What political developments had the most impact on the church in the 20th century?
When I read this question I read it in light of a quote that I have recently been exposed to and one that resonates with me.
When asked "Do you go to church?" a man answered "How can you go to something that you are?"
So I read it as looking to find what political developments had the most impact on those who made up the church and how those things continue to impact the body of believers. Since the scriptures tell us that "as a man thinks, so he is" I would have to posit that the political developments that changed the way we think as people the most - and by that I mean thoughts moving away from biblical thought - would have the greatest impact.
And so, I landed on two things.
The first was the move during the communist era to equate "being American" with "going to church." I saw this as almost equal to the decree by Constantine that first flooded the church with non-believers (or non-regenerate membership) and, in this author's opinion, did more damage than any battle with the lions ever could. What it did was make "being Christian" a social thing. This opened the door widely for moves from biblical Christianity, where the church was a living organism, to Religious Participation, where the church again became a rigid organization.
Unfortunately, in many areas... it wasn't rigid either and practices that would come to subvert the gospel would become common.
The second was feminism. But not feminism in the sense of fighting for rights. Which was a victory. But feminism in its subversive form. You see, the bible teaches equality between men and women as sons and daughters of God. But feminism teaches not that men and women are equal but that there is no difference between men and women. This is a critical twist.
It would appear that the failure of many men to be the spiritual head of their household, and often to abuse that position, tipped the scales so drastically to one side that an equally drastic shift occur to offset it, fully passing the balance of equality that the bible prescribes.
Biblical equality recognizes the inherent value of every person while adhering to an order of responsibility that is also prescribed and reflects the relationship between Christ and the church.
The feminist movement, which happened predominantly outside of the church was not seeking this as an end but was seeking that it be seen that there is no difference between men and women. And, since the church was filled with non-regenerate members in so many denominations, this agenda was also pushed within the churches and church polity suffered.
As this seed was accepted it took its natural course that if there is no difference between men and women, then, homosexually is non existant.
It is simple math. IF Man = Woman.. then... Man + Woman = Man + Man... AND.... Woman + Man = Woman + Woman. This logic, which is sound if we accept the initial hypothesis that there is no difference between men and women, is propogated throughout not only the church, but within the public school system which many churched children go through.
Wars come and go. Economies rise and fall. But when a political development or movement can change the way people think... then you have something that will stay.
Would any of the church fathers who read the letters to Timothy or Titus ever have imagined that one day their would be openly homosexual women filling the office of "Pastor?" And yet, because of the developments sighted above, there are.
SDG
When I read this question I read it in light of a quote that I have recently been exposed to and one that resonates with me.
When asked "Do you go to church?" a man answered "How can you go to something that you are?"
So I read it as looking to find what political developments had the most impact on those who made up the church and how those things continue to impact the body of believers. Since the scriptures tell us that "as a man thinks, so he is" I would have to posit that the political developments that changed the way we think as people the most - and by that I mean thoughts moving away from biblical thought - would have the greatest impact.
And so, I landed on two things.
The first was the move during the communist era to equate "being American" with "going to church." I saw this as almost equal to the decree by Constantine that first flooded the church with non-believers (or non-regenerate membership) and, in this author's opinion, did more damage than any battle with the lions ever could. What it did was make "being Christian" a social thing. This opened the door widely for moves from biblical Christianity, where the church was a living organism, to Religious Participation, where the church again became a rigid organization.
Unfortunately, in many areas... it wasn't rigid either and practices that would come to subvert the gospel would become common.
The second was feminism. But not feminism in the sense of fighting for rights. Which was a victory. But feminism in its subversive form. You see, the bible teaches equality between men and women as sons and daughters of God. But feminism teaches not that men and women are equal but that there is no difference between men and women. This is a critical twist.
It would appear that the failure of many men to be the spiritual head of their household, and often to abuse that position, tipped the scales so drastically to one side that an equally drastic shift occur to offset it, fully passing the balance of equality that the bible prescribes.
Biblical equality recognizes the inherent value of every person while adhering to an order of responsibility that is also prescribed and reflects the relationship between Christ and the church.
The feminist movement, which happened predominantly outside of the church was not seeking this as an end but was seeking that it be seen that there is no difference between men and women. And, since the church was filled with non-regenerate members in so many denominations, this agenda was also pushed within the churches and church polity suffered.
As this seed was accepted it took its natural course that if there is no difference between men and women, then, homosexually is non existant.
It is simple math. IF Man = Woman.. then... Man + Woman = Man + Man... AND.... Woman + Man = Woman + Woman. This logic, which is sound if we accept the initial hypothesis that there is no difference between men and women, is propogated throughout not only the church, but within the public school system which many churched children go through.
Wars come and go. Economies rise and fall. But when a political development or movement can change the way people think... then you have something that will stay.
Would any of the church fathers who read the letters to Timothy or Titus ever have imagined that one day their would be openly homosexual women filling the office of "Pastor?" And yet, because of the developments sighted above, there are.
SDG
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