Spiritual Hunger

For decades, these United States have been languishing in the negative consequences of a society that largely turned its back upon God.   The whims of human perversity have been seen in views of what constitutes a family, of the relationship and distinctions between the sexes, of the rights and responsibilities of parents vs. that of government schools, and a host of social factors that form the matrix of current society.

But with the election of a new, federal government administration, there seems to be a turning away from the radical perspectives of the recent past – a rejection of the extreme activism of the current administration.   There is a growing sanity with regard to what is best for our children and how they should be trained.  Increasingly, the views of parents are being given greater consideration, to the consternation of social engineers who pursue a radical, woke agenda.

That many in society are looking in the right place to find the truth is evident in the growing hunger for the Word of God.   Annual Bible sales have increased 22% over this time last year.  Reportedly, first-time buyers are a major factor in this surge in sales.   Christian publisher Jeff Crosby told the Wall Street Journal, “People are experiencing anxiety themselves, or they’re worried for their children and grandchildren.”

Thankfully, many people have begun to recognize that the timeless truths of the inspired Word of God are the one source of moral absolutes that must govern our lives.   The breakdown in the foundational structure of the family unit has created a host of negative, social consequences.  This fallout is seen in broken and fatherless homes, leading to increased levels of crime, poor academic performance, and a general, social malaise not as frequently seen when a biblical view of the family unit is more fully grasped and followed.

As Christians, our task is to stand unalterably upon the timeless message of Scripture.  When fathers and mothers understand that their critical task is to instill in their children a love for the Word of God and an unshakeable commitment to build their lives upon this immutable foundation, then society is moving in the right direction.

No element of our worldview is more critical than the conviction that the Word of God is an enduring, unchanging revelation of truth from God.  It defines how people can know God and live to please Him during their brief pilgrimage in this world.   As you enter 2025, renew your commitment to be guided by the eternal, inspired truth of the Holy Bible.   

Consistent Christianity

Surveying the state of affairs in our nation highlights many areas of critical concern: spirituality, politics, morality, economics, social relationships, and education priorities.  It is beyond the scope of this brief essay to deal with the full spectrum of grave concerns that must be addressed if the health of America is to begin to rebound.  But the most crucial issue is the state of our nation’s spirituality.  What one believes about God, the future, and what matters most in life is a chief determiner in how one deals with every other segment of life.   Such a cumulative collection of beliefs can be termed a worldview.  A consistently Christian, or biblical, worldview is that perspective in which every dimension of life, and one’s understanding of eternity, are governed by biblical principles and commands.

While we can lament the decline of Americans who call themselves Christian, of greater concern is the increasing number of professed followers of Christ who fail to hold to a biblical worldview.  The majority of Americans (68%) still consider themselves to be “Christian.”  But less than half of that number can be classified as “born again.”

However, a recent study conducted by Arizona Christian University found that of American adult “born-again” Christians, only 13% maintain a biblical worldview.   Among all adults that number drops to 4%.   And the situation is worsening.  In 2020, those numbers were 19% and 6% respectively.

Clearly what is needed for our troubled nation is the rebirth of a biblical worldview that drives people to view life as God does and to live according to the principles revealed in His Word.   Creating that biblical worldview is a task given to the church by Jesus Christ.  Some of His final words before returning to His Father in heaven were: “Make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”  Jesus was not interested in nominal followers who claim to believe in Him but fail to take His truth seriously so that it impacts every dimension of life.   Such is the sad outlook of the majority of Americans in 2024.   If that is to change, the church must take more seriously this mandate of our Lord. 

Researcher George Barna has diagnosed the dilemma we face: “The impact of arts and entertainment, government, and public schools is clearly apparent in the shift from biblical perspectives to a more experiential and emotional form of decision-making.” 

To address this crisis of belief and understanding, local churches and Christian parents must prioritize biblical instruction.  Developing a consistently Christian worldview will not happen apart from genuine disciples of Christ being focused upon this most critical task.