An organization called “Pew Research” has followed the trends on the generational perspectives concerning evolution, socialism, and homosexuality since the 1970s. Over the last 40 years, they have followed the political and social views of the Great Generation, the Silent Generation, the Baby Boom Generation, the Generation Xers, and the Millennials. What they have found is that each generation does not change its views (on average) over time. However, each generation surveyed is successively more “progressive” than the previous one. In other words if you are a Millennial, you are more likely to be pro-homosexual, pro-evolution and pro-socialist than the Generations Xers, and far more likely than the Baby Boomers, or the Silent Generation. Of course, the Great Generation of the 1920s were the most conservative (and still Christian in their ethical value system).
So why the generational trajectory? Why are the “conservatives” bound to lose every battle, if they hail from a western nation? Issues like evolution, homosexuality, and socialism constitute the outworking of humanist ideals. At root, the doctrine of evolution is man coming up with his own truth concerning origins, by imaginative interpretation of pseudo-scientific data. Homosexuality is symbolic of ethical autonomy. By definition, the humanist will be the source of his own ethics, and he must throw off the constraints of 2000 years of Christian institutions and laws. Sodomy is the highest incarnation of this “ideal.” Socialism is an attempt to infuse man’s governments with the power to control his destiny, by centralizing power with the state and the social engineers. We are only experiencing the fruition of the humanist ideals inculcated into universities from the humanist renaissance of the 1300s and 1400s and the humanist enlightenment of the 1700s and 1800s. Humanism establishes man as the determinant of his ethics, truth, and reality – and homosexuality, evolution, and socialism incarnate these ideals better than anything else. Walt Whitman was too embarrassed to admit his homosexuality in the 19th century, because he lived in a Christian world,. Some 150 years later, he is lauded everywhere as the great progenitor of the sexual rebellion against 1900 years of Christian teaching in the Western World.
The centralization of powers and the almost absolute control of education by the social planners, makes it impossible for Christians or “conservatives” to win any substantial battle over the hearts and minds of the next generation. Sure, they may enjoy an occasional victory here and there. Occasionally, some family might be able to save their children from falling into the increasingly radicalized humanism in the public schools and universities. But these are highly exceptional cases. As long as 90% of Americans send their children to godless public schools, where God is not worshiped, where God is not the source of ethics and reality, they can expect their children to be radicalized. It will be no surprise to us, when Pew Research finds the next set of 20-somethings are far more radical (on average) than their parents. The system is built to function that way, and it functions well. Sadly, many Christians play the part of “useful idiots,” serving as cogs in the large educational machine – training the children to be really good readers – so they can read their godless literature, their godless science books, and their godless history books. They may be good readers, thanks to their 3rd grade teacher. But they will also be enthusiastic advocates of evolution, homosexuality, big government schools, and big government socialism.
In 1780, you would be hard pressed to find a church teaching evolution. In 1880, you would hardly hear mention of homosexuality in civil societies. Sadly, the bane of homosexuality is commonplace now in many evangelical churches, Christian Schools, and even homeschools. Recently, virulent forms of evolutionary thinking have made it into the once stalwart, homeschooling movement. Even Christian colleges quickly absorb macro-evolutionary theories, especially the “religion” departments, according to Ken Ham’s recent book “Already Compromised.” Between 40% and 50% of the homeschooling movement in Colorado is taken by government dollars through more socialist funding of homeschooling curriculum and “classes”. The culture has a way of seeping in under the doorways and the nooks and crannies of our homes. The pressure is relentless.
We live in a different world today. Since the 20th century, Christians are increasingly pressed into decentralized camps that have less and less influence on the large cultural systems. With a failing influence, the inevitable temptation will be to jettison any conception of a Christian law order, and compromise on evolution, homosexuality, socialism, feminism, etc. so as to be “relevant.” This is where 90% of mainline and evangelical churches are headed. But what do we do? When we see our failures in the political parties, we will create tiny, largely-irrelevant third parties. When we see our failure to impact the large universities, we create our own little Christian colleges tucked into our homeschool or classical school ghettos. We circumvent Hollywood, and head for San Antonio for an Independent Christian Film Festival. We abandon a failing macro-economy, by creating micro-family economies. What we are facing, is beyond doubt, a post-Christian age. Therefore, we seek maximum impact by separating, intensifying discipleship within our families and church communities, and creating our own cultures.
Thankfully, these micro-communities are growing and they are healthy! By separating from the macro, we invite the blessing of God on our communities (because we still value His blessing!) While the Titanic is sinking fast, the “Life-boat Manufacturing Centers” are booming! We may be interested in contributing to the Titanic engine room operation, as long as we can keep the life-boat manufacturing going. So we need not abandon politics entirely. Neither should we ignore those who would like to purchase a life-boat, join our communities, and learn the discipleship of Christ. But the focus henceforth will be decentralized communities, where true discipleship can happen.
The key to our vitality and strength will be the generational the trajectory. The trajectory works both ways. On the one hand, there is the trajectory moving towards more virulent forms of apostasy. It is a destructive trend that will burn out the macro-culture, as successive generations abandon their parent’s and grandparent’s values. On the other hand, those who honor their parents, and tie their mother’s commandments around their wrists will enjoy God’s blessings. The fifth commandment is the cultural commandment. If you want things to go well with you in the land (or “on the earth,” as Paul puts it in Eph. 6:2,3), then pay good honor to the wisdom, the values, and the culture of the previous generation. Where there is honor, there is cultural growth, and where there is dishonor there will be cultural disintegration. If our movement involves the hearts of sons honoring fathers, and the hearts of fathers loving their sons, we will see sons standing on their father’s shoulders. This will create generational leverage for the sake of the kingdom of God – healthy families, healthy churches, and healthy economies in the generations to come.
We will not salvage the heritage of this nation with a hockey mom from Alaska who has another child with another child born out of wedlock. . . or with pro-life leaders whose children turn to homosexuality and support Barrack Obama. This is the sad legacy of the last 40 years of “conservative” activism. Without a generational vision, the inevitable slide towards Gomorrah will never be abated, my friends. The prayer of our ministry is that God’s mercy attends our families, and we enjoy the blessings of Psalm 112.
“Blessed is the man that fears the Lord; that delights greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.”