Dr. Stephen Wolfe
This should be true, however if the Church remains silent for very long eventually the magistrate will not promote true religion. Equally, if magistrates do not promote true religion over a sustained period of time eventually neither will the Church.
The Church and State (and family) are three distinct but interdependent co-ordinate agencies and are the Jurisdictional authority centers in any given culture / social order. (Think three legged stool.) If any of these three institutions goes belly up and if the other two will not course correct for the third one that has gone bad, then the consequence will be that eventually all will go bad.
No culture /social order can last long that is divided against itself. Jesus Himself said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” As such a culture /social order, except in times of decided turmoil, will always be uniformly religious in their civil social life, their family life, and their church life. Apart from this reality the culture / social order will be in friction and turmoil.
Take these united States right now. Right now we are, speaking in general and not universal terms, a humanist people and that humanism is present in all of our civil Institutions, including and especially the Christian church. (Remember, exceptions exist.) Biblical Christian folks will not rise very high in our current Institutions because our current Institutions are agreed that Biblical Christianity cannot be allowed to rise to challenges the current Institutional non-Christian realities. If Biblical Christians do manage to climb somewhat in our current humanist Institutions they will reach a point where they will be silenced, or they will silence themselves realizing how dangerous it would be to speak out as a Biblical Christian.
I had this last point above brought out to me recently when attending an event with a large number of Christian clergy present. One of those clergy members who belonged to a Reformed “conservative” denominational structure pulled me aside and said quite encouragingly, “Don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone. There are many people out here who agree with you. You’re merely saying the things out loud that the rest of us are saying quietly.” Well, why are these chaps in the position of only being able to say what I say, “out loud” quietly? It is clearly because they know if they say what I say out loud they are going to be descended upon and be silenced by their “Reformed” “Conservative” denomination. So, they silently, from a distance cheer me on but dare not cheer too loudly or join in the contest too directly knowing the penalty that will be paid if they speak their mind without horns or teeth. Let me be clear here. As I said above, I found the chap who pulled me aside to be encouraging. I understand perfectly why he and many like him can only speak “quietly” what I am speaking loudly. I understand that people (clergy) have wives and children who are dependent upon them. I understand that people (clergy) may well decide that the cost is too high and it is better to wait a more opportune time to speak more loudly. I wish they would speak out with me but I understand why they don’t believe they can.
Cultures / Social Orders rise and fall together religiously. No culture / social order will last long divided against itself.
Addendum
By the way, this explains the whole R2K phenomenon. R2K realizes the above is true and so, seeking to operate in (and also perpetuate) the current humanist culture / social order it silences the voice of Christianity in the pulpit on matters that the prevailing humanist religion is insistent about. In such a way “Reformed” and “Conservative” Christianity can retain its form without having to stand for Christ. It can tell itself that it really is “Christian,” when in point of fact it is merely emptying historic Reformed and conservative Christianity of its content as the Dangeld payment given up in order to be allowed to function in a humanist culture.
Pastor,
Firstly, THANK YOU for continuing to bravely speak boldly. Your work and words encourage me whenever I engage and I’m truly thankful for your work, your teams support of you engaging in that work, and of course to the Lord giving you a home church and platform.
For the Reformed “conservative” denominational pastor, the word he was likely searching for but avoided is cowardice. Whispering in support of the man who boldly speaks Truth while the hangman lowers the rope around his neck is complicit. What he tells himself at night as his head hits the pillow I cannot imagine. I do not envy church leaders for the double dose of scrutiny at Judgement. But perhaps their Fear of God will shape them into men while they are still here.
And on Christians being in positions of Institutional power now: I don’t believe that Babble can be “disassembled” by man’s decision to stop doing evil. I believe the simplest, and saddest, path forward is through the valley of pain associated with a complete implosion across the modern world’s structures of power. I hope I am not discounting the Sovereign power of our Lord, but past events are good indicators of future states and we’ve seen this play before.
Hello Walt,
Thank you for your kind words.
I agree with you on your analysis of the trajectory of matters. Apart from a remarkable providence (and they have happened in past history) we will not arise out of the historical circumstances we are in without first experiencing widespread crashing of a unpleasant variety.
If we, as Christians, have to go through the valley of pain, the Lord Christ will be present with us.
Blessings and thanks for stopping by,