religious landscape, and apart from my first-hand observations, I am not prepared to offer a definitive explanation. I will say, though, that this is a moment for the church to examine itself — especially as it fulfills its mission to proclaim the good news to every people group in every generation. We must speak the truth in love — and in a way that connects with people as they are, where they are.

The New York Times opined that Christianity’s teachings on traditional sexual morality have alienated younger people — particularly over issues such as same-sex marriage. If that were correct, the more conservative segments — specifically evangelical Protestants — would see  the sharpest declines. Instead, those churches with more demanding teachings regarding personal holiness are holding steady as a percentage of the population, even as they increase in absolute numbers.

Fair weather friends?

I was part of a congregation that left a denomination (amicably) over the issue of baptism. The main point of contention was that adults whose nominally Christian parents had baptized them as infants wanted to be baptized as believers.

Faithful people can and do disagree over matters such as these, but I bring this up because 20th century America accomplished something the church fathers never imagined — a society in which following Jesus was no longer counter-cultural. In the first century many Christians became martyrs because of their allegiance to Christ. In the 20th century, all nice families had their children baptized and showed up at church from time to time because it was what decent people did.

Climate change?

Perhaps we are entering a period where, once again, Christians will have to choose between allegiance to Caesar and faithfulness to Christ. The church in such a climate will no longer be the club of the comfortable and the connected. Although it is nothing anyone would wish for, persecution of the church has nearly always resulted in growth. Christians are experiencing persecution around the world; perhaps we should no longer expect to be immune.

Faithful churches should not shilly-shally, nor should we tell skeptics and spiritual seekers that following Jesus is without cost. We are, after all, called to take up our cross — the instrument of His death for us — and follow Him. If we or our neighbors aren’t yet ready to accept this, it’s better that we are all honest in how we identify ourselves. This is certainly better than playing church.

You can’t be half-pregnant

If you’re one of the “nones” and you’re reading here, welcome! Please continue to visit and feel free to comment and subscribe. I have no intention of trying to trick you into believing in Jesus, nor of arguing you into His kingdom. But I do hope you’ll consider the unique claims of Christianity and the facts that support them. And I hope that as you do, you will become convinced enough to trust Jesus to be your atonement.

If you’re visiting a church while you work through these questions, don’t stop. But please recognize that the act of going to church is not what makes you a Christian any more than going to the zoo will make you an elephant. Since our faith resides in a relationship, you can’t sort-of be a Christian. You are or you aren’t.

A vibrant marketplace

There are more options than ever — and you are still free to choose what or whether to believe. That’s a function of moral agency and free will. Your church-going neighbors’ heads aren’t going to explode if you tell them you’re an atheist.

I have heard some people say it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you really believe it. I call B.S. (i.e., Biblical Supremacy) on that idea. If you are sincere in your belief about something wrong, you are sincerely mistaken. What you believe — about God, about life, about yourself, about your place in the universe — matters a great deal.

And yet

It’s not like cramming for a doctrine exam. As God reveals Himself in the Bible, we see Him as a righteous judge, but also as a loving Father who scans the horizon for His lost sons, who actively seeks to rescue them from their own foolishness and restore them.

St. Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until we find our rest in You.”So if you are honest in seeking Truth, God will meet you in your quest. And when you know you’re loved, believing and following Him become much easier.

So how about you? What tribe do you belong to — and why? Add your comment below.

*I would appreciate any Catholic readers’ insights into the likely causes of the decrease in Catholic affiliation. I can speculate, but would prefer an inside perspective.

“Then he taught me, and he said to me, ‘Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.’” – Proverbs 4:4-9 (NIV)

Over the weekend, I took Mrs. Booth to see the movie Hacksaw Ridge — the true story of World War II Army medic Desmond Doss. It is as frank in its depiction of combat and human destruction as anything I’ve seen since Saving Private Ryan, and it is also the most uplifting story I may have ever seen.

Meet Desmond Doss

The facts of Desmond Doss’s life are a matter of history. A devout Christian and a pacifist raised in the hills around Lynchburg,VA, volunteers to serve in World War II. His convictions forbid him to even handle a gun, so he enlists with the purpose of becoming a combat medic.

