Not too long back, someone e-mailed me because they didn’t like a blog I wrote about biblical worldview beliefs concerning sexuality. You can read, if you like, at: http://www.marketfaith.org/2016/04/as-a-christian-expect-attacks. In this e-mail, a person named Mario asserted: You’re so brainwashed by your religion that you can’t even see what’s going on, and that you are on the losing side of history.
Now, isn’t that an interesting assertion – I am on the losing side of history. I have heard people say this kind of thing before, and, perhaps, you have, too. But honestly, what could that possibly mean?
What they are trying to say is that society is moving toward more acceptance of immoral behavior, and if we don’t accept it, we will be pushed aside, punished, or persecuted. In other words, they view history as moving in a particular direction based on some kind of evolutionary trend, and anyone who does not agree with them will be swallowed up because non-believers will be “evolved” out of existence.
When considering Mario’s challenge, there is a question that must first be answered before he can be given any credibility. We must first know if his statement is really true? Is it true that biblical beliefs are on the losing side of history?
When dealing with a question about “truth,” what we are really talking about has to do with the structure of reality itself. Is what he is maintaining factually the case? As history moves forward, will his naturalistic beliefs destroy biblical beliefs? Let’s take a moment to look at what Mario is actually asserting about the structure of reality.
First, he believes that there is no such thing as an objectively real moral authority. By dismissing, out of hand, biblical morality, he is, by default, dismissing the existence of the God of the Bible. At the same time, he has set himself up as the authority source for determining what is moral and what is not. Now, it is impossible to know from his comments whether or not he believes in God. But it is plain that he does not believe in the God of the Bible. Beyond that, his only authority for claiming to know what is right and wrong is his own opinion. He really has nothing more than that to offer.
The second implication of Mario’s assertion is that he knows the future. Of course, this is absurd on its face. He actually has no way of knowing what the future holds. Even a cursory study of history shows the ebb and flow of moral beliefs as civilizations rise and fall. There have been societies in the past which have accepted homosexuality that have, at some point, come to be swallowed up, themselves, by history. His assertion that Christians are on “the losing side of history” simply cannot be taken seriously.
A third implication from Mario’s assertion is that a naturalistic point of view represents reality. In other words, he believes that the flow of history, including the progression of morality, is based on naturalistic evolution as it occurs on our material world. He sees the acceptance by society of beliefs which used to be considered immoral, as a progression from superstitious religion to enlightened science.
Of course, what he doesn’t realize is that his naturalistic beliefs are actually, themselves, religious beliefs which have no scientific basis whatsoever. Beyond that, since he dismisses eternity, he is not taking into account the fact that the ultimate judge of history is God himself. The judgment about who is on the winning and losing side will not happen until history, as it is experienced in our material world, comes to an end. At that point, we will see who is on the winning and losing side.
The fact is, it is Mario who is on the losing side. The reason this can be said with confidence is that God actually does exist, and what he has revealed in the Bible reflects objective reality. The laws of God, including his moral laws, are really true.
There is an old expression that goes: You can’t break the law, but you can break yourself on the law. Of course, this does not mean it is impossible to commit acts which go against what the law says. Rather, it means that even when people do break the law and get away with it from a human perspective, it does not make the law invalid. The law still stands as what is true and right, and the lawbreaker, in his disobedience, has damaged himself morally, and is still in the cross-hairs of God’s judgment.
The laws of morality that are expressed in the Bible are not designed to be followed as a system of legalistic proscriptions. Rather, they are truths that tell us how to live life in a way that allows us to grow, prosper, and live in relationship with God. When we live our lives, freely and gladly, based on the moral guidelines he has shared with us, that is when we will enjoy the fullness of life. If we live otherwise, we will destroy ourselves.
The fact that a large segment of modern society has become accepting of what the Bible teaches to be immoral, does not, in any way, define the “winning and losing side of history.” The whims of any given society does not determine that. God has set up his creation to operate in a particular way, and it will ultimately do that. It is not people who follow the teachings of the Bible who will be swallowed up on the losing side of history. Rather, it is those who reject the truth of reality, by rejecting God and his ways, who will find themselves eternally separated from him.
As society continues down its current road, it finds itself going through the meat grinder of destruction. This destruction will manifest itself politically, economically, socially, and spiritually. It will be expressed by higher crime rates, more physical and mental illness, more poverty, greater social isolation, the literal destruction of various institutions of society and eternal separation from God. A naturalistic point of view that accepts degradation, does not represent reality. Ultimately it cannot stand under the weight of its own beliefs. Sadly, though, this era of rebellion will inflict massive damage that will require a great rebuilding effort.
The truth is, the losing side of history is not that which is associated with the Christian faith. That distinction belongs to the beliefs and lifestyles of those who reject Christ. It is biblical worldview beliefs which represent actual reality – and it will ultimately prevail.
© 2016 Freddy Davis