Secularism is Succeeding in America

Secularism is defined by Webster as, “ indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations”.

If humanity was rooted in a supernaturally accepted view of morality, then a clean separation between church and state would seem appropriate. However, the framers of the Constitution recognized the importance of boundaries to protect religious beliefs from government intrusion (Church/State). Of course today, the loudest voices are focused the other way around, desiring to isolate the government from the supposed tyranny of a Biblical Christian worldview (Secularization is good for American democracy).

In this divisive climate, there seem to be more and more voices yelling from the extremes, which increasingly makes a clean and antiseptic application of “secularism” unobtainable.

The Lord calls Christians to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-21). Further, He calls us to accept government institutions as divinely installed and, therefore, to be followed (Romans 13:1). When these two commands contradict, Biblical Christians are left with a decision; do we follow God or the laws His government has established?

Each believer has to make his/her own decision on where the line is drawn as we balance a desire to live at peace with our neighbors (Romans 12:18), and yet show our acceptance of the Biblical commands (John 14:15) authored by the Creator of the universe. As secular and Christian views separate further and further, pressure to conform in one direction or the other, increases.

Freedom of speech and individualism that Americans have enjoyed for centuries is eroding against the backdrop of secularism and a changing moral culture. The line in the secular sand continues to move, while God (Jesus) remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As such, more and more once-professing Christians are turning away from God and deconstructing their faith into the dark pit of religious universalism.

As Biblical Christians, we need to hold fast to our faith (Hebrews 10:23), yet show grace and love to those who oppose our worldview (1 Corinthians 13). Scripture is clear that if we are in the end-times we need to be prepared and, if we are not, the pendulum will eventually swing back toward a more peaceful expression of our differences.