Medal of Honor Recipient Cpl. Desmond T. Doss (photo courtesy of the Desmond Doss Council)

Assigned to Fort Jackson, SC, Doss finds himself in a rifle battalion, where his officers and his fellow soldiers accuse him of cowardice and harass him trying to hound him out of the Army — even subjecting him to a court-martial for refusing a direct order to handle a weapon. But Private Doss didn’t waver in his faith or go along to get along to make the trouble go away.

Desmond Doss and his battalion saw combat in the Pacific, ultimately participating in the bloodiest battle of that theater — the battle for Okinawa, set atop a 400-foot cliff known as the escarpment. Desmond Doss did not carry a weapon into that carnage — only his Bible and his faith. When the enemy counter-attacked, the Americans retreated from the top of the escarpment — all of them except Desmond Doss. And he single-handedly rescued at least 75 wounded men, retrieving their broken bodies while under hostile fire, moving within yards of enemy soldiers. As he tended each soldier, he carried each man to the edge of the cliff lowering him into US hands.

Who is this guy?

The movie does a good job of conveying that it was Desmond’s faith in God, and his desire to please God that motivated him to resist the taking of life, but that also motivated him to serve. When the war began, Desmond was eligible for a deferral based on his work in a naval shipyard. He felt it was his duty to serve, so he chose the more difficult path of honor.

And during the night as he lowered his wounded comrades away from danger, he prayed through his fatigue: “Lord, let me get just one more.” I wondered if this was simply Hollywood gloss, but in a documentary titled The Conscientious Objector, Desmond Doss explains that this was indeed his prayer.

The takeaways from “Hacksaw Ridge”

I hope you’ll see the movie, but if not, here are the main takeaways I left with:

1. We need stories. As we’ve discussed before, there’s much less benefit to telling a man to “Man up,” than there is in telling a story of a man who was willing to put principle ahead of his own comfort.
2. We need heroes. Too many people we enshrine as heroes will let you down if you study them closely enough. Here, at least, is one case, where a man walked unarmed into Hell to save his fellow-man. He even provided care to some wounded Japanese soldiers. The fact that one man was able to do this inspires me to aim higher.
3. Freedom of conscience is necessary — and expensive. Just to have the right to go into combat — unarmed — with is battalion Doss had to suffer the insults, the beatings, the extra duty, and the mischaracterization of his motives.
4. Even when you’re right, sometimes you have to absorb the hit. Conscientious objectors like those practicing civil disobedience have the right to express themselves. And defying authority usually brings consequences. Doss never lashed out at the unfair treatment he received. He stuck to his principles and trusted God to work it out.
5. One man can make a difference. Desmond Doss’s devotion to God and country impelled him toward danger again and again. As a result, 75 men who almost certainly would have died of their wounds or been finished off by the enemy lived.

The rest of the story

Desmond Doss sustained multiple wounds from enemy snipers and grenades. Even when it was his turn to be carried from the battlefield, he insisted that a more critically wounded soldier be carried on the stretcher he occupied at the time. For his most conspicuous gallantry and willingness to put himself in harm’s way for his fellow soldiers, Corporal Desmond Doss received the Congressional Medal of Honor — the first conscientious objector to receive the nation’s highest military honor.Desmond Doss had numerous health problems resulting from his wounds, but he lived well into old age giving honor to God.

A lot of times, a movie based on a true story takes liberties to make it seem better. In the case of Desmond Doss, the truth is even better than Hollywood, as I hope you’ll see.

So how about you? What stories make you want to be a better man? Add your comments below.

“An appeaser is a person who feeds the crocodile in hopes of being eaten last.” – Winston Churchill

Like many of you, I am feeling shock and anger at last Friday’s attacks in Paris. I have spent time in and around Paris and have friends there, so this is not purely academic for me. Despite the stereotypes that we and the French have of each other, they are wonderful people and they are suffering the loss of their culture and their country.

The displays of support for France and its people are appropriate, and we should not forget to pray for our friends and allies. There is, however, one specific aspect of the public reaction that I want to address.

Paris, je t’aime

Misreading the lessons

We have all seen scores of articles on the internet and multiple comments on social media, but the reaction by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar stands out for its breathtaking wrong-headedness. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “friends from the whole world,  thank you for #prayforparis, but we don’t need more religion! Our faith goes to Music! Kisses! Life! Champagne and joy!” In saying this, he equates praying for Paris with the death-cult that spawned the attack.

