I have several blogs that are in the works, though it’s been quite a busy summer. However, I just wanted to drop a quick note for reflection. I’ve written about this before, particularly in summarizing Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ reflection on the French Revolution, but we have been witnessing an ongoing power struggle for the last few years. Perhaps this is best illustrated by the occasion of The Reformation in which a “Second Front” opened up leading the Reformers to not only to contend with Rome, but also the Radicals of the Reformation, later derogatorily called the Anabaptists. We are familiar with the account of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, etc. and the distancing from Rome, but most of us are not all that familiar with those who thought the Reformation needed to go further. As we may recall, the reformers did not want a clean break from the State, indeed Luther sought refuge from the State in order to protect him from Rome. Early Protestantism was linked arm in arm with State (see also the Church of England), just as Rome had been, though sometimes the latter was reflective of Papalism other times Erastianism. The Anabaptists wanted to see this relationship completely severed. This left them on the outside, being both a target of enmity from the State and from the Reformers. Many Anabaptists were persecuted and killed by both parties. In other words, they had two enemies, the State-Church of Roman Catholics and the State-Church of the magisterial reformers.
With this brief historical background in mind, we come to the purpose for this short post. As in the days of the Reformation, today we are witnessing a power struggle, and religion is intermingling with the powers of the State. On the one hand are those who want to infuse evangelicalism with liberalism, that of woke ideology, Critical Race Theory, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. On the other hand, are those who have already infused evangelicalism with politically conservative ideology equating the two in what amounts to Christless Conservatism or Cultural Christianity. This latter group, the offspring of the 1980s Moral Majority or Religious Right, is seen as a political powerhouse particularly by the conservative base (MAGA). Because of this, and shared values on even some theological positions, a more recent position representing Christian Nationalism has infiltrated and attempted to co-opt this brand of evangelicalism.
Which leaves those like me exposed on the Second Front just as the Anabaptists were. Caught in the middle between the expanse of liberal theology that’s being promoted at the highest levels of government, business, and religion and those who wish to see Christianity as the dominant religion of the land regulating unbelieving citizens by the law of God. The former are setting the stage for a Marxist-socialist regime while the latter are laying the groundwork for a totalitarian dictator. The former is an obvious error while the latter is more subversive, operating under the guise of conservative Christianity.
What then are we to do? We need to prepare ourselves mentally, physically, and most importantly spiritually. Seek to develop local community of likeminded believers. Finally, continue being faithful to the Lord in our personal walk with him, within our families, and among those whom God puts in our path.
May God be merciful.
Soli Deo Gloria
