"The modern world is running on the fumes of Christianity. It wants the peace Christianity provides, but it does not want Jesus Christ." - excellent observation Patrick.
Great point. As a Christian, you can no longer coast on cultural Christianity. If you can’t draw truth from Scripture yourself, you’ll become a believer in name only.
For generations, Christians could survive spiritually by osmosis. You lived in a culture where Biblical literacy was assumed. Pastors and priests genuinely knew Scripture. Your neighbors shared basic Christian assumptions about reality.
You could "surf" on this common knowledge without personally diving deep. Those days are over.
Today, Christians are surrounded by hostility. This isn't persecution paranoia. It's pattern recognition. The cultural supports that once held Biblical wisdom in place have collapsed.
Your coworkers don't share your assumptions about meaning, purpose, or even basic categories like good and evil. Your children's teachers actively oppose Biblical worldviews.
The experts you once trusted - academics, media, even many religious leaders - either don't know Scripture themselves or actively undermine it. You simply can't delegate your Biblical literacy anymore.
When someone attacks the concept of objective truth, you need to know how Scripture addresses this.
When your teenager is confronted with the complexities of gender identity, you need Biblical anthropology at your fingertips.
When anxiety and depression hit and the culture offers only pharmaceutical or therapeutic solutions, you need to know the Biblical pattern of exile and return, death and resurrection.
It's like living behind enemy lines. You can't rely on supply drops from home base. You need survival skills personally internalized. The Bible becomes your map, compass, and supply cache all in one.
But here’s the good news the way I see it. This forced self-reliance may produce stronger, more authentic faith than cultural Christianity ever could. When you personally know Scripture, you stop being a cultural Christian and become a Biblical one.
"The modern world is running on the fumes of Christianity. It wants the peace Christianity provides, but it does not want Jesus Christ." - excellent observation Patrick.
thanks mike!
Great point. As a Christian, you can no longer coast on cultural Christianity. If you can’t draw truth from Scripture yourself, you’ll become a believer in name only.
For generations, Christians could survive spiritually by osmosis. You lived in a culture where Biblical literacy was assumed. Pastors and priests genuinely knew Scripture. Your neighbors shared basic Christian assumptions about reality.
You could "surf" on this common knowledge without personally diving deep. Those days are over.
Today, Christians are surrounded by hostility. This isn't persecution paranoia. It's pattern recognition. The cultural supports that once held Biblical wisdom in place have collapsed.
Your coworkers don't share your assumptions about meaning, purpose, or even basic categories like good and evil. Your children's teachers actively oppose Biblical worldviews.
The experts you once trusted - academics, media, even many religious leaders - either don't know Scripture themselves or actively undermine it. You simply can't delegate your Biblical literacy anymore.
When someone attacks the concept of objective truth, you need to know how Scripture addresses this.
When your teenager is confronted with the complexities of gender identity, you need Biblical anthropology at your fingertips.
When anxiety and depression hit and the culture offers only pharmaceutical or therapeutic solutions, you need to know the Biblical pattern of exile and return, death and resurrection.
It's like living behind enemy lines. You can't rely on supply drops from home base. You need survival skills personally internalized. The Bible becomes your map, compass, and supply cache all in one.
But here’s the good news the way I see it. This forced self-reliance may produce stronger, more authentic faith than cultural Christianity ever could. When you personally know Scripture, you stop being a cultural Christian and become a Biblical one.