By now, I’m sort of used to the tired arguments of atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens who claim, among other things, that religion — any religion and all religions — are alike in that they make everything worse. However, I would expect more incisive reasoning from a professional satirist, and even more from a satirist whose colleagues were assassinated by Islamist terrorists. As the late Chuck Colson used to say, “Worldviews have consequences.”

Statistics

The most important statistic is that as of this writing 129 people have died and 352 more suffered wounds at the hands of Islamist terrorists. Let’s state this plainly: the terrorists butchered French civilians simply because they weren’t Muslim. Mr. Sfar asserts that all religions are at worst harmful and at best unnecessary. Let’s put that to the test.

Critics of Christianity invariably cite the Crusades and the Inquisition as deliberate killing done in the name of Christ. Duly noted; however, it is critically important to note that both events occurred over 1,000 years ago, and also that no one defends the Inquisition or its methods. Total deaths attributable to the Crusades — including mortal wounds, disease and starvation on both sides — total approximately one million dead. I’m willing to consider other entries, if you have any, but let’s agree that these are the most prominent efforts credited with killing in the name of Christianity.

As bad as this was, we must now consider the deaths attributable to anti-religious ideologies. The deaths attributable to Nazism under Hitler and Communism under Stalin account for a staggering 66 million deaths.

The number of people killed in the name of their killers’ faith (or of a secular ideology) is not uniformly distributed. Therefore, it is incorrect to say “religion” is responsible for bloodshed. Perhaps this is the stuff of secularist fairy tales, but note that the ideologies that say there is no god seem to be the most willing to kill their neighbors. And when they do, they promise the establishment/return of some gilded age once the “wrong people” depart. This is the essence of totalitarianism.

What God hath wrought?

Just in case you’ve been too busy lately clamoring for the ouster of a university chancellor, I’m going to take some of our time here to point out just a few achievements of western civilization, and especially those motivated by devotion to Christ. Consider the multiple cultural contributions of Christianity in

Art – consider the great masterpieces depicting the lives of the saints or stories from the Bible. The church was the primary patron of visual artists, making it possible for creatives to make a living practicing their gifts. Contrast this with the DAESH crew destroying works of art and historic antiquities. Anyone who thinks these are the same is mis-educated.

Music – For just one example, look at the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, who inscribed each of his scored with the initials S.D.G. — abbreviating the Latin phrase “Soli Deo Gloria” — to the glory of God alone.

Literature – The entire market for authors developed as a result of literacy among the populace. This resulted from John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible into the language of the people. Compare this to the Taliban’s destruction of schools or the actions of  Boko Haram, whose name literally means “Western learning forbidden.”

Politics and law – The entire notion of natural law came from the biblical belief in an orderly universe presided over by an infinite personal God. Our democratic republic and the idea of natural rights derived from the Creator is an idea directly traceable to the Bible. The Ten Commandments spell out the bedrock of our civil law — particularly in the ream of property rights and individual liberty.

Education – I know it seems impossible, but the first American universities were founded by Christians for the furtherance of the good news of Jesus. I am speaking specifically but not exclusively about those dens of progressivism/leftism Harvard and Yale. You could look it up.

Social reforms – Christians led the way in the abolition of slavery and child labor. The first century church upset the established order by valuing women and children — the foundation of the human rights movement.

There’s more I could say regarding Christianity’s gifts to the world in the realms of science, medicine, and generosity, but I hope these few examples will illustrate that religions are not the same in their beliefs nor in their effects.

Whodunnit — and why?

Let’s dispense with all the sentimental hanky-wringing and cut to the truth. Neither poverty, alienation or climate change had anything to do with the terror attacks in Lebanon or Paris. How do I know?

The following is an excerpt of the statement released by DAESH following Friday night’s attacks in Paris:

In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate (may Allah strengthen and support it) set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the cross in Europe — Paris. This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah’s sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him), and His allies. They did so in spite of His enemies. Thus, they were truthful with Allah — we consider them so — and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the crusaders in their very own homeland.

And so eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. These targets included the Stade de France stadium during a soccer match — between the teams of Germany and France, both of which are crusader nations — attended by the imbecile of France (Francois Hollande). The targets included the Bataclan theatre for exhibitions, where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice. There were also simultaneous attacks on other targets in the tenth, eleventh, and eighteenth districts, and elsewhere. Paris was thereby shaken beneath the crusaders’ feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than two hundred crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace, and favor belong to Allah.

