Introduction: Another Civil War in America?
Part I: Racism: The Church, the Media, and the New Definition of Racist
Part II: Abortion: A Once Private Decision That Became a Celebrated National Demand
Part III: Potusphobia: Fear, Hate, and the President
A few recent articles. Click on the titles read:
America’s Changing Religious Identity
How Religious Fear is Shaping the Culture War
Hail Satan?:How a documentary is turning people into Satanists
Decline of Christianity in America continuing at rapid pace, poll finds
Definition of theophobia: a
morbid fear or hatred of God, or an irrational fear of religion.
In my last
post, I used a new word, potusphobia, to describe how some citizens feel
about the current president. This week's subject, theophobia, is nothing new. This particular fear is
recognized, classified, and experienced by a large portion of the U.S.
population. Fear of God is not so much an issue—not anymore. Few are left who
fear His wrath, His judgment. Perhaps I’ve brought to your mind a cowering
fear, a lightning bolt from Heaven anxiety. For those who’ve experienced
God, and have been transformed by the gospel, fear of God is not like that. As
one redeemed by the blood of Christ, I don’t fear His wrath. But I do fear His
discipline. In other words, I have a healthy respect for His awesome power,
knowing that He loves me enough to set me straight. But if you don’t believe
that He is, then you can’t believe that He will. If you’ve worked Him out of
your worldview then you don’t fear Him.
Hatred is
another issue. The unbelieving soul hates the God it denies. On some level,
this is true of all who are lost in unbelief. It’s in our nature to oppose God.
In our post-Christian culture, the idea that some people still consider faith a
viable life choice increases the hate and extends it. Hatred is growing against
believers, laws supporting the believer’s right to believe, and public displays
of belief.
This applies
to the Christian Church, but also to other religions. Some believe Islam
deserves our government’s protection and support, while others fear the Muslim
people, considering them all terrorists. As well, anti-Semitism is on the rise
in America and around the world. As fear of religion increases, so do rogue,
dangerous religious activities. Satanism and witchcraft are both increasing in
popularity.
As evil becomes mainstream, the true Church is blasted as an organization no longer representing
America's heritage. No longer do we reflect on our history of Christianity as
positive. Christians resist progress. Christians don’t care about the
environment. Christians don’t like anyone who’s different. They don’t support
the rights of others. It’s the Christians who are the haters. And all the rest
are filled with love.
It’s not that I don’t see how some people, like cattle drawn into a stampede, fall in line with this mindset, with a culture shift leaving Christianity on the barren ground to be trampled upon. I’m not crying about my rights. There is no “woe is me” and I’m not opposed to viewing the Church from the eyes of an outsider. I understand why some people have built a wall against Christianity.
It’s not that I don’t see how some people, like cattle drawn into a stampede, fall in line with this mindset, with a culture shift leaving Christianity on the barren ground to be trampled upon. I’m not crying about my rights. There is no “woe is me” and I’m not opposed to viewing the Church from the eyes of an outsider. I understand why some people have built a wall against Christianity.
But I won’t
ever trade my freedom for the chains of their supposed enlightenment.
Christians do value God’s creation. We delight in diversity. As American
Christians, we ought to uphold the rights of every religious group. If they
lose theirs, we lose ours. Christians, if they truly follow Christ, love
others. Those who can’t stand our presence—and I don’t mean this in a hateful
way—are filled not with love, but with lies.
Woe
unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight! Isaiah 5: 20-21

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does
not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And
this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the
darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3: 18-19
Is it
possible that theophobia will lead to civil unrest? In many ways, it already
has. But all-out war? If it happens, I
will stand with my brothers and sisters in Christ even to the point of
detainment, even unto death. If I remain alive and free, I pray
I might offer refuge to Christians, Muslims, Jews, and anyone else imperiled
by a war against religion. That's what Jesus would do. Only the Light can dispel the darkness.
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