We are in the midst of an unambiguously pagan world.

How then should we act?

I Timothy 6:13-16 “I Charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”

This pagan world speaks of spiritual evolution. They speak of the Universe as a cosmic energy which can be affected and influenced by the energy one puts out through thoughts and feelings. Light is something that is deep in the heart of every individual—if that individual can learn to discern it. This pagan world seeks to immortalize the human spirit through its own recognition of its own innate power. Each person is sovereign over his or her own destiny, directing it by thoughts and feelings; the energy that one puts out. They shrink from any idea of spiritual imperative; what is true and right is determined by each individual, as long as that person does not hurt ones neighbor.

This is what our fellow Americans believe. They are articles of faith that are simply assumed to be correct. Feeling determines reality for them.

We speak of spiritual death to our own desires in order to have spiritual life. We speak of God as the source of all life and the sustainer of all things. We believe that when we are submitted to the will of God, then we are truly fulfilled. We believe that we lose ourselves and our own opinions to the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection and his commandments. We believe that Jesus is sovereign over the universe and over our lives. What is true is determined by the person and character of the Triune God: love in relationship. This is what we believe. This is the good confession. If Jesus could make it before Pontius Pilate we can make it before this world without apology or qualifiers. Early Christians were called “atheists” because they rejected the Roman pantheon of gods. Today Christians are called “narrow” and “bigoted” because we reject the premise that all spirituality leads to God.

Nothing has really changed. We have a hope in a life to come, not this one. Our hope is sure. If our generation rejects us, then we wait for our Vindicator. Meanwhile we make the good confession and seek to be “free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To him be glory, honor and dominion forever…even in the 21st Century.