Allah blessed our brothers and granted them what they desired. They detonated their explosive belts in the masses of the disbelievers after finishing all their ammunition. We ask Allah to accept them amongst the martyrs and to allow us to follow them.

Let France and all nations following its path know that they will continue to be at the top of the target list for the Islamic State and that the scent of death will not leave their nostrils as long as they partake in the crusader campaign, as long as they dare to curse our Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), and as long as they boast about their war against Islam in France and their strikes against Muslims in the lands of the Caliphate with their jets, which were of no avail to them in the filthy streets and alleys of Paris. Indeed, this is just the beginning. It is also a warning for any who wish to take heed.”

Notice how the terrorists refer to France and Germany “bearer of the cross” and “crusader nations”. Notice also that although France is among the most secular nations of Western Europe, DAESH refers to France as a Christian nation, as well as a den of vice and prostitution. So to you who wish to tar all religions with a broad brush, which is it? Is France secular or a nation of Christian crusaders? Nobody said the terrorists were masters of logic. I’m pointing this out for your benefit, as I will explain.

You can’t fight something with nothing

Those who want to persist in the notion that all religions are the same, and that all religions are evil, must take responsibility for answering the following question and for living with the consequences of their answer. Here is the question: Faced with Islamist terror, with what will you oppose it?

Do you understand that they have a plan to destroy the West, to destroy Europe, and to destroy the US? Will your absence of religion make you seem pure in their eyes, or will that simply make you more deserving of death or easier to conquer? Do not forget that while Christianity gave up forced conversions over 500 years ago, they are still part of the toolkit in the Dar al Islam.

There is no negotiating with the Islamists. If, as they assert they will, they conquer the West, your choices will be:
1) convert
2) pay the jizya — an exorbitant tax — and live as a dhimmi, a virtual slave
3) die
4) leave — but if the West falls, where you will you go?

Choose

So unless you think Sharia law is just great with you, you must decide to resist Islamism. There are plenty of examples already of what happens to the vanquished men (beheadings on a Libyan beach) and the captured women (enslaved, sold, and gang raped) to steel your spine. The question is, are you willing to face your error in asserting that there is no difference between Christianity and Islamism, this misbegotten belief that “religion” is the source of everything wrong?

Mark Steyn has observed that the only thing that can hold off the advance of militant Islamism is a robust Christianity. Think about it. And for the sake of those you love, make up your mind.

Disclaimer: I have Muslim business associates, and I consider them friends, so note that I differentiate between Muslims and Islamists. I have also seen over the weekend something I did not see following the attacks on September 11, 2001 — Local Muslim clerics denouncing the terrorist violence in Paris. Good for them.

One last thought

In the eyes of the Islamists seeking establishment of the Caliphate, any westerner who isn’t a Muslim or a Jew, is regarded as a Christian. Since you’re already lumped in with us, you might want to consider living among us as one of us. We won’t cut off your head with a rusty knife. We won’t enslave your sister. We will ensure your liberty and affirm your dignity as a child of God. And through His death and resurrection, Jesus will give you hope that transcends this life. If you’re afraid, that may be a sign that you need to come home.

So how about you? How does your worldview enable you to see the roots and the fruits of competing ideologies? Add your comments below.

“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
-Mark Twain

Perhaps you’ve heard or read a news item on the findings of a new report on religion in America published by the Pew Research Center. The link to America’s Changing Religious Landscape appears here. The main point reported is that the number of Americans who identify as Christians (a/k/a disciples or Christ-followers) has decreased by roughly eight percentage points over the past seven years. At the same time, the number of Americans who declare themselves atheist, agnostic or otherwise unaffiliated (a/k/a the “nones“) has increased by nearly seven percentage points over the same period. This latter group comprises over a third of the millennial cohort.

Truth isn’t fragile. It can withstand all our questions.

What’s happening?

Let’s begin with the facts. First, the most significant decreases in Christian affiliation seem to be among the historic mainline denominations. These groups decreased by 3.4 percentage points over the previous seven years. Those identifying as Roman Catholic also decreased in number, falling three percentage points.* Evangelical Christians — whether denominational or non-denominational — declined by less than one percentage point, and historically black churches remained similarly stable.

