Are We Ashamed?

By: American Decency Staff

At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on May 13, 2014, Professor Robert George made a succinct and encapsulating statement about the state of 21st century Christianity. While the speech was given to a Catholic audience, it is equally true for evangelicals like myself. It is the best summary of the church's position in today's society that I've heard, and I recommend that you give it a listen.

I think quite effectively, Prof. George parallels the church with the apostles of Christ at the time of the triumphal entry. The excitement of Jerusalem as Christ entered the city is the time period we are now coming out of, and as Christ has lost favor with society at large we are now going into Good Friday. It is now our turn to decide whether we will betray Christ or stand with Him.

" …Am I prepared to pay the price that will be demanded if I refuse to be ashamed, if, in other words, I am prepared to give public witness to the massively politically incorrect truths of the Gospel, truths that the mandarins of an elite culture shaped by the dogmas of expressive individualism and me-generation liberalism do not wish to hear spoken? Or, put more simply, am I willing, or am I, in the end, unwilling, to take up my cross and follow Christ?"

That is the choice before those of us – the Biblical truths that a decade ago were held by the vast majority of Americans are now, an unbelievably short amount of time later, considered by many to be hate speech – no matter whether or not the truth is communicated out of love.

George continues,"Powerful forces and currents in our society press us to be ashamed of the Gospel — ashamed of the good, ashamed of our faith's teachings on the sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions, ashamed of our faith's teachings on marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife. These forces insist that the Church's teachings are out of date, retrograde, insensitive, uncompassionate, illiberal, bigoted, even hateful. These currents bring pressure on all of us, and on young Catholics (read Christians)in particular, to yield to this insistence. They threaten us with consequences if we refuse to call what is good evil, and what is evil good. They command us to conform our thinking to their orthodoxy, or else say nothing at all."

What else do examples like the firing of the president of Mozilla, the suspension of Phil Robertson, the cancellation of the Benham Brothers' television showdemonstrate? The oppressing cries for tolerance leave no room for disagreement.

It's a dangerous time to follow the teachings of Christ. The "dogmas of expressive individualism and me-generation liberalism" make Christ's message, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments," an unpopular one, but that's what we have. Our gratitude for Christ's sacrifice for our own sins on the cross and our love for him will be expressed in following His word – even the parts that aren't so popular.

Professor George expresses it wonderfully, "And we bear witness by our fidelity to the greatest truth of all, namely, that the story does not end at Golgotha. Evil and death do not triumph. Yes, it is Good Friday, but the one who became like us in all things but sin conquers death to redeem us from our transgressions and give us a full share in eternal life — the divine life of the most blessed Trinity. The cross cannot defeat him. The sepulcher cannot hold him. His heavenly Father will not abandon him. The psalm that begins in despair, Eloi, Eloi lama sabachtani, ends in hope and joy. Easter is coming. The crucified Christ will be raised from the dead. The chains of sin will be broken. 'Oh death, where is thy victory? Oh death, where is thy sting?'"

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photo credit: Christopher JL via photopin cc

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