Culture Rot

18“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15: 18 - 21 NKJV

I glanced over a post from Wayne Jacobsen this week with at least a sense of familiarity for his topic.  The post concerned a recent book by Rod Dreher titled The Benedict Option, which is apparently causing quite a stir among the christian community.  In his book, Dreher cites the work of Saint Benedict who created monasteries to combat the collapse of the Roman empire.  Now, I'm assuming that what the author was refering to the perversion of the Roman culture which some say would have made todays culture degredation seem like a G rated movie.  So, it was Benedict who created monasteries in order to protect the gospel from the evils of Roman society, I get it.  However, knowing the state of our modern liberal orchestrated culture rot, would simply withdrawing from a man made society be the best thing for christianity?  I say no.  The bigger question which we need to be asking ourselves is will our Lords gospel ever be diminished or destroyed by mankind?  Again, I would say no.  There is something interesting which I have known for quite some time.  That is, some of the largest christian churchs across the world are found in countries where christians are persecuted more than accepted.  In fact, a few of the largest christian churches can be found in China and North Korea.  So, what is the common denominator with China and the Norks?  OPPRESSION!  It is my opinion that the harder a government pushes against a countries christians, the stronger the desire of the people to cling to the gospel of Christ Jesus...which offers hope to those oppressed.  It is for this very reason that I do not believe that the gospel of Jesus will EVER be taken away.  For as long as there are followers of Jesus, His words will find a way into the hearts of Gods children.

5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4: 5 - 6 NKJV

As I mentioned, I have been aware of the fall of our modern culture for some time.  I see a culture where it's illegal to take another life, unless it's a LIVING unborn child.  I see a culture where theft is illegal, unless you have money and influence.  I see a culture where lies, obscene language and behavior is now considered common.  This is our modern culture rot.  Strangely enough, despite all of the perversions of our modern society, we continue to be one of the strongest christian cultures the world has ever known.  So, would withdrawing from society really be a good idea to protect the gospel of Jesus?  Well, since the gospel has flourished in oppressive nations as well as those where society has taken the moral low road...I'd say not all.  We do well to remember that although our heavenly Father created the heavens and all that we see, this culture of ours is a man made entity.  The words of Christ Jesus have survived not only the degredation of the Roman culture but our own immorality as well.  Gods word will eventually be revealed to those who need hear it most.

~Scott~