So far this is not surprising, as anyone who has been part of one of the mainline denominations knows that this is a continuation of a longer trend. Speaking only about the changes among self-identified mainline protestants, I can say that these denominations have been the most liberal in their theology and hold the least authoritative view of scripture. Although they may have strict teachings on recycling, they tend not to make many demands on their members, preferring instead a therapeutic approach to spirituality. More on this in a moment.

Who moved?

The change in affiliation is more pronounced among millennials and intensifies among the youngest adults. I won’t pretend that this is news, either. When I was a youth group leader two decades ago, older church members lamented that the young people would likely leave not just our mainline denomination, but the church altogether once they went to college.

What is new is that a larger percentage of these young adults raised in the church no longer feel even a sentimental attachment, preferring to declare as something other than Christian. This does not necessarily signify the absence of a spiritual life, however.

Was it something we said?

The Pew report doesn’t explain the reasons for the changing religious landscape, and apart from my first-hand observations, I am not prepared to offer a definitive explanation. I will say, though, that this is a moment for the church to examine itself — especially as it fulfills its mission to proclaim the good news to every people group in every generation. We must speak the truth in love — and in a way that connects with people as they are, where they are.

The New York Times opined that Christianity’s teachings on traditional sexual morality have alienated younger people — particularly over issues such as same-sex marriage. If that were correct, the more conservative segments — specifically evangelical Protestants — would see  the sharpest declines. Instead, those churches with more demanding teachings regarding personal holiness are holding steady as a percentage of the population, even as they increase in absolute numbers.

Fair weather friends?

I was part of a congregation that left a denomination (amicably) over the issue of baptism. The main point of contention was that adults whose nominally Christian parents had baptized them as infants wanted to be baptized as believers.

Faithful people can and do disagree over matters such as these, but I bring this up because 20th century America accomplished something the church fathers never imagined — a society in which following Jesus was no longer counter-cultural. In the first century many Christians became martyrs because of their allegiance to Christ. In the 20th century, all nice families had their children baptized and showed up at church from time to time because it was what decent people did.

Climate change?

Perhaps we are entering a period where, once again, Christians will have to choose between allegiance to Caesar and faithfulness to Christ. The church in such a climate will no longer be the club of the comfortable and the connected. Although it is nothing anyone would wish for, persecution of the church has nearly always resulted in growth. Christians are experiencing persecution around the world; perhaps we should no longer expect to be immune.

Faithful churches should not shilly-shally, nor should we tell skeptics and spiritual seekers that following Jesus is without cost. We are, after all, called to take up our cross — the instrument of His death for us — and follow Him. If we or our neighbors aren’t yet ready to accept this, it’s better that we are all honest in how we identify ourselves. This is certainly better than playing church.

You can’t be half-pregnant

If you’re one of the “nones” and you’re reading here, welcome! Please continue to visit and feel free to comment and subscribe. I have no intention of trying to trick you into believing in Jesus, nor of arguing you into His kingdom. But I do hope you’ll consider the unique claims of Christianity and the facts that support them. And I hope that as you do, you will become convinced enough to trust Jesus to be your atonement.

If you’re visiting a church while you work through these questions, don’t stop. But please recognize that the act of going to church is not what makes you a Christian any more than going to the zoo will make you an elephant. Since our faith resides in a relationship, you can’t sort-of be a Christian. You are or you aren’t.

A vibrant marketplace

There are more options than ever — and you are still free to choose what or whether to believe. That’s a function of moral agency and free will. Your church-going neighbors’ heads aren’t going to explode if you tell them you’re an atheist.

I have heard some people say it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you really believe it. I call B.S. (i.e., Biblical Supremacy) on that idea. If you are sincere in your belief about something wrong, you are sincerely mistaken. What you believe — about God, about life, about yourself, about your place in the universe — matters a great deal.

And yet

It’s not like cramming for a doctrine exam. As God reveals Himself in the Bible, we see Him as a righteous judge, but also as a loving Father who scans the horizon for His lost sons, who actively seeks to rescue them from their own foolishness and restore them.

St. Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until we find our rest in You.”So if you are honest in seeking Truth, God will meet you in your quest. And when you know you’re loved, believing and following Him become much easier.

So how about you? What tribe do you belong to — and why? Add your comment below.

*I would appreciate any Catholic readers’ insights into the likely causes of the decrease in Catholic affiliation. I can speculate, but would prefer an inside perspective.